Cons

• Users report performance lag and compatibility issues on some open source apps
• Risk of price-creep with customizations
• Annual plan discount is only valid for your first 12 months
• Pricing doesn’t automatically update with changes to user permissions

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Product Review

ERP products tend to offer a complicated web of modules that cover a set collection of business functions. Odoo’s offerings can be summarized below, but it’s unique value is in:

• Open Source Suite: Behind the catalog of 40k+ apps is a community of 100k+ developers, consistently building new apps and improving existing ones. 
• Odoo Cloud Platform: A full-stack platform – both PaaS (Platform as a Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), integrated with GitHub and offering features like SSH, backup servers, automated testing, and DNS management.

Modules included in Odoo’s platform (not including open source apps):

• Finance: Streamlines accounting processes with real-time reporting, invoicing, billing, and more, in a user-friendly interface.
• Sales: Multi-channel sales management including brick-and-mortar and online PoS, CMS, and subscription tracking
• Inventory & MRP: PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), manufacturing, procurement, maintenance, quality control, and warehouse management
• Websites: Website builder, CMS, and eCommerce features; with Odoo Cloud Platform, users can host, develop, stage, and deploy pages
• Human Resources: Features for attracting, onboarding, training, and retaining talent
• Marketing: Unlike many ERPs, Odoo offers marketing support for functions like social, email, SMS, and event marketing, as well as automation and customer surveying.
• Services: Management of service-based functions like onsite and field work, timesheets, helpdesk support, and appointment tracking
• Productivity: Efficiencies like IoT and VoIP integration and centralized knowledge banks, approval management, and discussion boards.

Odoo operates on a modular architecture, allowing businesses to start with basic applications and add more as needed. When optimized, no two Odoo deployments should look the same.

Best for: Tech-Forward Companies Willing to Invest Time & Money on a Custom Solution

Odoo’s wide array of apps can provide flexibility and customization, however, what some may view as Odoo’s primary benefit might be daunting or discouraging for certain users.

Teams that aren’t tech-friendly or equipped with the right expertise could find themselves stuck when it comes to navigating Odoo’s catalog of apps and customizations. While Odoo does offer customer service, support for third party apps isn’t guaranteed and without someone on the team that can troubleshoot, it may be difficult for businesses to take full advantage of the offerings available.  

Why we love it:

• AI-Driven: Odoo leverages AI to enhance its functionality across the board, with features like predictive analytics and OCR (Optical Character Recognition).
• Open Source: Odoo encourages a community-driven development approach, where developers worldwide contribute to the platform’s ongoing improvement.
• Marketing Features: Odoo offers a website builder, CMS (Content Management System), and marketing features for email, social, SMS, and events. Most ERPs focus on finance, supply chain, human resources, sales, and project management, so Odoo’s marketing application is a unique bonus. 

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