In this article, we will guide you step by step into choosing the right partner for your project.
What's an Odoo Partner?
Odoo Partners are companies authorized to provide various Odoo services, including implementation, training, and customization of our business apps. They ensure you make the most out of your Odoo usage.
While Partners are responsible for their own implementation and consultancy services, they do not sell Odoo licenses. Only Odoo is entitled to sell licenses, directly to the end user. Consult our pricing plans on here.
Find a list of our Official Partners here.
Do I need an Odoo Partner?
Not necessarily! Your options include:
- Do It Yourself: For simple projects requiring only a few apps, you’ll probably be able to implement Odoo yourself with the help of our learning base.
- Working with Odoo: Odoo offers implementation services specifically designed for small companies (<50 employees). For large-size companies (250+ employees), Odoo also offers implementation services. Contact us for more information.
- Working with an Odoo Partner: A partner’s expertise can streamline the implementation process, especially for complex projects or if you lack local access to our services.
All Odoo partners are valuable
Official Partners are ranked Ready, Silver, and Gold based on three criteria:
- New Odoo Enterprise users sold over the last 12 months,
- Number of certified employees on the 3 latest Odoo version
- Customer retention.
These rankings (Ready, Silver, Gold) indicate a partner's size and experience, but it's not the only factor to consider.
Indeed, even though Gold partners stand out as the largest and most established partners within the Odoo ecosystem, they might not represent the optimal choice for every project.
Instead of solely basing your decision on the Partner’s rank, we recommend the evaluation of several criteria to consider while searching for the right Odoo Partner.
Criteria to guide your decision-making process
A proven methodology ensures a smooth, predictable, and affordable implementation. Odoo has developed its own methodology after years of fine-tuning, relying on Project Leaders to challenge your needs for custom development.
You should ask each Partner about their methodology and how it aligns with your project. A good implementation methodology should focus on onboarding users on time and on budget, instead of customers' short-term satisfaction.
Make sure to choose a Partner with experience in implementing Odoo for similar projects (similar industry, similar challenges, etc.) to benefit from their expertise and best practices for your company.
Consider the benefits of on-site presence for crucial project phases, especially for training and change management. Choose a local partner if that's important.
For international projects, we have partners operating across borders.
Taking the cost of a project into consideration is of course a crucial criterion to evaluate. Make sure to compare the Partner’s daily rate and total estimated cost to other competitors, it will help you get a better understanding of your project’s real cost.
Custom code may be developed by Partners to enhance the functionality of Odoo standard. For those custom developments, it's important to clarify the ownership of code. We encourage you to proactively inquire about the intellectual property in case you decide to change Partner later on.
Customization can create an ongoing maintenance burden. At Odoo, we recommend a recurring fee, from the beginning of the project, to ensure your code's maintenance and cover future upgrade costs.
We advise our partners to adopt a similar approach. When choosing a partner, inquire about their upgrade cost contingency plans. That will allow you to immediately know the long-term cost that any development will entail, and avoid bad surprises when it’s time to upgrade Odoo. It's wiser to invest in a forward-thinking partner who charges you upfront for the maintenance of custom development.
Implementing a solution such as Odoo is a collaborative effort. Ensure good communication and a cultural fit between your team and the Partner for a successful project. Don’t underestimate this aspect in selecting the right partner for your project.
Need help?
We have strong relationships with all our Partners and can assist you in selecting the best fit for your project. Feel free to contact us !
