So you’ve decided to connect your Odoo ERP software with your Magento or Prestashop e-commerce platform. The goal? To streamline your sales management and centralize all your information in a single tool. To do that, there are a few factors you’ll need to consider.
Step 1: if you have not yet chosen between Magento and Prestashop
The connection between Odoo on the one hand and Magento or Prestashop on the other is fairly similar. However, Magento is more complex and more scalable. In fact, you can create product attributes that can be retrieved in Odoo software , while this is not possible with Prestashop.
This gives you more flexibility to bring in the product data your company needs. If you have not yet decided between Magento and Prestashop, now is the time to ask your ERP integrator for advice.
Step 2: define the scope of your project
It’s important to understand the scope of the project so you can offer the right features to your customers.
For example, it’s essential to determine which product data will be synchronized between the two tools.
Warning: the product catalogue does not always look the same in Odoo as it does in Magento or Prestashop. Custom development will very likely be required (especially in the case of multilingual or multistore environments).
Step 3: Install the connector
Let’s be upfront: no, this step cannot be completed in just a few clicks-at least not if you want your data to synchronize properly.
Installing an Odoo connector with Prestashop or Magento allows data to be synchronized between the two tools. What kind of data are we talking about?
- Product synchronization: this is the heart of your project. Products can be synchronized from the ERP to the e-commerce platform and vice versa. But it is not automatic: the user can synchronize the data manually or schedule it (for example, synchronize the product data every day at 5 p.m.).
As soon as a price, image or product feature is changed in the ERP, the data will be updated on the e-commerce platform after synchronization. This avoids double entry of information.
- Synchronization of orders: as soon as an order is placed on the e-commerce site, the related information is transferred to Odoo software in real time. This synchronization is unidirectional: the data is transferred from Prestashop or Magento to Odoo.
When the order is processed in the ERP, the status will be updated in the e-commerce platform (for example: order cancellation). In this way, the customer will be informed directly through workflows.
- Synchronization of customers: synchronizing this information makes it possible to recover the full history of the entire relationship with the customer. By retrieving information from your Magento or Prestashop platform, your ERP can have consolidated customer information from all distribution channels. This will allow you to better understand your target audience and adjust your marketing strategy.
These three synchronizations are the most important. However, there are other additional synchronizations: VAT, payment methods, languages and currencies used on the site... Feel free to ask your ERP integrator for advice to make the right choices!
Step 4: Train your employees
Once the Odoo/Prestashop or Odoo/Magento connector is installed, it will be necessary to train your employees on the different features of the tool. Your users will need to know where they can retrieve synchronized data and how to do so. If they were already using Odoo on a daily basis, they will need to unlearn old habits and develop new ones.
Again, don’t hesitate to ask your ERP integrator about this. They will be responsible for ensuring an effective transition for all the departments involved.
In conclusion, it’s essential to properly finalize the project in order to set up all the necessary synchronizations using the Odoo / Magento or Prestashop module. To give yourself peace of mind when rolling out this major project, don’t hesitate to call on an expert from Odoo ERP...
