Odoo Deployment: An Agile Approach for an Agile ERP

Phase 1: Odoo Project Definition Workshops

The first phase of any IT project is the scoping phase. During this first step, our project management consultant’s goal is to gather your needs and requirements. And don’t worry, you don’t need to come with a long, detailed specifications document prepared in advance. The audit phase carried out by our consultants is often more than enough, especially when it comes to an Odoo project.

Because the development and implementation period is highly agile, it is very possible to make adjustments even after the project has started. Unlike a V‑model cycle, there is no need to define every detail upfront. The aim here is to define the main requirements during workshops and ensure that everything requested is actually feasible. After that, the number of sprints (project work periods) required can be determined.

The Captivea advantage? Standard Odoo training is provided as early as the framing phase so that the client can get hands-on with the software and be more involved in project progress at the end of each sprint.

Phase 2: Implement and Deploy in Sprints

Once the framework document has been validated by the customer, the implementation and deployment phase begins. Unlike V-model cycles, where this stage ends up being a black box for the customer, here the frequency of communication and adjustments is very regular. How is this agile Odoo implementation phase organisedFirst, a kick-off meeting is held to define the work for the next two weeks. During these meetings, specifications are presented as precisely as possible so that they can be easily quantified and estimated for the teams involved. At Captivea, this is calculated according to points of difficulty.

A new meeting is then organised midway through the sprint to start gathering requirements for the next one. At the end of the two-week period, a final meeting is held between Captivea and the client to present the completed tasks. Data collection can then begin, while the subsequent sprints are still in progress.

With this agile approach, the client is immersed in the Odoo ecosystem throughout the project, which in turn makes the production start-up much smoother. 

The Captivea Advantage? We maintain a team-based way of working, even when we are in front of our clients. All project members – the various developers, both technical and functional – present their work, allowing you to cut out intermediaries and be more efficient. And of course, there is always a consultant who follows the project from start to finish to ensure continuity!

Phase 3: Production Start-Up and Fixes for a Fast ROI

Once the various sprints are completed, the production phase begins. Thanks to the solid groundwork from Phase 1 and the ongoing collection of information from Phase 2, there are usually very few unpleasant surprises at the start of production. End users (or at least key users) are normally involved well in advance, which greatly reduces resistance to change. Any corrections are then made on the fly whenever needed.

This last step is also an opportunity to thoroughly train everyone in the company. Be mindful not to take these training sessions lightly (for example, by postponing them too long after the start of production). They are essential to the success of your Odoo project!

The Captivea Advantage? We have high availability, especially during the first weeks of ERP software use so that we can be as close as possible to the users within your organisation and assist where needed.