Is customizing your ERP system a good idea? It is a question that has occupied me from the moment I started implementing ERP systems, 25 years ago. I have been asked this question many times and I have changed my view on it several times.
My initial feeling is always: "No, stay away from this and keep it simple". But the world is not always simple, and I also believe that customizing an ERP system can be a good idea. Customization enables companies to adapt their ERP system to their exact needs, allowing the system to fit better, become more user-friendly, and operate more efficiently. It can also enable companies to adapt more quickly to changes in their industry or to add new functions that are needed.
In almost every sales conversation I have, it is often immediately indicated that customization is not desired and that the company wants to work entirely in a standard way. They often say this before processes have been properly mapped out and before it is known whether Odoo (or any ERP system at all) is suitable for their purpose. The customer does not want it and my starting point is also always that you should avoid it, but that is not always possible... and that is not a bad thing at all!
My proposition is therefore that customization is something nobody wants, but almost everyone has.
Why is that? What is the impact on the implementation and maintenance of Odoo? Let's dive into that.
Why would I need customization?
Customization makes sense when Odoo's standard functionalities are insufficient and it is not feasible to adapt your processes. By customizing Odoo, you can extend the system's functionalities and make it more efficient and aligned with the needs of your business. Customization allows you to add features that are not available in the standard Odoo Apps. It can help you streamline your business processes, increase productivity, and reduce costs.
What I often see when we implement Odoo, is that changing an ERP system is more than changing software. It also requires changes in the way people work. And this transition is not always easy for everyone involved. In these cases, it is sometimes easier to adapt the software than to change people.
Although it is often wiser to avoid these adjustments, there is sometimes no better way to move the project forward. Usually, these adjustments are removed again over time, because people understand the new software better.
Doesn't Odoo support all business processes?
No, Odoo does not cover all business processes. Odoo is a very versatile platform and can be used to manage many different kinds of processes, but it does not always cover all the specific processes you need for your company. It may also be that Odoo does support the process, but not in the way your company works (and needs to keep working).
Although it is often said that the company and the people will adapt to the software, in practice this does not always prove possible.
What can be customized in Odoo?
Odoo is a very flexible platform, allowing users to customize almost every aspect of their system, such as the website, webshop, accounting, CRM, HR, sales, and project modules. Odoo also offers a wide range of options to customize the user interface, workflow, data storage, and reporting.
The user interface is one of the most important aspects of ERP customization. This includes making changes to the ERP system's "look and feel." For example, the user interface can be adjusted to display specific data, make navigation easier, or add new functions. By customizing the user interface, organizations can make their ERP system more user-friendly and intuitive.
It is also possible to customize how the software works or to create something entirely new. With customization, the possibilities are endless, which makes it very powerful, but also a pitfall.
Customization may also be needed to connect with other systems. When the integration is initiated from Odoo and no standard integration exists, customization is needed in Odoo. If another system integrates with Odoo and uses the standard API, you still need to take into account that this application is now also dependent on Odoo, and you need to be careful with changes that may affect it. This is separate from changes that Odoo itself makes to the API in new versions.
But we have Odoo Studio, right?
Yes, you can do wonderful things with Odoo Studio. But you can also break Odoo, because the user does not understand how Odoo works.
As an Odoo implementation company, we have a love-hate relationship with Odoo Studio. One thing is certain: if you are going to make changes through software development by a programmer, then use no Odoo Studio. Combining software development with Odoo Studio is not a good idea.
Read our blog: Why Odoo Studio is not the holy grail?
What about the apps in the Odoo App Store?
The Odoo App Store offers a variety of apps that can be used to extend Odoo's functionality. These apps extend Odoo's functionality and make it possible to connect Odoo with other applications and services. Many apps are free, but an increasing number of apps must be paid for.
The quality of these third-party apps varies from excellent quality, such as the apps maintained by the Odoo Community Association, to very poor, with developers trying to achieve a one-time "quick win".
The real disadvantage of the Odoo App Store is that there is no quality control carried out by Odoo itself. This makes it easy to publish bad apps that may look nice, but will give you headaches when implementing and maintaining them.
Read our blog Why did we stop using Apps from the Odoo App Store?
What about customization and updates?
Odoo supports 3 versions that are maintained at the same time, so that means that when Odoo 16 is released, Odoo also supports Odoo 14 and 15, but support for Odoo 13 has ended.
So preferably you migrate every year (migrations become easier if you keep up the pace and perhaps customizations can be removed in favor of standard functionality), but at minimum once every 3 years. A lot will change in Odoo during those 3 years. Not only functionality that is added (or removed), but also technical updates to make it possible for Odoo to scale more. Those technical changes and the change in the functional logic make it necessary to update the customization as well.
And yes, updating this customization costs money. Don’t let it come as a surprise, and budget for these costs from the start. These recurring costs should be part of the cost-benefit analysis that we recommend carrying out when you think customization is needed.
Is customizing Odoo a good or bad thing?
To answer this question, we need to define what value the customization delivers to the business. What is important here is that it must bring value to the business and not just to one individual. Many people are looking for a button that automatically performs all their tasks, but that is not realistic value.
Customizations involve costs in development and maintenance. Like everything in a commercial business, all investments must pay for themselves.
When I look at Odoo Experts’ customers, we see that the majority have made small adjustments, and these small adjustments were usually made because they make the way they work easier. Larger adjustments are made because of missing features for the type of business.
As an Odoo partner, you need to be transparent about the pros and cons of customization, and by being open, people understand what it will bring and what the costs will be at the start of Odoo, but also in the years to come. By being transparent, everyone can make their own judgment about whether customization is really needed. We at Odoo Experts will always advise and challenge you.
I can imagine that you might want to know more about this topic. Please feel free to contact me here if you have any questions
