How to Hire Odoo Consultants: Complete Guide
Odoo ERP is a software platform that helps businesses manage different parts of their operations in one place. It covers everything from sales, inventory, and accounting to marketing, customer service, and more. According to BuiltWith, the Odoo ERP is the 14th most popular on the Entire Internet in the Open Source category. I am not surprised: Code2day alone has had over a hundred clients requiring Odoo consultants for their teams. Therefore, we have some invaluable insights obtained first-hand.
For business growth, Odoo is powerful because it helps streamline operations, reduces human error, and saves time. With everything integrated, businesses can make quicker decisions and scale faster since Odoo can grow with the company as more features can be added.
Hiring a specialized Odoo consultant is one of the top requests made by business owners these days. As the Founder and CEO of Code2day, I actively find and outstaff dozens of credible Odoo consultants. Each has their own unique approach to working with the system and tailoring it to the needs of specific businesses. I’m going to present to you my personal insights into finding and choosing a consultant ERP Odoo for your project.
Why You Need an Odoo Consultant
When businesses try implementing Odoo for the first time, the scope of features and apps associated with the system can be (and quite often is) confusing. And Odoo ERP consultant is like a wizard who will put all the puzzle pieces in their place for you.
A good specialist also knows about the benefits of Odoo integration, such as:
Odoo is an extensive hub of many features in one platform, which is not simple to understand if you don’t have sufficient tech experience. Odoo, according to Kishan Mehta, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shiv Technolabs Pvt Ltd, is a “powerful and versatile ERP system that requires skilled developers to customize and integrate its features according to your specific needs.” A good Odoo functional consultant will not only integrate Odoo into your systems naturally but also streamline its uninterrupted work under any load. The key question here is: how to hire Odoo consultant who will be the best match?
How to Hire Odoo Consultants That Match Your Needs?
Alt: Step-by-step guide how to hire Odoo consultant
Isn’t that a dream of any business to have one professional responsible for the stable functionality of a complex system? You won’t have to bash your head against the wall trying to figure out how everything works. Instead, a consultant CRM Odoo will draw a roadmap for your specific requests and set up the system in a way that’s most beneficial and effective for your business processes. Here is the algorithm that I follow religiously whenever Code2day’s clients request us to find an Odoo certified consultant for their team.
1. Assess Your Business Needs
I recently had a talk with my friend who is a CEO of a starting but very ambitious company. Inspired by the experience of competitors in using Odoo, he asked me where to start if he wanted to hire an Odoo integration consultant. I answered with a question (which I don’t usually do): Why do you even need Odoo integration in the first place?
Like with any other ERP, before integrating Odoo, you need to understand how exactly it will benefit your company. Define which areas could use some improvement, like process automation for the most time-consuming processes. While an Odoo business consultant can make your ambitions a reality, first, you need to formulate what you want clearly.
2. Partner with a Staffing Company or Recruit on Your Own
Once you have outlined the problems of your business that can be solved by Odoo, it is time to decide on your Odoo technical consultant recruitment process. Think whether you want to outsource, outstaff, hire in-house, or partner with a recruiting company to significantly speed up your search.
Code2day has experience in providing Odoo consultant services to businesses from different niches. In our recruitment process, we often use an established database of talents or conduct the entire search from scratch to find a consultant Odoo who meets your requirements best.
3.Research and Select Potential Odoo Consultants
Research is an important step on the way to finding a consultant ERP CRM Odoo. We at Code2day have two main sources of talents: our own database of professionals we have worked with before or a manual search on freelance platforms like Fiverr for very specific requests. Therefore, if you partner with Code2day, I will personally oversee the research and interviewing process for each functional consultant Odoo.
4. Interview Odoo Consultants
After you have compiled a list of potential candidates for the Odoo implementation consultant position, it’s time to conduct interviews with each. Usually, I create a list of Odoo functional consultant interview questions relevant to every project’s characteristics and purposes. I test both the hard and soft skills of each candidate, including their tech aptitude, deep knowledge of Odoo’s algorithms and processes, as well as their ability to work in a team and handle different volumes of workload. This helps me define how well the candidates can adapt to different tasks and resolve issues promptly.
5. Compare Proposals and Costs and Make a Decision
In my guide on how to recruit senior developers, I mentioned the challenges faced by one of our recent clients, Cider. It is a custom software development company that strived to revitalize its team with new talents. One of the crucial steps of the process was to compare different candidates, their skills, experience, and paycheck expectations. The Odoo functional consultant salary is the major factor that decides which candidates get their offers in the end.
6. Set Up the Communication Process
Next, we have to properly set up the communication process between the client and the potential candidates for their open Odoo functionnal consultant position. As an outstaffing agency, we transmitted all the necessary information including the interview results, key points about their previous experience, and Odoo functional consultant resume files attached. Then, conversely, we requested from candidates any additional info at the client’s demand.
7. Onboard Odoo Consultants
Once our client settles on the candidates with the Odoo functional consultant certification that perfectly matches their needs and job descriptions, the onboarding process begins. I personally oversee each stage of it, from contract discussion and signing to the making of an offer, just like, for instance, whenever a client needs to hire an IT contractor of any sort.
8. Measure Success and ROI
Code2day continues the tradition we started with Cider: taking full responsibility for the candidates’ performance, we survey candidates and the team leads every 1-2 months during the first 6 months to make sure the onboarding is successful and promptly solve any issues that might occur. We consider such factors as the performance of every employee, how well they cooperate with the team and meet the expectations of the employer, and the overall satisfaction of our client with their work.
Interview Checklist: Must-Have Questions Before Hiring an Odoo Consultant
Whenever I post or notify the professionals on Code2day’s database about any recent Odoo functional consultant job description, I get multiple responses from potential candidates. This is why I have to always keep a list of interview questions at hand and be ready to pass it to the HR. Depending on the peculiarities of each candidate, the questions may vary, but I highly recommend keeping the following checklist whenever you hire an Odoo USA consultant.
1. What's the difference between continental and Anglo-Saxon accounting?
Recently I had a rather unpleasant experience interviewing a candidate who had lied about their accounting skills on the resume. Accounting basics are integral parts of a natural Odoo implementation and management.
However, when I asked this question, the candidate tried to distract me from his incompetence by telling a joke: “In Continental accounting, they measure risk cautiously. In Anglo-Saxon accounting, they call it a creative opportunity.”
Although I appreciated the humor and even giggled a bit, internally, I realized that the candidate didn’t have a clear understanding of their difference. An Odoo consultant with real accounting skills would say the following:
“Continental accounting records the cost of goods sold when the goods are received, while Anglo-Saxon records it when the invoice is received. The difference mainly lies in when the cost is recognized."
2. What is the difference between reordering and replenishment in Odoo?
It is a huge red flag when an Odoo technical specialist doesn’t know the difference between reordering and replenishment. Whenever a candidate says that these two are pretty much the same thing because they both refill stock, I instantly start doubting their proficiency. Stick to a candidate who comes with the following or a similar response:
"Reordering in Odoo triggers a purchase or manufacturing order based on minimum stock rules, while replenishment allows manual triggering of orders when stock runs low."
This will demonstrate that the person clearly distinguishes between automated and manual stock management instead of just googling How to become Odoo consultant: skills and terms to know the night before the interview.
3. What are the costing methods available in Odoo?
In my experience, candidates who don't differentiate between the names of the costing methods of Odoo most often don’t know how to properly use them. Recently, I was interviewing two candidates for the same position as an Odoo consultant. One of them practically disregarded the question, saying that, "Odoo has a lot of costing methods, but I’m not sure about the names." This is a vague response with no value that clearly shows the lack of knowledge.
Another candidate, a junior Odoo specialist based in Krakow, Poland, in turn, clearly sorted out the costing methods offered by Odoo: "Odoo supports three costing methods: Standard Price, FIFO (First In, First Out), and AVCO (Average Costing)."
Now, a little riddle for you: who do you think got an offer in the end?
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4. What are the most common Odoo Stock Removal Strategies?
"Odoo uses whatever strategy is set by the warehouse manager, I think" - no, no, and no. If I could turn on an incorrect buzzer sound during the interviews, I would most certainly use it whenever I hear this or a similar response. Once again: seek clear, precise, and correct responses without any meaningless details or overt indifference toward the tech process (just like in the example above). My personal favorite is this:
"Odoo has two main stock removal strategies: FIFO (First In, First Out) and LIFO (Last In, First Out), which dictate how the stock is used up based on arrival date."
5. What is the 3PL process?
Another unpleasant interview I had with a candidate was when they couldn’t name and explain some of the key concepts used in Odoo. So, when I asked them about the notion of 3PL, they said that it was “some kind of supply chain model, but I don’t know the details." I mean, how could they even answer like this when it’s the basic knowledge of any Odoo consultant that must be given at the very first stage of their Odoo training? What I really wanted to hear was:
"3PL refers to third-party logistics, where a company outsources its logistics and warehousing operations to an external provider."
6. What is a consignment inventory?
Just knowing the definition of the term consignment is not enough to be a good Odoo specialist. So when your candidate says that consignment is when you store products in the warehouse, this thought is inaccurate and incomplete. On the other hand, it is a green flag when they stick to something like:
"Consignment inventory means the supplier retains ownership of the goods until they are sold. The company only pays for what is sold."
7. What is a blanket Order?
Not so long ago I literally had to listen to a candidate come up with the definition of a blanket order on the go because he didn’t know it. Needless to say, the attempt failed. In Odoo, a blanket order is not just a large order of items placed at once. Incline to the candidates who can at least give you a clear definition and correct understanding of purchase agreements:
"A blanket order is a long-term purchase agreement with a supplier for recurring purchases, with quantities and delivery dates determined over time."
8. What are the deferred income and expenses?
In my practice, I’ve noticed that many candidates tend to oversimplify difficult notions when they don’t fully understand them. It is completely normal to not know everything. If your interviewee struggles with finding the correct definition, you can assist and explain so that you reach something that sounds like:
"Deferred income is revenue received but not yet earned, and deferred expense is payment made but not yet incurred. Both are recorded to match revenue and expenses over time."
9. What is Agile methodology?
Once again, some interviewees tend to come up with definitions on the go instead of preparing for the interviews properly. Agile doesn’t just mean something that helps you work faster on projects. When it comes to Odoo, Agile is a way more complex project. It is an absolute green flag when the candidate responds in the following way:
"Agile is an iterative project management methodology where work is completed in small increments called sprints, allowing for flexibility and continuous improvement."
10. What is the landed cost and the different split methods available in Odoo?
A landed cost is more than just the price you pay for the product and shipping combined. This definition is incomplete and lacks some key components like duties and split methods. I would prefer to hear a more in-depth understanding, such as:
"Landed cost includes the total cost of acquiring a product, including shipping, duties, and insurance. Odoo supports split methods like equal, by quantity, and by weight for distributing these costs."
Comparing Odoo Consultants: In-House vs. Freelance vs. Outstaff
When deciding whether to hire an in-house Odoo consultant or a freelancer or use an outstaffing agency, each option offers distinct advantages and drawbacks. Understanding these differences can help you choose the best fit for your business.
Hiring in-house Odoo consultants
In my experience, an in-house Odoo consultant provides full-time dedication to your company: my entrepreneur friends often get quicker responses to internal issues and more personalized support from in-house specialists. Besides, over time, these professionals become deeply familiar with your processes, which allows them to tailor and align Odoo properly. For example, if your business needs someone with a specific focus, hiring an Odoo accounting consultant in-house could help you maintain your financial systems with ongoing improvements.
One major downside of in-house consultants is that you may need to invest in training, especially if they have to bear both technical and functional responsibilities, resembling an Odoo techno functional consultant role.
Hiring Odoo freelancers
Another alternative, which is more flexible, is hiring an Odoo consultant freelance. Freelancers often stay devoted to one specific niche or skill: this can be particularly useful if you need specific expertise, like that of an Odoo accounting consultant, for setting up financial processes or solving complex accounting issues within the system. However, freelancers might offer limited availability, as they often juggle multiple clients. For specialized roles, firms may turn to Odoo accounting consultant firms, which offer freelance consultants with verified expertise in Odoo’s financial modules, though at a higher cost.
Using outstaffing to find Odoo specialists
Outstaffing offers a middle ground, allowing you to scale your team by hiring through an agency on a temporary or project basis. This approach is useful for businesses that need specialized roles, like an Odoo functional consultant, to handle very specific tasks. You can also find Odoo functional consultant jobs through outstaffing agencies, like Code2day. Outstaffing gives you access to specialized talent without a full-time commitment.
All in all, the hiring model you choose should match your company’s needs. An in-house Odoo consultant provides dedicated support but comes at a higher cost. At the same time, an Odoo consultant freelance offers flexibility and expertise for short-term projects but may lack long-term commitment. Outstaffing agencies like Code2day give you access to skilled consultants, including those specializing in finance, such as Odoo accounting consultant firms.
Sum Up
An Odoo consultant is an indispensable professional on your team who can greatly accelerate and improve your business operations. Helping multiple businesses outstaff an Odoo demo consultant, we at Code2day managed to increase their revenue flow by 5%-15% and reduce their operational costs by up to 25%. As a result, none of our clients regretted partnering with us to outstaff dedicated specialists for integration and managing Odoo.
You can be the next to try and see how an Odoo consultant can transform your business into its best version. Get in touch with Code2day and let us find dedicated Odoo professionals for your project needs.
FAQ
What is the role of an Odoo consultant in an ERP implementation?
An Odoo consultant helps customize, configure, and implement the Odoo ERP system based on your business needs. They make sure the software aligns with your processes, provide training, and offer ongoing support to ensure smooth operations.
How much does it cost to hire Odoo consultants?
The cost of hiring Odoo consultants can vary based on their experience and location. Freelancers typically charge between $50 to $150 per hour, while consulting firms may charge more, especially for specialized services like accounting or advanced customization.
How do I determine if an Odoo consultant is qualified for my project?
Check their experience with similar projects, ask for references, and ensure they have a good understanding of your industry. Reviewing their technical and functional expertise in Odoo and asking specific project-related questions can help you gauge if they’re the right fit.
How long does it take to onboard an Odoo consultant?
Onboarding an Odoo consultant can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity of your project and how familiar they are with your industry. During this time, they’ll need to learn about your business processes and requirements.