#79 Powering Up Odoo For Businesses In The Energy Sector
William McMahon
CEO at Gravitai | Drinking The Purple Juice (An Odoo Community Channel) → Subscribe on LinkedIn? For Everything Odoo ??
Power Up! How Businesses Are Using Odoo to Power Their Organisation Requirements In A Super Competitive Market Across The Energy Industry
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Purple Juicers, we are back! After taking a short break last week, there is plenty to jump into in the run-up towards 2025. We are fully recovered from OXP 24 and, of course, COVID, but there is plenty to jump into.
It is a bit of a different writing environment for me this week as well, as I am currently 38,000 miles?up in the air, making the long journey from the UK to Gold Coast, Australia. And before you ask, yes - there is WIFI on the plane. ;) But in all seriousness, it is going to be fantastic to meet the Australia Odoo Community, so stay in tune with that in the weeks ahead. Until then...
This week we are diving into the Energy sector.
It's one that always tips my curiosity and taste buds, having had skin in the game within the sector for several years supporting such companies. It's been no different when it comes back to Odoo, and as a sector - it's one that is massively growing. With Solar Energy and Renewable Resources playing a massive factor in the years to come, stability is critical - so I enjoyed writing this one from an objective standpoint, looking further into how these businesses are using Odoo.
And, always great to see transformative stories, no matter the platform.
We've been on quite the journey across different industries within Odoo , so in usual series fashion, I will keep this going, given the support it has recieved. Feel free to let me know in the comments if there are any sectors you would like to dive into in particular.
In the meantime, I will link below the previous sectors/areas we have uncovered:
Again, as I said - let me know if there are any industries you want to be tackled specifically, and I will be more than happy to cater the best I can. :)
Looking back to the energy sector, however, these companies have harnessed the power of Odoo to fuel their growth. We'll take a look at the stories of APsystems, Oilboy,?Smappee, and Suministros?Ordu?a SL. These are just a few stories as per usual, however so feel free to take a look at the pool of fantastic customer success stories showcased by Odoo.
So, without further ado, it's great to be at it once again. Let's do this!
If you are a regular reader and community member of?Drinking The Purple Juice (DTPJ), then welcome back. With thousands of you tuning in each week, we are growing a fantastic community. If you are new here and it is the first time you are tuning in, then welcome aboard. DTPJ is the channel of choice being, the?Odoo Community Channel, keeping you informed and updated about the?current tips,?news?and?announcements?all regarding Odoo.???
It's time to drink the purple juice!????
This Edition's Ingredients
Let's take a look at this article's ripe ingredients to see what's coming up.
Before that, however, if you missed my latest article a couple of weeks back, now talking more regarding 'Security Within Odoo', then have a glance back. A fantastic read for both techies and business owners, and how Odoo as an organisation is taking security seriously to fuel best practice across the board as standard. Read more about it here:
APsystems: Revolutionising Solar Energy
APsystems is a key player in the global renewable energy sector, specialising in the manufacturing of Solar Microinverters and Communication Units. Not to also mention the additional services they offer through online monitoring devices and software for both the commercial and residential markets where required.
With a presence across China, Europe, Australia, and the Americas, the company has been at the forefront of solar technology innovation since 2010, producing over 3 TWh of renewable energy.?As a growing multinational, their cutting-edge solutions have placed them firmly in the solar photovoltaic industry.?
Location: The Netherlands
Industry: Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
Employees: 100+
Users: <30
Hosting Type: On-Premise
Apps: Sales, Purchase, Accounting, Helpdesk
Implementation Partner: Itransition Group
However, their rapid expansion presented several operational challenges, which of course, have since been tackled with what product? Odoo.
Despite their impressive reach, APsystems struggled with unifying their global operations. Managing orders, purchases, and financial data across six different business units -?each with its own processes - created inefficiencies and bottlenecks. Without an integrated system, interdepartmental communication suffered, and vital data was trapped in silos. It was key that the following need to be undertaken.
'Aim for clearer set Goals, SLAs & KPIs to Enhance Visibility'.
APsystems needed a centralised solution to automate processes, improve communication, and provide transparency across their global offices.
After a thorough analysis of APsystems' needs, itransition, an?Odoo implementation partner, recommended?Odoo?as a system.?Odoo’s flexibility, robust out-of-the-box features, and adaptability to APsystems' requirements made it the perfect fit.?Odoo is designed to streamline logistics, optimise inventory, and centralise purchasing, sales, and accounting.?
What else could you ask for, right?
Sales
APsystems gained an all-in-one tool for managing their product catalogue, price lists, and invoicing. The addition of automated shipping cost calculations and credit management ensured smooth order processing and financial control.
Master Sales Plan Module
Custom-built by Osis, this module enables comprehensive sales planning and forecasting, helping APsystems manage supply more effectively and plan for future demand.
Product Warranty Management
Integrated with their manufacturing systems, this module tracks warranty periods and processes claims in real-time, allowing for quick responses to customer warranty requests.
Purchasing
Automated intercompany transactions provided centralised control over all global purchases, streamlining expense management across APsystems' multiple locations.
Helpdesk
Tailored to their needs, this module processes warranty and replacement requests quickly, thanks to dropdown fields that pull up device numbers and product details instantly.
Accounting
The transition from Exact to Odoo Accounting preserved financial data since 2014, providing a seamless financial system for reports, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets.
Inventory
Warehouse operations became more efficient with real-time tracking of stock, shipping dates, and automated inventory counts.
'The results? Streamlined processes and enhanced efficiency!'
Since adopting Odoo, APsystems has experienced significant improvements in its operational efficiency, communication, and workflow management. The integration of a centralised system has enabled them to cover the following: Through the additional 10 training sessions which the partner provided across demos and user guides, the client was set.
Automate &?Optimise:?Sales processes and cutting down order-to-delivery times and ensuring consistent customer satisfaction.
Improve Global Inventory Management: Ensuring real-time stock tracking and reducing those all important logistical delays, which no one ever wants.
Streamline Financial Reporting: With automated processes enabling faster, more accurate financial insights, APsystems'?financial reporting has massively improved.
Enhance Warranty Tracking: Providing timely service to customers and improving after-sales support. What both the customer and company ultimately desire.
Thanks to Odoo and its implementation partner, APsystems has transformed its fragmented operations into a unified, efficient machine. This allows it to focus on what it does best: driving innovation in renewable energy.
Oilboy Pvt. Ltd: Powering Pakistan's Energy Sector Via Odoo
Meet Oilboy Pvt. Ltd, a dynamic player in Pakistan’s energy trading sector, specialising in commodities like coal and oil led by CEO Farhanu Bashiek and CFO Ehsan, this fast-growing company found itself grappling with operational challenges as it expanded.
Like many other businesses in the energy sector, efficiency and accuracy were key, but their outdated in-house software system was holding them back.
Location: Pakistan
Industry: Trading & Distribution
Users: 15
Apps: Sales, Accounting, Invoicing, Inventory, Purchase, Manufacturing, HR
Implementation Partner:?Abhaysin - QS India
Before switching to Odoo, Oilboy Pvt. Ltd was stuck with a homegrown software that simply didn’t meet their needs. Like many that have switched to Odoo before and will continue to do so - as your business/organisation grows, you also need a platform to support such.
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It was clunky, unreliable, and left the team frustrated.?
Reporting was complex, data wasn't reliable, and there was poor visibility across departments. This led to wasted time on manual data entry, delays in getting real-time results, and overall inefficiency. Their decision-making was suffering, and productivity took a hit.?The leadership knew they needed a smarter, more dynamic system to streamline their operations and get the business back on track.
Odoo gave the Oilboy team an eye-opening demo of what Odoo could do. With Odoo's help, they made the leap to a fully integrated system, replacing their old, clunky software with Odoo’s powerful suite of apps, including Sales, Accounting, Manufacturing, HR, and more.?
The implementation covered everything from procurement to payroll, creating an end-to-end solution that gave Oilboy Pvt. Ltd the tools they needed to take control of their operations.
The difference was immediate.
Enhanced Visibility:?Fewer blind spots and faster decision-making on the spot.
Elimination of Data Redundancy: Critical in any business, with all their data housed in one key place that being an integrated system, it became a much smoother process.
Real-Time Data: From streamlining processes from Sales to Inventory, and perhaps the biggest win that being - Oilboy were then able to close their monthly accounts within a week of the following month, which was huge and something they could have only previously dreamed of.
For CEO Farhanu Bashiek, Odoo is all about "informed decisions" and "peace of mind."
The data reliability and streamlined operations have not only improved decision-making but have given the whole company a sense of security and confidence.?It hasn’t just improved operations - it’s transformed the way they do business. From struggling with a cumbersome in-house system to enjoying the seamless integration and efficiency of Odoo, their story is proof that the right ERP system can make all the difference.
Suministros Ordu?a SL: Powering The Future of Renewable Energy For The Greater Good
Since its founding in 2006, Suministros Ordu?a SL has been a leader in Spain and Portugal’s?Renewable Energy sector.
With over 16 years of experience, they are committed to accelerating the energy transition by distributing top-tier photovoltaic materials.?As the company grew, expanding its objectives and team, it became clear that their existing systems couldn’t keep up.
Location: Spain and Portugal
Industry: Renewable Energies
Employees: <50
Users: 30+
Hosting:?On-Premise
Apps: Sales, Inventory, Purchase, Helpdesk, Website, Marketing Automation, Employees, Accounting & more
Implementation Partner:?QubiQ
As Suministros Ordu?a expanded, they faced several operational challenges. Their previous system was struggling to keep up, particularly with:
Choosing Odoo was a no-brainer for Suministros Ordu?a.?
They needed an ERP that could bring everything together into one seamless system.
Naturally, there were challenges like any big change; the switch required employees to get used to a new system. But thanks to careful planning, training, and support from QubiQ and a strong internal leader managing the project (the company’s own SPOC), the transition was smooth, with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations.
The move to Odoo has had a transformative effect on Suministros Ordu?a, particularly in terms of centralisation and efficiency. They can now manage all processes from a single database, and the improvements were felt immediately.
Key wins include:
Enhanced Traceability:?With Odoo’s Inventory app, every stock movement is tracked, making it far easier to manage operations and ensure accuracy.
Centralised Data:?The unified system allows the team to access everything they need in one place, speeding up processes and reducing management time.
Faster Sales Operations:?The sales team can now check stock availability instantly, closing deals much faster than before, allowing for much smoother operations.
Better Post-Sales Service:?With Odoo’s Helpdesk app, response times have dramatically improved, and the team is better equipped to manage warranties and after-sales support.
And then came the unexpected benefits. Thanks to Odoo’s HR modules, Suministros Ordu?a found a way to simplify employee management.
The integrated calendar makes it a breeze to track holidays and manage leave requests.?Legal Compliance with clock-ins: Odoo’s Attendance app ensures the company complies with labour laws, making it easier to track hours worked. And lastly, through employee evaluations, the ability to?conduct feedback between employees and supervisors has boosted communication and improved the work environment.
For Suministros Ordu?a, Odoo has been a game-changer. The system hasn’t just improved their internal processes; it’s also strengthened their ability to offer top-tier service to their customers. From enhanced traceability to streamlined HR processes, Odoo has delivered the expected - and even some unexpected - successes.
Smappee: Revolutionising Energy Management
Founded in 2012 by Stefan Grosjean , Smappee is an award-winning global cleantech company on a mission to help customers reduce energy costs and consumption.?
Through cutting-edge technology, Smappee monitors electricity, solar power, gas, and water usage in real-time, offering customers - from businesses to individuals - actionable insights right down to the appliance level.
Location: Belgium
Industry: Energy
Employees: 100+
Users: <30
Hosting: Odoo.sh
Apps: CRM, Sales, Contacts, Accounting, Supply Chain, Purchasing, eLearning
Implementation Partner: Somko
With the rise of electric vehicles, Smappee has also expanded its offering to include smart charging stations, helping customers manage their energy usage as they embrace electric mobility. Becoming increasingly popular all around the world.
As Smappee grew, they faced a familiar challenge - different departments working with disconnected software systems. Sounds familiar, right??Their accounting, sales, and supply chain teams each used separate tools, which made it difficult to integrate and share critical information.?This lack of connection slowed down operations, created inefficiencies, and left the company without a clear, central hub for managing their processes.
'The goal was to bring all their critical operations - Accounting, Sales, Supply Chain, and more - into a single platform'.
They integrated Odoo’s stock management and payment services features to centralise the entire process, making it easier for Smappee to manage everything from sales to inventory in one streamlined system.
The Results?
It has been nothing short of transformative for Smappee.?
By integrating their Accounting, Sales, and Supply Chain operations into one platform, the company was finally able to overcome the long-standing challenge of disconnected systems.
Their?key improvements include:
Centralised Processes:?Everything from sales to stock management is now in one place, enhancing inter-department communication and overall efficiency.
Custom-Built Solutions:?Odoo’s flexible, open-source nature made it easy to adapt the system to Smappee’s unique needs, ensuring they got the perfect fit for their business.
Smappee’s journey with Odoo has gone beyond just solving immediate issues it has set them up for future growth and innovation.?From enhancing energy efficiency for their customers to streamlining internal processes, Odoo has played a key role in Smappee’s success story - proving once again that the right tools can power a business to new heights.
Check Other Success Stories From Odoo
Here, I only went through four use cases from the backgrounds of Energy?and Odoo, and there are thousands of other success stories across different industries.?If you want to check more?success stories, you can find them all here, as I previously suggested:
Thanks For Tuning In As Usual, Always Great to Take A Look Back Across Some?Success Stories In The World of Odoo
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