Page 20 – bistasolutions

Big Data Features. The Power of Big Data

by bista-admin
Mar 20, 2019
0
Category: Big Data

Big Data Features & Benefits

Big data brings big benefits. In fact, it’s one of the biggest assets any company could have today. It’s not just about collecting customer info or knowing how to use numbers to your advantage. It’s about anticipating trends, customer needs, and changes before they occur. Essentially, it puts you at the forefront of the latest and greatest things.

However, despite just how influential big data can be, many businesses are failing to use it at all. Or, if they are using it, they’re not using it to its full advantage. There’s a misperception that big data is only for big businesses. This is far from the truth. Big data is just a term that describes any large volume of data that’s used in a business every day. The important part here is that this data can be analyzed to make smarter decisions.

All businesses both big and small can benefit from big data. This data isn’t limited to any industry either, though we commonly hear how it’s used in tech. Frankly, if you’re trying to make your business work in this competitive age, you need big data.

A Brief History of Big Data

First, let’s take a closer look at how big data got started. The term itself is new, but big data has been around for a long while. In fact, big data has been used in the United States for over a century. It all started during the U.S. Census of 1880 which required so much time to process that it would supposedly take over 10 years to wade through all the data.

Luckily, they didn’t have to spend another decade figuring out the census data thanks to a young inventor named Herman Hollerith. He created a machine based on punch cards which makes it easier to record information. From here, big data only continued to grow. With the introduction of computers and modern technology, we find ourselves facing larger volumes of data than ever before.

How Businesses Use Data

Now that you understand where big data comes from, let’s talk about how companies actually use this information. Also, let’s learn Big Data Features. When there’s so much data to sift through, it’s hard to know what data is the most valuable. It all comes down to your audience.

You want data that helps you meet your customers’ needs. This data needs to be accurate, relevant, and consensual. Some you will collect yourself, and others will come from your software and industry sources.

While big data is by no means a new concept, effectively using this data is something we’ve seen only in the past decades. As competition increases, businesses are using this data in new ways.

Big Data Features & Benefits

Customer Trends – How do your customers behave? What do they look for when choosing where to spend their money? Big data helps answer these questions by allowing businesses to take a closer look at customer insights.
Targeted Marketing – With so many marketing avenues to consider today, how do you know which ones are most effective for your business? With big data, you know which avenues work for you and which to avoid
Website Performance – No article on big data would be complete without some tech. One powerful way to use big data is in increasing your own website performance. For more information on analytics and web performance, review this Python Logging Basics article by Loggly.

Final Thoughts

Big data features drive change. It’s how businesses continue to innovate and push forward. Without the right numbers and analytics, we’d all just be taking shots in the dark. If you want your business to be the next big thing, you need to have an idea of what that thing will be.

Knowing your audience has never been more valuable or easier thanks to big data. Are you ready to embrace this power for your own business? There’s no time to waste.

Want to learn more about big data solutions that can help your business? Click here.

Odoo Accounting. Step by step guide to Odoo Accounting

by bista-admin
Mar 14, 2019
0
Category: Odoo Accounting

Odoo Accounting App: Features & Benefits

Odoo Accounting App is an all-in-one accounting software that allows businesses to easily manage their finances. This web-based application offers a range of accounting features including double-entry bookkeeping, bank synchronization, invoicing, and more. With the ability to manage expenses, track time, and generate detailed reports, Odoo Accounting is designed to streamline financial management for businesses of all sizes.

The app is packed with features that help you save time and stay on top of your finances. For instance, the Bank Synchronization feature allows users to link their bank accounts to their Odoo account, automating the reconciliation process and helping businesses stay up-to-date with their financial data. Additionally, the app supports multi-currency accounting and allows for easy management of multiple companies or branches, making it ideal for businesses with a global reach.

With its user-friendly interface and customizable features, Odoo Accounting is a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to simplify their accounting processes.

Odoo Accounting Key Features

Save Time

Beautiful User Interface: Enjoy a fast and modern user interface design based on the Google Material Design trend that your users will love.
Reduce Data Entry: Save time by eliminating the need to manually create invoices, print and send them, register bank statements, and follow up on payments. Automate more and reduce data entry.
Collaboration & Alerts: Collaborate on documents easily and follow what interests you with automatic alerts.
Pay Multiple Invoices: Reconcile a payment with several invoices using a button on the payment form for added convenience.
Easy Set-Up: Simplify the initial setup process with a configuration progress bar, which allows you to set your initial balances from one screen.
Mobile: Access all accounting features on tablets or smartphones and enjoy instant access to your financial data, no matter where you are.
Bank Interfaces: Automate your bank statement syncing process and save time with automated reconciliation by syncing your bank statements with your bank.

Accounts Receivable

Clean, Feature-Rich Customer Invoices: Odoo provides easy-to-create invoices that are visually pleasing and offer multiple features like payment terms, discounts, price lists, and taxes.
Advanced Payment Options: Odoo supports multiple payment options for a single invoice, including cash discounts, advance invoices, and partial reconciliations.
Automated Draft Invoices: Odoo creates draft invoices automatically based on sales orders, timesheets, or delivery orders.
Instant Payment Reconciliation: When creating an invoice, Odoo suggests outstanding payments automatically to eliminate the need for reconciliation later on.

Get Paid Easily

Accept Credit Card Payments: Quickly receive payments with our online credit card payment integration. Our software supports popular payment gateways like Authorize.net, Ingenico, Paypal, Adyen, and more.
Automated Credit Collection: Odoo simplifies the credit collection process by automatically proposing emails, follow-up letters, and tasks to streamline the process.
Aged Receivables Overview: The receivable report provides a clear overview of outstanding payments and helps you forecast your cash flow.
Customer Portal Access: Your customers can easily track their order status, invoices, and payments through their personal portal.
Advanced Customer Statements: Our software provides clear and detailed reports on customer statements, allowing you to easily navigate through the documents to understand each customer’s use case.
QR Code Payment: Your customers can pay through a QR code by scanning it with their banking app. The QR code appears on PDF invoices and on the payment screen for quotations and invoices.

Account Payables

Ensure Accurate Supplier Payments: Verify and reconcile the Purchase Order, Vendor Bill, and Receipt to ensure correct and timely payments.
Manage Employee Expenses: Track and manage employee expenses from recording to reimbursement with ease.
Future Bill Forecast: Accurately forecast future expenses to manage cash flow and plan budgets effectively.
Digitize Bills: Simplify bill management by uploading scanned PDF or image files, which can be automatically processed by Odoo’s AI to create vendor bills.

Pay Bills

Print Supplier Bills: Generate a list of supplier bills to pay and print them in batches with just a few clicks.
Manage Deposit Tickets: Keep track of deposit tickets quickly and easily to streamline the bank reconciliation process.
Automated Wire Transfers: Let Odoo automate payments to suppliers using SEPA and pay on the scheduled date.
Flexible Payment Workflows: Customize payment orders with optional validation steps to fit your unique payment processes.

Bank & Cash

Automate Bank Feeds: Your bank feeds are automatically synced with Odoo, with support for over 15,000 banks, mostly in the US, Canada, and New Zealand.
Manage Cash Registers: Keep track of every cash transaction, from opening to closing, with ease.
Import Statements: Easily import statements from OFX, QIF, CSV, or Coda files if your bank is not supported by Odoo.

Easy Reconciliation

The Smart Reconciliation Tool: With Odoo’s smart matching tool, 95% of your invoices and payments are automatically matched, and for the remaining 5%, you can match them super fast using the interface for manual reconciliations. Get reconciliation propositions automatically, register extra journal items on the fly, and search efficiently. Plus, with the learning of account numbers based on the first manual reconciliation, you can speed up the process even more.
Convenient Outstanding Payments: Easily reconcile partial and full payments by getting propositions directly from the invoice or bank statement.
Online Payment Support: Confirmed online transactions are automatically created as payments for easy reconciliation. They also show up as notifications in the document’s chatter, making it easier to follow up.
Reconciliation Report: The reconciliation report allows you to audit the differences between your accounts and your bank statement balance, simplifying the reconciliation process.

Advanced Access Rights

Access Control Lists: Default configurations for accountants and advisers are already set up, but access rights are highly flexible.

Multis

Automatic Currency Rate Updates: Currency rates are updated daily, keeping your records current.
Integrated Subsidiaries: Integrate all of your subsidiaries into a single system with real-time consolidation reports. Streamline business flows with intercompany rules.
Flexible User Management: Define as many users as you need with customized access rights.
Multiple Journals: Organize your documents into separate journals based on departments or types of activities, allowing you to divide roles across various users.

Performance Reports

Pivot Table for Business Intelligence Reports: With Odoo Pivot Table, you can easily navigate through information, such as consolidations, drill-up/down, group data, and filters. There are multiple standard reports available, including Profit & Loss, cash flow statements, cash reports, executive summary, aged payable/receivables, and more. You can also get standard reports and charts of accounts for 80+ countries, and export reports to Excel and PDF.
Customizable Dashboards: Assemble custom reports to create your own dashboard. Generate reports for any time period, compare time periods, and get a dynamic calculation of certain fields (e.g., YTD earnings). Share filters and dashboards across teams.
Annotate Any Report: All reports are fully dynamic, so you can easily navigate them. Create multiple annotations and add your notes for managers inline.
Customizable KPIs: Define your own KPIs based on formulas, such as gross margin, customer acquisition costs, and growth rate by-products.
Perpetual Fiscal Year Closing: You don’t need to report balance sheet accounts from one year to another, and there’s an automatic calculation of P&L based on chosen dates. You only need to write the handling of earnings for closure, and you can choose lock entry dates for non-advisers and all users.

Legal Statements

Profit & Loss: Easily navigate through the flow of information in the Profit & Loss report to gain insights into your company’s financial performance.
Real-time Cash Flow Statement: Access a comprehensive cash flow statement in real-time, with a range of filter options to help you gain insights into your company’s cash flow.
Effortless General Ledger Management: Filter and search the general ledger with ease, and dive deeper into specific documents with just one click.
Robust Tax Management: Take advantage of Odoo’s tax engine, which supports a wide range of tax computations, including price included/excluded, percentage, grid, tax on taxes, partial exemptions, and more.
Organized Consolidated Journal: The consolidated journal is presented in an organized, month-by-month format for easy readability, providing a clear picture of each journal.
Automated Balance Sheet: Have your current year earnings automatically reported on your balance sheet, enabling you to report your financial status at any time without having to open or close fiscal years.
Country-specific Financial Statements: Generate country-specific financial statements, including VAT statements, P&L/BS, a listing of VAT subject customers, and more.
Detailed Tax Audit Report: Use the tax audit report to check how the tax report is computed for audit purposes. Select a line in the tax report, and click on the “audit” button to audit the journal items (base and tax in the same report).
Customizable KPIs: Define your own KPIs based on formulas, such as gross margin, customer acquisition costs, and growth rate by-products.
Flexible Consolidation: Combine financial information from multiple companies to generate a consolidated set of statements. Use closing, historic, or average exchange rates and add multiple adjustment columns with no GL impact. Incorporate data from other financial systems, and adjust for partial control or ownership of one or more companies.

Analytic Accounting

Hierarchies of Cost Accounts: Structure your analytic accounts based on departments, projects, contracts, etc., all done automatically.
Seamless Integration: Generate analytic entries automatically by using supplier bills, work orders, timesheets, and other sources that fully integrate with Odoo.
Analytic Distribution: Use analytic tags and flexible distribution to distribute one accounting entry into several analytic accounts.
Multiple Plans: Manage several analytic plans, with default values and assignment ratios between cost accounts or projects.
Analytic Reporting: Access clear and concise reports on your analytic accounts, including hierarchy and subtotals.

Subscriptions

Automatic Invoicing: Use contracts to handle subscription and recurring revenues. Automate the process of recurring invoices, payments, and renewal alerts.
Automated Renewal Alerts: Salespersons receive alerts automatically when it’s time to renew contracts.
Convenient Customer Portal: Customers have access to a portal where they can make changes to their plans, upgrade or downgrade, and unsubscribe, based on your configuration.
Manage Multiple Subscription Plans: Keep track of different subscription plans, templates, and extra fees.

Assets & Revenues

Assets Management: Easily track your assets and generate amortization entries automatically. Manage all your asset events in just a few clicks.
Revenue Recognition: Automate deferred revenue entries for multi-year contracts and get clear dashboards on your recurring revenues. Manage your SaaS metrics in one place.
Budgeting: Track your budget and compare actual performance with different budgets. Manage budgets for financial accounting or analytic accounts.
SaaS Metrics Dashboard: Get a clear and concise dashboard of all your SaaS metrics, including MRR, Churn, CAC, CAC ratio, Growth forecasts, ARR, CLT, and CLTV.

Connect

Web-Service API: Integrate Odoo with third-party applications through the Odoo web service API, which supports various programming languages, including Python, PHP, Java, C#, and Ruby.
Google Spreadsheet Integration: Link Google Sheets to Odoo Saas and create custom dashboards in your preferred spreadsheet software. This allows you to automatically pull data from Odoo and use it for various purposes, such as budgeting and commission planning.
Flexible Import-Export: Use Odoo’s built-in import-export tool to import or export data in bulk. You can also make mass updates by exporting data to an Excel spreadsheet and then importing it back into Odoo.
Taxcloud Integration: Automatically apply the correct tax rates based on U.S. zip codes and product categories by integrating Odoo with TaxCloud. This service calculates real-time sales tax for every state, city, and special jurisdiction in the United States.

With Odoo Accounting, you can easily integrate with other apps like Sales, Inventory, Purchase, and E-commerce. Plus, your customers get their own personalized portal where they can easily access and manage their invoices, track their order status, and keep tabs on their payments. It’s all designed to make your accounting experience as seamless and user-friendly as possible.

Odoo Accounting App & Bista Solutions

Simply put, Odoo Accounting is a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to simplify their accounting processes. This web-based application offers a range of accounting features, including double-entry bookkeeping, bank synchronization, invoicing, and more. With the ability to manage expenses, track time, and generate detailed reports, Odoo Accounting is designed to streamline financial management for businesses of all sizes. The app is packed with features that help save time and stay on top of finances. With its user-friendly interface and customizable features, Odoo Accounting is ideal for businesses that strive to manage their finances with ease.

If you’re interested in learning more about this application or want a free consultation/demo, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Bista Solutions team: here. We have accounting experts at Bista Solutions who can tailor solutions that best fit your business needs. As an Odoo Gold Partner with decades of experience, global presence, and 5 wins for Odoo Best Partner North America, you can rest assured that you’re in capable hands.

Odoo Tops Capterra’s 2019 List of Most Popular ERP Software

by bista-admin
Feb 14, 2019
0
Category: ERP Software, Odoo

Odoo has taken the #1 spot on the list of “The 20 Most Popular Enterprise Resource Planning Software.”

The list, created by software review and comparison company Capterra, takes a look at 20 different ERP software and compares them on categories such as # customers (40% of total score), # users (40%), and social score (20%). The social score is based on the number of customer reviews on the Capterra website along with the number of followers the participants have on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Odoo came in first place as the most popular ERP software, with Microsoft Dynamics, Sage 100, and NetSuite following afterwards.

While Odoo’s social following was lower than that of its top competitors, its number of users and number of customers were well above. According to the report, Odoo has over 4,000,000 users and slightly over 260,000 customers.

Meanwhile, Microsoft Dynamics has approximately 190,000 customers, Sage 100 has approximately 100,000, and NetSuite has approximately 40,000.

Odoo – 267,626 customers
Dynamics – 190,500 customers
Sage 100 – 100,000 customers
NetSuite – 40,000 customers
Infor ERP – 25,000 customers

Odoo is a powerful open-source ERP platform, used by small to medium-size businesses as well as larger ones. The software has a modular architecture, with applications including everything from Accounting, CRM, eCommerce, and Sales to Manufacturing, Inventory, Purchasing, and more. The applications work in an integrated manner, with sales orders being able to directly generate invoices, send this information to accounting, and so on.

One of Odoo’s largest advantages over its competitors is its flexibility and customizability. While it supports best practices, the open source software can also be configured and customized for a company’s unique needs.

Odoo was started by Founder & CEO Fabien Pinckaers in 2005 as “TinyERP.” Since then, it has grown into a widely used software with millions of users. Its latest version, Odoo 12, is nothing short of amazing, with cutting-edge features such as IoT integration, IP-address lead generation, and more.

One of Pinckaers’ goals back when he started Odoo was to create a product that led the ERP industry. With the software’s #1 placement on Capterra’s list of the most popular ERP software, it looks like he is accomplishing just that. Odoo has a bright future ahead!

Interested in implementing Odoo for your business? Bista Solutions is an Odoo Gold Partner and Best Partner North America 2018. For Odoo consultation, implementation, or customization assistance, get in touch! You can reach us through our contact form or at ++1 (858) 401-2332.

Automate Your eCommerce Tax Compliance with Avalara AvaTax

by bista-admin
Jan 16, 2019
0
Category: Avalara, NetSuite Avalara, Odoo Avalara

Are you maintaining compliance with the new sales tax laws for eCommerce sales? Online sellers in the US now have to deal with a complicated array of tax rules, dependent on the location of the buyer rather than that of the seller.

In its June 2018 decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., the Supreme Court ruled that states could impose sales taxes on companies without a physical footprint in that state.

In the past, eCommerce companies avoided dealing with the details of particular jurisdictions, at least to a large extent (there were still complications). This was because a state’s ability to tax a company was dependent on whether the company had a “significant physical presence” in that state. However, with the new ruling, state and local tax rules have come to the forefront, and the complications are staggering:

1) There are over 12,000 tax jurisdictions

One reason this new ruling complicates tax compliance for businesses is that there are over 12,000 jurisdictions. Not only do tax rules differ by state, but in some states, they differ by city and county. In other words, an eCommerce company will have to know the specific tax laws of thousands of different locations in order to comply.

colorado jurisdictions — Image from Avalara.com website showing different jurisdictions in Colorado

2) States and localities will change tax rules over time.

Adding to the confusion, states and localities will change tax rules over time. So not only are you dealing with 12,000 jurisdictions, but you need to keep track of changes in those 12,000 jurisdictions to ensure you’re in proper compliance.

This has already begun, with many states changing their tax codes after the recent court decision. Colorado, Connecticut, Nebraska, Louisiana, Iowa, West Virginia, and Utah have recently passed new rules. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, counties have started to institute changes as well. This will certainly increase over time, as different state and localities try to take advantage of the ruling to garner more revenue.

Fortunately, in most states, companies have to meet a certain amount of revenue from sales before they are taxed. But even this criterion can and will change as time passes.

3) Due dates and filing procedures can differ by state.

Lastly, companies trying to stay in compliance will also have to deal with differing due dates, filing procedures, etc. by state or municipality.

These three issues can make it extremely complicated and labor-intensive for most eCommerce businesses to track on their own. Large entities like Amazon may be able to handle it by hiring staff with expertise on taxes. But for smaller to mid-sized enterprises (and even many large ones), this doesn’t make much sense.

Instead, businesses are increasingly turning to solutions like Avalara to automate their tax compliance.

Avalara Sales Tax Software

Avalara AvaTax is a sales tax software that allows you to automate tax compliance for your eCommerce sales.

Avalara helps you in two different ways. First off, it keeps track of all 12,000 jurisdictions across the US. In this vein, it serves as a sort of knowledge consultant or tax expert, constantly updating information about the different tax rules across the country.

Secondly, using this information, Avalara computes sales taxes in real time so you can charge the right amount at the point of sale. It connects to your shopping cart on your eCommerce platform (via the right connector) and determines for every sale 1) whether a tax needs to be collected and 2) if so, how much. It then charges that tax for the sale, automating taxes for you.

With these two benefits, you no longer have to pay attention to pieces of legislation or tax rules at all times. You also take out all of the guesswork and associated risk with trying to compute these taxes on your own, potentially getting it wrong and receiving late penalties. Finally, by integrating Avalara AvaTax with your system, you automate the tax collection and remittance process and thereby reduce labor.

Odoo Avalara Connectors from Bista

As an approved partner with Avalara, Bista Solutions provides direct integrations with ERP systems such as Odoo. We’ve integrated Avalara for many companies in the past, and we can help you do the same.

Even if you’re using external eCommerce platforms such as Magento and Shopify attached to your ERP, Bista can configure the connector properly for your use.

If you’d like to integrate Avalara, give us a call! You can reach us at (404) 631-6219 or by using our contact form.

The Complete List of Odoo Modules

by bista-admin
Jan 10, 2019
0
Category: Odoo, Odoo 12, Odoo Apps, Odoo ERP Modules

Odoo Modules

One of the characteristics that differentiate Odoo from many other ERP software is its modular architecture. There are over 100 base Odoo modules or odoo apps, covering a vast array of business functions, from Manufacturing, Inventory, and Accounting, to Sales, eCommerce, HR, and even more.

As a customer, this gives you a lot of power in your implementation. You can select the applications most relevant to your business and purchase also implement those. The modules all work functionally together, giving you access to one cohesive ERP system.

Not only do odoo apps make Odoo easy to use, but it also makes it cost-effective since you’re choosing only the modules that are needed for your company. Furthermore, you can set up access rules so employees only have access to the sections relevant to them (e.g. marketing has access to marketing modules, salespeople to sales, accountants to accounting, etc.). This improves the security of your system.

Below, you can find the complete Odoo modules list for Odoo Enterprise Version 15. Feel free to click on the links provided to learn more about any individual module. Meanwhile, if you’d like to jump straight to Odoo pricing per module, click here.

Odoo Modules List

*NEW* Odoo 15 Modules

1. Odoo Accounting

Accounting and Invoicing-
- - Account receivables
  - Account payables
  - Bank and cash
  - Taxation
  - Reporting
  - Fiscal localizations
Expenses
- - Reimburse Expenses
  - Post Expenses Validation
  - Invoice creation
  - Documents
  - Vendor credit Note
  - Tags
  - Contact
  - Owner

Documents
- - Vendor credit Note
  - Tags
  - Contact
  - Owner
Sign
- - Electronic Signature.
  - Field type mode
Spreadsheet (BI)

2. Odoo Inventory and Manufacturing

Inventory
- - Warehouse Management
  - Shipping
  - Advanced Routes
  - Barcodes
Manufacturing
- - Bills of Materials
  - Kits
  - Semi-finished products Management
  - Quality Control
  - Work Centers
  - Subcontract
  - Master Production Schedule
PLM (project Lifecycle Management)
Purchase
Maintenance

3. Odoo Sales

CRM
- - Pipeline Management
  - Leads Acquisition
  - Assign and track leads
  - Analyze performance
  - Everyday Work optimization
Sales
- - Send Quotations
  - Invoicing Method
  - Products & Prices
  - Amazon Connector
  - eBay Connector
Point of sales (POS)
- - Shop Features
  - Restaurant Features
  - Payment Terminals
  - Pricing Features
  - Fiscal Data Modules
Subscription

4. Odoo Marketing

- - Social Marketing
  - Email Marketing
  - SMS Marketing
  - Events
  - Marketing Automation
  - Surveys

5. Odoo Human Resource

- - Employees
  - Recruitment
  - Time Off
  - Appraisals
  - Referrals
  - Fleet

6. Odoo Productivity

- - Discuss
  - Approvals
  - IoT
  - VoIP

7. Odoo Shipping

- - DHL Integration
  - UPS Integration
  - USPS Integration
  - FedEx Integration
  - B post Integration
  - Easy post Integration

8. Odoo Services

- - Project
  - Timesheet
  - Field Service
  - Helpdesk
  - Planning
  - Appointments

9. Odoo Website

E-Commerce
- - Manage products
  - Collect taxes
  - Get paid
  - Launch website
  - Maximize revenue
Website
- - Publish
  - Optimize
Blogs
Forums
Live Chat
E-learning

Ready to get started? Give us a call! Bista Solutions is an ERP implementation company that has worked with Odoo for over a decade. We’ve implemented solutions for hundreds of businesses across the globe and also can help you as well.

If you’re not sure which modules are right for you, don’t worry! At Bista, our technical expertise is combined with business knowledge for the perfect combination. We consult with you and learn your requirements, and then design also tailor a solution that meets your needs.

Being an Odoo Gold Partner, we also have the ability to customize your Odoo modules. We can create or customize features for your unique requirements. We can also integrate other software with Odoo, as well as help with data migrations, upgrades, training, also support.

For more information, you can reach us using our contact form or at +1 (858) 401-2332.

Get A Free Quote

Odoo CRM. Manage Your Customer Pipeline with Odoo CRM

by bista-admin
Jan 07, 2019
0
Category: CRM, Odoo CRM, Odoo ERP Modules

Odoo CRM Features

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a critical aspect of any business. It helps organizations to manage interactions with customers and prospects, track sales leads, and improve customer satisfaction. Odoo CRM is a comprehensive and powerful customer relationship management tool designed for businesses of all sizes. The open-source software offers a range of features to streamline the CRM process and help organizations manage interactions with customers and prospects more effectively.

Let’s explore the key features of Odoo CRM that make it a powerful tool for managing customer relationships.

Odoo CRM – Helps You Sell Faster

An intuitive user interface, mobile accessibility, and reduced data entry are just a few of the ways Odoo CRM helps you sell faster.

Intuitive Sales Interface: A user-friendly interface specifically designed for sales with a dashboard for enhanced sales activity oversight. Practical guidelines and top methods for configuring and implementing your CRM.

Mobility: Sell on the go with Odoo’s mobile-friendly interface.

Large Display Optimization: An optimized view for larger screens featuring a form on the left and a scrolling chatter on the right.

Data Entry Reduction: Automatically generate leads from emails and VoIP calls. Effortlessly send quotes with just a few clicks and manage your pipeline through drag and drop.

Odoo CRM – Complete Lead Solution

Nurturing Leads: Automate your email outreach by creating campaigns that align with the lead’s activities and segment.

Lead Scoring: Evaluate your leads based on both explicit and implicit factors such as pages viewed, location, and time. Determine the necessary actions to take based on lead score and team assignment rules, and identify which leads are ready to be converted into opportunities.

Import Prospects: Import leads effortlessly using Odoo’s file-matching tool.

Online Lead Generation: Harness the power of more than 30 marketing apps to drive lead acquisition from your website, including a search engine optimization tool and form builder.

Geolocation: Automatically detect the country, state, and city of leads using their IP address.

Live Chat: Engage with visitors in real time by activating Odoo’s Live Chat feature on your website. Set rules for specific countries or pages.

Duplicate Prevention: Get a suggestion for merging leads during the conversion process and create contacts automatically from leads.

Assignment Guidelines: Define custom rules for assigning leads to the appropriate sales team or salesperson based on quotas and segments.

Calls to Action: Enhance lead acquisition by utilizing Odoo’s five calls to action and A/B testing tool.

URL Tracking: Track the origin of leads in your marketing campaigns using UTM trackers.

Odoo CRM – Convert Opportunities

Activity and Call Management: Arrange a series of activities for each opportunity and schedule them. Instantly log every activity in the opportunity’s chatter with predefined actions, and track, and analyze your team’s activities.

Pipeline Overview: Get a comprehensive view of the opportunity pipeline and work more efficiently with a drag-and-drop interface. Set up specific stages for each sales team and create sub-stages for better process organization. Automatically archive lost opportunities and manually archive other opportunities. The lost field, rather than being a stage, provides more powerful analysis of the pipeline, such as lost ratio per stage.

Custom Stage Descriptions: Customize your pipeline by adding descriptions to each stage.

Meeting Scheduling: Schedule meetings from customer opportunities, with synchronization to mobile phones and Google Calendar.

Next Action Planning: Plan your next actions and schedule your daily tasks based on the most critical opportunities and tasks.

Complete Information: Get all relevant information right within the opportunity, including website pages visited, emails, meetings, next actions, and prior orders.

Call Logging: Easily log calls or trigger VoIP calls and Odoo can suggest automatically rescheduling the next action after the call.

Lost Analysis: Analyze lost opportunities to improve sales performance by examining lost reasons.

Revised Configuration: Option to activate leads if required.

Odoo CRM – Customer Management

Centralized Contact Management: Access a comprehensive, shared address book for all sales team members.

Customizable Customer Settings: Easily customize customer preferences such as language, delivery methods, financial information, and more.

Multiple Addresses: Store multiple addresses and contacts for a single company.

Detailed Customer History: Retrieve a complete history of all activities related to a customer, including opportunities, orders, invoices, outstanding balances, and more.

Odoo CRM – Height of Communication

Email Templates: Create a library of email templates for frequent communications with clients or prospects.

Email Integration: Automatically link all email correspondence to the relevant opportunity, and create new leads from incoming emails.

VoIP Calls: Set up call queues for clients or prospects, and initiate calls directly from your browser, either automatically or manually. Automatically log calls, open client records, schedule follow-up actions, etc. If calls are unsuccessful, reschedule or send an email. Incoming calls trigger an automatic pop-up. Compatible with Asterisk v13.2 VOIP server.

Customized Notifications: Easily keep track of important opportunities and receive notifications based on key activities.

Odoo CRM – Reporting Done Right

Dashboards: Choose from ready-made dashboards or construct your own with the advanced reporting tool. Share filters with your team.

Opportunity Analysis: Study your sales pipeline using advanced filters, grouping, and drill-down capabilities.

Cohort Analysis: Monitor the progress of your KPIs over time and identify trends.

Lead Analysis: Obtain statistics on the sources of your leads to determine the return on investment of your marketing efforts.

Sales Team Dashboard: Quickly view your sales team’s KPIs in one place.

Odoo CRM – Integrations & Benefits

CRM features integrate with other Odoo apps such as Marketing, Accounting, and Inventory, to provide a comprehensive solution for businesses. If we were to truly simplify the benefits of Odoo CRM, they would be split into the following five key points:

Lead management is the first step in the sales process. Odoo CRM allows you to capture leads from various sources, such as web forms, email, and phone calls. It also provides a centralized database where you can store and manage leads effectively. With Odoo CRM, you can track the progress of each lead, assign it to a salesperson, and schedule follow-up activities.

Contact management is essential for maintaining an up-to-date database of your customers and prospects. Odoo CRM allows you to store detailed information about each contact, including personal and company information, communication history, and deals won. The software also integrates with your email, so you can view all email exchanges with a contact from one centralized location.

Odoo CRM provides a comprehensive sales management system that allows you to track opportunities, manage quotes, and close deals. The software enables you to define a sales pipeline and set target deals for your team. It also provides real-time sales analytics and reporting, allowing you to monitor the progress of your sales activities and adjust your strategy as needed.

Marketing automation is a critical component of any successful CRM strategy. Odoo CRM provides powerful marketing automation tools that allow you to plan, execute, and track your marketing campaigns. You can create and send emails, track open and click rates, and monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns.

Odoo CRM includes a customer service and support module that helps you manage customer inquiries and issues. You can track customer requests, prioritize them based on urgency, and assign them to the appropriate team member. The software also integrates with your email and live chat systems, allowing you to respond to customer inquiries in real time.

Odoo CRM – In a Nutshell

Odoo’s CRM app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for sales management, including lead and opportunity tracking, pipeline management, activity scheduling, call logging, and more. With advanced reporting capabilities, customizable dashboards, and email integration, the CRM app streamlines and simplifies the sales process.

Additionally, the app allows for multi-address support and a centralized address book, providing a complete picture of customer interactions and history. With features such as email templates, custom alerts, and VoIP integration, Odoo’s CRM app provides a comprehensive and integrated solution for effective sales management.

Simply put, Odoo CRM provides everything you need to manage customer relationships effectively. Combine this app with an Odoo Gold Partner, and you’ll open yourself up to features and integrations that will streamline your business and your customer relationship management. Contact Bista Solutions to give Odoo CRM a try, and take your CRM to the next level.

Odoo ERP Development. Looking to for Odoo customization?

by bista-admin
Dec 18, 2018
0
Category: Odoo Customization, Odoo Development, Odoo Migration

Transforming Concepts into Reality with Our Odoo Development Service:

Odoo ERP offers businesses a centralised platform to handle diverse tasks ranging from inventory management and sales to HR and finance. While Odoo provides a robust foundation, businesses often require Odoo Development Services to fully harness its capabilities and tailor it to their specific needs. These services are essential to optimize processes, adapt to evolving market demands, and achieve sustainable growth. Bista Solution’s Odoo Development Service empowers you to unlock the complete potential of your business with Odoo ERP’s diverse capabilities and adaptability to create tailored solutions that perfectly align with your unique requirements.

Key Advantages of Choosing Odoo Development Services:

Streamlined Business Processes

Odoo ERP Development allows your businesses to automate and streamline their core processes, eliminating manual tasks and reducing the chances of errors.

Customization for Specific Business Needs

Every business has unique requirements, and you can tailor Odoo ERP according to those specific needs. Whether it’s customizing modules, workflows, or reports you can create a cohesive system that perfectly aligns with your processes.

Enhanced Visibility and Data Management

Odoo ERP Development for integration with other systems ensures the seamless capture, storage, and accessibility of data from a unified platform. This centralized data management empowers businesses with real-time visibility and provides up-to-date information.

Scalability and Growth

As businesses evolve and expand, their ERP system needs to keep pace. Odoo Development allows for easy scalability, ensuring the ERP system grows alongside the organization. New modules, functionalities, or integrations can be seamlessly incorporated into the existing Odoo setup, providing a scalable foundation to support business growth.

Competitive Advantage

Odoo ERP development equips businesses with a competitive advantage by optimizing processes, improving efficiency, and reducing costs. With streamlined operations, businesses can deliver better customer experiences, meet market demands faster, and gain an edge over their competitors.

Ongoing Support and Updates

Odoo is a robust and continuously evolving platform. Odoo development services ensure businesses have access to ongoing support, regular updates, and maintenance to keep their ERP system running smoothly. This ensures the system remains secure, up-to-date, and aligned with changing business needs.

Explore Bista’s Powerful Odoo Development Solutions:

Manufacturing and Production Optimization: With our expertise in Odoo Development, we offer a comprehensive Production Planning & Scheduling (PP&S) solution that can be customized to meet your specific production needs. Our Odoo PP&S empowers you to effectively manage and track work orders, BOMs, and production processes, leading to enhanced efficiency and productivity across your manufacturing operations.
CRM Integration: Gain a comprehensive view of customer interactions, sales pipelines, and marketing campaigns by integrating Odoo ERP with CRM systems such as Salesforce or HubSpot, enabling efficient lead management, opportunity tracking, and customer service.
Shipping Management: Our Odoo Development services are focused on simplifying shipping procedures by incorporating capabilities that span every stage of the shipping life cycle. From order tracking and logistics management to carrier integration, shipping label production, and automated alerts, we’ve got you covered.
Cart Online and Payment Integration: Enhance the E-commerce experience with user-friendly carts online systems features like product catalog management, shopping cart functionality, order processing, and secure payment gateway integration.
E-commerce Development: With our Odoo Development Services, you will get visually appealing online stores, manage product catalogs, handle inventory and warehouse management, and implement effective marketing campaigns using Odoo’s comprehensive e-commerce module.
IoT (Internet of Things) Integration: Leverage Odoo’s IoT capabilities to develop solutions that integrate with IoT devices and sensors, enabling real-time monitoring and control of various operational aspects.
Cloud Sync and Storage:
Facilitate seamless integration with cloud services enabling secure data storage and access from anywhere.
Financial Management Solutions: Integrate Odoo ERP with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero to efficiently manage financial transactions and maintain up-to-date financial data across the organization.
Inventory Management Integration: Optimize your inventory management processes with our expert Odoo Development Services. Through seamless integration of Odoo with third-party inventory management systems, we offer a streamlined and efficient Inventory Management Workflow.
HR and Payroll Integration: Simplify employee management, attendance tracking, leave management, payroll processing, and benefits administration by tailored Odoo HRMS Solutions and Integrations.
E-commerce Marketplace Integration: Automate order processing, inventory synchronization, shipment tracking, and centralized order management by integrating Odoo ERP with popular e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, etc.
Business Intelligence and Reporting: Gain actionable insights and make informed decisions with our Odoo ERP Development services for business intelligence and reporting. Unlock the power of data visualization, interactive dashboards, and comprehensive reports to drive your business forward.
Integration with Marketing Automation: Automate marketing campaigns, manage customer communications, and track campaign performance by integrating Odoo ERP with marketing automation platforms like Mailchimp with our Expert Odoo Development Services.

Catering Industries with Comprehensive Odoo Development Services:

Manufacturing Industry

Retail Industry

Wholesale and Distribution Industry

E-commerce Industry

Healthcare Industry

Financial Services Industry

Professional Services Industry

Real Estate Industry

Pharmaceutical Industry

Schedule A Demo

Key pillars of our Unmatched Odoo Development Service:

Experienced Odoo Team – Trust our seasoned professionals for tailored Odoo solutions that meet your unique business requirements.
Uncompromising Quality – Experience top-rated, high-quality Odoo ERP solutions that exceed your expectations.
Competitive Pricing – Get affordable solutions without compromising on quality to maximize your return on investment.
Your Vision, Our Priority – We are dedicated to understanding and aligning with your business vision to achieve your goals.
24/7 Support at Your Service – Count on our ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure seamless Odoo Development operation around the clock.
Customized for You – Leverage our deep Odoo expertise to receive customized solutions that perfectly fit your business needs.

Check out our Latest Odoo Development Case Study

Achieve Your Business’s Greater Goals with Odoo’s Unparalleled Flexibility. Experience the Difference with Our Odoo Development Services. Schedule a call with Our Expert Consultants Today!

Schedule A Demo

Explore Our Comprehensive Range of ERP Service Offerings

by bista-admin
Dec 05, 2018
0
Category: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), ERP Solutions

We understand the importance of transparency and value for money. When businesses are in search of an ERP implementation partner, they often begin by exploring the ERP service offerings of various companies. This initial exploration allows them to gather information about the company before engaging in further discussions. At Bista Solutions, we understand this process, and we are here to simplify matters for you. If you are interested in our ERP services offerings, allow us to provide you with an in-depth overview of our extensive range of services.

Consulting & ERP Requirement Planning services

We provide complete Consulting and ERP Requirement Planning services to help businesses confidently manage their ERP implementation procedures. Our experienced consultants collaborate with you to fully comprehend your specific business requirements, difficulties, and objectives.

ERP Goals & System Process Assessments
ERP Selection Advice
ERP Strategy Development & Guidance
Scope Assessments & Vendor assessments
Software demonstrations, and proof-of-concept (POC)
Offer Guidance on licensing options and negotiate contracts
Industry-specific Expert Consultant Support
Compliance standards and Regulations Management.

Business Process Optimization Services

Our Business Process Optimization services aim to increase the productivity of a company by carefully optimizing its fundamental operations. We pinpoint areas for improvement and implement strategic changes that provide significant benefits using a targeted and thorough approach. Before starting an ERP implementation, we create a complete project roadmap to ensure your company’s 100% growth.

Process Automation & Mapping
Process Redesign & Optimization
Data Integration & Workflow Automation
Standardization & Best Practices
Performance Measurement & KPI

Project Management & Excellent Governance

By leveraging our expertise in project management, we help businesses achieve their project goals, optimize resource utilization, mitigate risks, ensure quality deliverables, and foster a culture of transparency and collaboration.

Project Planning
Comprehensive project management services.
Detailed project plan with clear milestones and Deliverables.
Regular project status updates.
Project Governance Framework and Best Practices.
Change Management

Customization & Configuration Services

Our dedicated team of experts specializes in tailoring solutions to your specific company requirements. We go above and beyond to guarantee that your ERP system is perfectly personalized, whether it’s by adjusting workflows, customizing fields, or designing unique add-ons.

Extensions beyond standard functionality
Configured Module step up
Manage proper system settings & User Role
Custom Report & Dashboard
Customized Approval Process & Workflow
Upgrade & Updates
API Integration for Extended Functionalities

ERP Migration & Upgrade Services

Optimize your system performance with our ERP Migration services. We have extensive experience in handling complex migration and upgrade projects, ensuring a seamless transition to a newer version of ERP software or a different ERP system.

Data Assessment& Analysis
Data Mapping & Transformation
Data Cleansing & Validation
Data Extraction & Load
Data Reconciliation
Data Safety
ERP Upgrades / Version Migration
ERP Migration

System Testing & Quality Assurance

We offer skilled System Testing and Quality Assurance services to ensure that your ERP system runs smoothly and reliably. Our seasoned QA Team has years of experience doing exhaustive testing methods to identify any potential issues and ensure maximum performance.

Functional Testing
Performance & Workflow Testing
Reliability Testing
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
Regression Testing Services
Issue Resolution Ticketing services

Training & Support Services

Our round-the-clock dedicated support team ensures a seamless and efficient implementation process. We understand the importance of a successful ERP transition and provide not only free ongoing support but also a comprehensive support bundle pack. Additionally, we offer user training to empower your team with the knowledge and skills needed to maximize the benefits of your ERP system.

24/7 Server Monitoring (Odoo + Database)
Security Patches Update
Database Monitoring
Resource Modification based on Usage
Vulnerability Scanning
Uptime Monitoring
Odoo Application Support
User Training
Bugs Fixing
Resolving Errors

Integration Services

With cutting-edge integration technology and industry best practices, we guarantee strong and secure integration services that advance your company. Allow the smooth flow of data and operations by seamlessly integrating your ERP system with other business applications and third-party systems.

Legacy System Integration services
Third-Party Integration services
Data warehouse Integration
API Integration
Mobile Integration
Financial System Integration
IoT Integration
E-commerce Integration
Payment Gateway Integration
Buisness Intelleengence Integratiob
CRM Integration services

ERP Services for a Diverse Range of Industries

Manufacturing Industry
Retail and E-commerce Industry
Healthcare &Pharmaceuticals Industry
Financial Services Industry
Construction and Engineering Industry
Hospitality and Tourism Industry

Non-profit Organizations
Professional Services
Automotive Industry
Agriculture
Distribution Industry
Real Estate Industry

Our Diverse Portfolio of ERP Implementation Projects

Full-Scale Implementation

Our Key expertise lies in handling projects that require comprehensive ERP system Implementation Services for their businesses. We have successfully delivered over 350+ projects, leaving our clients satisfied and empowered.

Departmental & Functional Implementation

Our capabilities extend to departmental and functional implementation projects, where we offer a wide range of Odoo ERP module implementations tailored to different aspects of your business. We cover multiple functional areas to meet your specific requirements. Our expertise spans areas, including:

Production Planning and Scheduling Software
CRM Solution
Financial Software Solutions
Inventory and Warehouse Management
Human Resources Management
Field Management Software
Project Management Software
E-commerce Integrated Solutions

Upgrades & Migration Projects

We are well-versed in managing projects involving upgrades to newer versions of ERP software or migrating from legacy ERP systems. Our approach includes meticulous planning and execution to ensure a seamless transition without any disruptions or data loss, providing you with a smooth and successful upgrade or migration process.

System Integration Projects

With extensive experience in integration projects, we specialize in seamlessly integrating ERP systems with diverse business applications and third-party systems. Our expertise spans various scenarios, including integration with shipping carriers and Shopify e-commerce platforms, to ensure smooth data exchange and process synchronization, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction.

Multi-site & Global

For organizations operating across multiple locations or globally, we can handle ERP implementations across different sites or countries. Our expertise ensures consistent implementation standards, data synchronization, and compliance with local regulations, providing a cohesive ERP solution for your global operations. We also offer off-site developers in special cases and project needs.

Application Development

We excel at Application Development projects, creating mobile-optimized interfaces adapted to your specific needs. Our complete strategy, advanced frameworks, and emphasis on scalability and efficiency enable us to design great user interfaces that provide your users with a seamless and intuitive experience.

Cloud-Based Project

We realize the value of cloud ERP solutions as a forward-thinking implementation partner. We can help you utilize the benefits of cloud technology for your organization, whether you need to move your existing on-premises ERP systems to the cloud or build a cloud-based ERP system from scratch.

3 Decades of ERP implementation Experience

Multiple Awards for “Best Odoo Gold Partner” (2022, 2021, 2018, 2016 & 2014)

200+ Successful Custom App developments

250+ Expert Developers at your service

350+ Successful Project Implementations Completed

One of the Most Trusted Odoo Gold Partners

Global Presence in 10+ Countries

24/7 Support Available

Let us help you navigate the world of ERP implementation and deliver the results you’ve been waiting for. Contact us Today!

Meat Distribution Software: 5 Important Features for Your Business

by bista-admin
Nov 27, 2018
0
Category: Meat processing ERP, Meat processing industry, OptoMeat

As a meat distributor, you deal with the typical difficulties of the distribution industry: significant competition, the need for reliable shipping, and the demand to produce high-quality, well-priced goods. However, because meat is perishable, and because it can become spoiled or contaminated, having an effective meat distribution software is even more important.

For example, to comply with regulatory bodies (such as the USDA and FDA if you’re based in the US), you’ll need systems in place for the prevention of accidental/intentional contaminations of the food supply.

Meanwhile, you’ll also need methods to respond to potential recalls for your products. After all, prevention, though important, is not foolproof.

What qualities make a strong meat distribution software then that will help you run your business reliably?

Meat Inventory Tracking System

As a distributor, the core of your business software will be your meat inventory tracking system. You need to have complete inventory visibility, which involves the knowledge of:

Amounts of all items/types of items
Their locations within the warehouse
Which warehouse items are located in
Meat stock coming in from suppliers
Meat stock exiting to be shipped to customers

Log and/or serial # tracking enable this visibility, by ensuring that each item/group of items is properly accounted for. Additionally, barcode scanner integration makes this process easier for your workers.

Quality Control

Your meat distribution software needs to be able to deal with quality as well. An effective quality control module will allow you to run checks at the cutoffs of your choice. For example, you may want to run a quality check at the point of delivery of items from your supplier. This may involve a temperature check, leakage checks, and other measures.

You can also make these checks mandatory to ensure a reliable and safe product. This will lead to more satisfaction (and less dissatisfaction) from regulators, resellers, and the final consumers.

Shelf Life of Meat Inventory

Also relevant to quality, your meat distribution software should track shelf life and expiry date information. For one reason, you may want to run extra quality checks for items nearing the end of their life.

In addition, something we’ve done at Bista Solutions while working with companies in the meat industry is instituting a First-Expiry-First-Out (FEFO) inventory system. By tracking expiry dates, FEFO means that products set to expire first are also shipped first. This can be integrated with your warehouse setting and picking processes so that items coming in from suppliers are set in the right places, and so that items being shipped out are picked appropriately.

By using a FEFO system, you’ll reduce waste and become more cost-effective.

Fleet Management

After getting inventory out, you’ll want a proper hold of your fleet management. It’s important to know what inventory was shipped out, and also know whether items are delivered on time, whether the conditions of storage are good, and more.

Potential Recalls

No one wants recalls to happen, which is why we take important account of the methods of prevention above. But in case such an event does occur, preparation is also important.

Inventory traceability is key here. When you discover that particular items have problems, you need to be able to figure out which suppliers those products came from, in case the problem is located there.

In case the problem is located in your business, you also need proper tracking of your own systems. Did you run your quality checks properly? Do you need to make any changes to your systems? Answering such questions will help you prevent such problems in the future.

The proper meat distribution software will help you identify where the problem was located, and act appropriately.

Is OptoMeat Right for You?

After working with companies in the meat industry, Bista Solutions has developed a software called OptoMeat that satisfies the above needs and more. OptoMeat provides complete inventory visibility and tracking through lot/serial #’s. It has a quality check system as well as promotional offer handling and meat processing features if your operations extend to processing. Finally, it has fantastic dashboards, so that managers and decision-makers can get a bird’s eye view of these different processes.

To learn more about OptoMeat, click here.

Bista Solutions is an ERP implementation and consultation company that has worked in ERP for over a decade. To request a demo or to find more information, please give us a call at tel:+1 (858) 401 2332 or reach out using our contact form.

Odoo IoT: Take Advantage of the Internet of Things for Your Business

by bista-admin
Oct 31, 2018
0
Category: Odoo IoT

Odoo is disrupting the ERP community by jumping into IoT (Internet of Things) technology. The new Odoo IoT module turns the software into an out-of-the-box solution with IoT integration.

Additionally, the IoT box, designed to connect gadgets to the core platform, extends the reach of ERP software to an even wider audience and with increasing capabilities. With this innovation, Odoo is poised to accelerate its market acquisition of mid-size enterprises and also help smaller businesses get on board.

In this blog, we’ll explain what the Internet of Things is, how Odoo IoT and the Odoo IoT box enable you to use it, and what additional services Bista Solutions offers so you shine above your competition.

The Internet of Things

The Internet of things refers to the network of everyday objects (cars, refrigerators, watches, etc.) being used to improve our day-to-day lives and business processes. In contrast to objects such as computer, tablets, and phones, we’d never normally associate these items with an internet connection. Nevertheless, when granted that capability along with sensors and other tools to capture information, such objects create many advantages. These include the:

Reduction of human labor
Generation of insights from data collection
Automation of functions based on data inputs

For an enterprise to gain these benefits, they need to collect and store the data somewhere it can be used functionally. The ERP system is the best solution since it is the centralized platform the business uses for its activities. With the right data connected to the right processes, companies can take advantage of the Internet of things, and the Odoo IoT module accomplishes just this.

Odoo IoT: What It Is, How It Works, and How You Can Use It

Odoo IoT is Odoo’s latest module, released with Version 12. It allows you to make functional use of IoT devices to enhance your business. But first of course, you have to connect those devices to your ERP system. That’s where the IoT Box comes in.

Odoo IoT Box:

The Odoo IoT Box is a small box, with a Raspberry Pi in it, that makes it easier for you to connect IoT devices to Odoo.

Connecting devices to an ERP system is often difficult. Many of the devices in question will not have an internet connection, and even if they do, they will not automatically integrate with your ERP. The IoT Box solves this by serving as a middle point between your devices and your Odoo ERP system.

The IoT Box connects to Odoo through an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi. Odoo detects the boxes, and you can easily configure them through your browser.

As for the devices, the IoT box allows for multiple input connections, such as USB, Bluetooth, HDMI, and Wi-Fi. This way, whatever connection the device has, you can likely connect it.

Of course, if your specific device does not meet these formats, you can contact Odoo or an Odoo partner to develop the driver for your needs.

Odoo IoT Module:

Once you have your IoT devices connected to your system, Odoo really starts to shine. After all, Odoo is a suite of interconnected applications. And just like the rest of its applications, the Odoo IoT module works hand-in-hand with its other modules, so that you can easily incorporate your IoT devices into your business processes.

One example of this is lean manufacturing. Odoo IoT allows you to integrate machines and tools into your manufacturing processes and reduce labor significantly. For example, during quality control, you may want to take a measurement with a caliper, take a picture with a camera, or perhaps use another tool. With the Odoo IoT integration, when you reach the appropriate step, you can take the relevant action with your tool, and the measurement/image will automatically be entered/stored within your ERP.

Odoo makes this really easy to configure. For the examples above, once your devices are connected to your IoT Box, all you have to do is go into the module in question to set it up. In this case, you go to the Quality module, select the process, find the particular step concerned, and then select the dropdown for “Device.” You select the device associated with that step and save.

Another example Odoo gives is if you want to use a foot switch during your manufacturing process to move to the next step. To configure in this case, you go to the Manufacturing module, go into the Settings for a particular work order, click on “IoT triggers”, select the foot switch as the device, and add in the action corresponding to the ‘Next Step.’

Both of these are examples of IoT integration being used to reduce human labor. But other benefits can be attained with further customization.

Customization with Bista Solutions

Even if your proposed IoT integration is not an out-of-the-box capability for Odoo IoT, Bista Solutions can create and customize a solution for Odoo that meets your needs. After all, the Internet of things is broader than just the manufacturing/quality control examples given above. It also applies to sensors, cars, home devices, and more.

Maybe your products need repairs periodically, and you want to prevent them from going bad. One solution is to embed sensors in the device that communicate when the product is nearing the repair date. With the proper ERP integration, you can generate automatic repair notifications, and repair the product before anything goes wrong.

Maybe, instead, you want to automate inventory refills. You can lay out sensors in your store or warehouse that communicate how many items are on the shelves. When those items reach a certain minimum, they trigger a notification in your ERP system and automate inventory replenishment.

Here are some other IoT applications Bista can help with:

Automobiles
Agriculture, e.g. temperature, rainfall, soil data collection
Healthcare, e.g. remote health monitoring
Home automation
Infrastructure, e.g. automated repairs
Retail, e.g. store location services
Transportation, e.g. asset location monitoring

When integrated with Odoo ERP, these can automate services and generate insights for better decision-making. The possibilities are endless.

Bista is one of the top Odoo partners and best Odoo Partner for North America 2018. If you’d like to implement Odoo and Odoo IoT for your business, get in touch. You can reach us using our contact form or at +1 (858) 401 2332

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