Business Confrontation: Odoo versus Excel
In the field of ERP system implementation, many turn to the services of our company ERPixel, an official Odoo partner. However, at the starting point of each project of this type, we often face the question of choice: Odoo or Excel? To dispel doubts and minimize digital dissonance, let’s examine the advantages of Odoo over Excel and how to resolve challenges arising during the transition.
“In Odoo, all modules (sales, procurement, warehouse, finance, etc.) are integrated with each other. This eliminates the need for manual synchronization of tables, as in Excel, and reduces the risk of errors.”
So, compared to the multifunctional Odoo management system, even powerful Office suite tools like Excel may seem somewhat outdated and limited.
Advantages of Odoo
The advantages of Odoo are rooted in its integrity and connectivity, which are not as readily available when using Excel. Remember, the foundation of Odoo is modularity: its functions are divided into modules, which can be added or removed as per business needs. This is much more convenient compared to Excel, where each table is created and managed separately, requiring additional effort and time for data synchronization and error minimization.
“In Odoo, you can configure business processes once, and the system will execute them automatically. Excel requires manual operations or the use of macros.”
In addition to the early setup of business processes in Odoo, an important distinction is the ability to automate these processes, which is missing in Excel. Odoo developers have specifically provided this mechanism to reduce the burden on users and increase work efficiency.
“In Odoo, there is no way to bypass the rules: no user will delete, correct a formula, or replace data retroactively. All changes in Odoo are logged and controlled.”
Thus, unlike Excel, any changes in data and settings in Odoo are logged, from where they can be quickly restored. This provides a high degree of reliability and transparency, important in any business.
“Odoo allows flexible configuration of who can see and modify what data. Odoo integrates with external data sources, can receive and send figures for verification, for example, with the exchange rate source xe.com. Every morning the system receives new and current rates for all currencies.”
Comparing Odoo and Excel with competitors like SAP, NetSuite or Salesforce, one of Odoo’s tangible advantages is its flexibility in integrating with external data sources. When using Excel, the use of external data requires additional effort for input and updating.
Examples of Successful Odoo Implementation
“In my experience, there are many examples of successful Odoo launches. With regard to transparent financial reporting, which is required for attracting financial investment, a British high-tech company, which had used Excel and Google Spreadsheet prior to implementation, was able to convincingly demonstrate the prospects of their business. In Odoo, the processes of Purchases, Inventory, Manufacturing, Sales, Repairs, Accounting, etc. operate seamlessly.”
The story of our client is a great example of how switching from Excel to Odoo can increase business transparency and facilitate attracting investment. A significant factor in choosing Odoo is the total cost of owning the system (TCO) – compared to competing solutions like Salesforce or Netsuite, where the cost of licenses and services can be very high, especially for small and medium businesses.
Odoo: Combining the Best of Both Worlds
“Odoo also has an ‘built-in Excel’ – Spreadsheet, which appeared a couple of years ago. The Spreadsheet mechanism in Odoo is an integrated tool that combines the familiar interface of tables with the power of business data from the system: you can insert live data from models (e.g., sales, stocks, finances), formulas automatically update when data in Odoo changes, access rights, change history, and report automation are supported; unlike Excel, data is not manually copied but directly loaded from the system, keeping tables live and always up-to-date.”
Odoo, incorporating the functionality of such a common tool as Excel, represents a convenient and flexible alternative for users of different levels. This is another strong argument in favor of switching to managing business processes with Odoo instead of traditionally using Excel.
