It's time for big changes in your business! What did you put down for your 2020 resolutions again? Oh yeah, "deploy Odoo in my company". Excellent choice! To turn that dream into reality, you now have to ask yourself this question: who should I call on? Can I entrust my Odoo project to my current IT service provider, or do I need to go to the market to find a new one that specialises in Odoo integration?
It's a no-brainer, if your current service provider is an Odoo partner, then you're good to go! This article won’t really be useful for you. Unless, of course, you are not satisfied with them...
Calling my Existing Service Provider for my Odoo Project: The Pros and Cons
You probably already work with a software company, freelance developer or IT services firm to meet your complex IT needs. You could therefore entrust this existing partner with the task of implementing Odoo in your company. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this choice?
The Advantages of Using my Existing IT Service Provider for my Odoo Project
A Partner Who Knows You
You've been working together for several years. Naturally, they understand your organisation and its specific requirements: no need to explain what you do all over again. Your partner knows your concerns and goals, and will be able to provide you with the answers you expect. In addition, they have control over your information system. They may even be in charge of its configuration, which only makes integrating the ERP into your information system easier.
They Have Proven their Worth and Earned Your Confidence
Deploying a new ERP system is an important strategic decision for your company. If this deployment fails, you will lose a lot of time and money. It is perfectly understandable that you would want to entrust this ERP project to a partner you already know and trust. For you, engaging a service provider whose capabilities you are confident in is a way to minimise your risks.
You Know What You Are Getting Into
New ERP, new adventures. However, the road to digital transformation is full of pitfalls. It feels more reassuring to follow a clearly defined path to reach your goals. Your usual service provider therefore has a reassuring advantage: you know how they work, and you know what guarantees they provide. You have already agreed on a service level agreement (SLA) that sets out the milestones for the quality of service you expect.
The Disadvantages of Using My Existing Provider for My Odoo Project:
They May Not Know Odoo
You Probably Won't Have Access to the Same Level of Support
They Might Not Go Far Enough in Optimisation of the Existing System
Engaging a Certified Odoo Service Provider: The Pros and Cons
The Advantage of Using a Certified Odoo Provider for My Odoo Project
They Know Odoo Like the Back of Their Hand
Odoo’s Gold certification is like a “black belt”. It’s a guarantee that you are working with a company that knows the solution inside out. Gold certification means you are dealing with a provider experienced in integrating Odoo across a wide range of companies. And as a bonus, Odoo Gold partners have an excellent relationship with Odoo and its community of certified service providers, who meet regularly at various events. Your future integrator is right at the heart of the Odoo ecosystem!
They Will Be Able to Challenge You to Optimise Your Use of All Odoo’s Benefits
Business leaders, you know that goals are meant to be exceeded. By engaging an IT partner for your ERP project, you can present your needs to them and they will propose solutions to meet those needs. The advantage of working with a specialised Odoo partner is that not only will the partner be able to respond to your questions with ease, they will also be able to suggest ways for you to go beyond your initial objectives. By offering a fresh perspective on your processes, the certified partner will know – perhaps better than anyone else – how to challenge and improve your ecosystem.
They Know They Must Do Everything Possible to Gain Your Trust
Just because a certified Odoo partner comes to your company with solid knowledge of the ERP does not necessarily mean they are trustworthy. This clearly requires building a relationship of trust with you. To do so, the Odoo service provider will have to prove themselves. At the start of the project, they will therefore put a lot of effort into demonstrating their capabilities, auditing your company and proposing an optimal solution that will suit you. This is thorough work that your existing partner may not carry out as in-depth because they are already in their "comfort zone".
Disadvantages of Using a Certified Odoo Provider for My Odoo Project:
A Getting-to-Know-You Phase
No, the certified Odoo provider does not know you yet. Unlike your usual IT partner, the provider does not know your processes and your information system before the start of the project. It is only during the briefing that they will start to get a clearer picture of the different aspects of your organisation.
However, if you’re working with an experienced Odoo partner, the discovery and understanding phase should not take very long. With experience, Odoo partners can quickly ask the right questions and spot all viable opportunities. You can always do more research if you like, but there really aren’t any other drawbacks.
Captivea Odoo Gold partner
Captivea is the best choice for Odoo integration. Our team is the right choice for the job. Captivea is a Certified Odoo Gold Partner.