Choosing an Odoo Partner: Get It Right the First Time!

Choosing An Odoo Partner For Long-Term Success: But Is There A Catch to Getting The Right One First Time?

We've all been here, most likely. ⚙️

So, you're an existing Odoo user or on the track to be one. You've come to a potential crossroads with implementation, support or training with Odoo. But what do you do? Well - you look for support. That's a job for Odoo Partners.

It can be tricky to pick an Odoo Partner, given what's at stake and with many options regarding extensive services; with a little homework, you can make an informed decision quickly.

Likely at this stage, you might have started running a search. With many partners on offer, how do you ensure that the right one is chosen? With Odoo being such as scalable tool across business management, empowering companies to do more, it's important to manage various aspects of your operations correctly.

So, if you are in the midst of looking at Odoo Partners or want to gain the upper hand on picking the right one, whip out a notepad and start taking some pointers!

That's where expert Odoo Partners thrive.

But importantly, with over 6600+ Odoo Partners spread across the globe, it's crucial that you pick one which matches your requirements, values and demands for the future. As we've spoken about before on The Purple Juice, Odoo is a platform for the long term. Choosing the right Odoo Partner to match those ambitions limits disruption and fosters growth.

So, for today's article, I thought I'd explore a little more deeply how you can pick the right Odoo Partner to support YOUR needs. I've been in the tech partnership ecosystems for more than 20+ years (5 years with Odoo) - so I'm well-placed on when a Partner is the perfect fit for a business and when options should be re-assessed.

You deserve only the best when putting your projects into the hands of a Partner.

This Edition's Ingredients

Let's take a look at this article's ripe ingredients to see what's coming up.

• ℹ️ What Is An Odoo Partner?
• 💭 Do You Need A Partner???
• 🎚️ Odoo Partner Tiers Explained
• 🗂️ Understanding Requirements
• ⚙️ Checking Methodology Processes
• 🔎 Evaluating Expertise
• 💟 The Human Factor
• 💵 Costing Clarification
• 🫶 Odoo Aftercare Support
• ✔️ Partner Checklist Criteria
• ⁉️ The Bottom Line

So, let's get into how you can pick the right Odoo Partner.

What Is An Odoo Partner?

An Odoo Partner is a certified company or individual officially recognised by Odoo for their support and expertise in implementing, supporting, training and customising the platform across companies and businesses.

Odoo Partners are those who bind all of that goodness together, showcase the very best of the platform, and spread regional awareness to customers.

Odoo Partners are categorised into three areas, that being.

Gold

Silver

Ready

Learning

I'll discuss the 'tiered statuses' a little later on, however, as there is more to choosing a partner from each status. If you want to learn more about that now, skip ahead to the section 'Odoo Partner Tiers Explained'. ⤵️

Working with an Odoo Partner ensures that your implementation, support requests, or training sessions are handled by field experts and professionals well-versed in Odoo best practices. The number of partners has rapidly increased in the last few years, with more and more offering their services to businesses and companies. All in all, Odoo Partners are there to ensure you are getting the very most out of the platform.

What I recommend, however, is that if you are assessing your current scope and requirements with external support, consult with an Official Odoo Partner. This ensures that you are getting a quality standard of treatment. Partners regularly work with Odoo Account Managers, so they are well-informed regarding the latest updates and news, along with ensuring that the process of problem-solving when submitting tickets is much shorter and more efficient.

It can be difficult to do this independently due to the vast amount of possibilities. Companies can often feel the fatigue of 'where do we start?' after investing.

While Odoo Partners are solely responsible for their own Implementation and Consultancy Services, they don't sell Odoo licenses from a cost perspective. Only Odoo is entitled to sell these to each end user directly.

For anyone looking to become an Odoo Partner, you can find more below, or additionally, feel free to contact one of my close Odoo friends, Sarah Wagon, who is an expert within this field and knows the inside scoop. :)

Do I Need An Odoo Partner???

I think it's only fair that we discuss other options in comparison to going with an Odoo Partner. Typically, when looking at Odoo, there are three routes which can be taken for assistance.

I could talk about this for hours, but I will break it down simply. Of course, it depends on the complexity of the project, your existing expertise, and the scope of the project.

Do It Yourself

Companies who find themselves more technically inclined often start the Odoo Implementation support on their own. Often, when it only comes to one app, but this does have its downfalls. I've seen so many times, companies having to invest more in the long run due to breaking and even mapping out their own processes wrong.

It's uncommon for businesses to do it themselves, but it is not unheard of. For those who are attempting however, I would suggest starting via Odoo's Learning Base for upskilling.

Working With Odoo Directly

Of course, Odoo offers implementation services specifically designed for small companies (<50 employees) and separate for large-size companies (250+ employees) through a different service. This is often referred to as 'Odoo Success Packs', which are directly spec-based on your business requirements. You can find more information on that below or alternatively contact Odoo for direct information.

Working With An Odoo Partner

Often being the most popular choice, you, of course, can use an Odoo Partner's expertise to further consolidate your tech stack and provide key support across the implementation, support and training phases. The benefit of running with an Odoo Partner also allows you to cater towards a project that is either 'complex' or working with local services.

Odoo Partner Tiers Explained

Firstly, all partners are valuable in their own right.

It is important, however, that you are aware of how the Odoo Partner tier system works and how Partners are rated higher than others within the ecosystem.

Any Odoo Partner is subject to strict performance criteria that is measured every 12 months (rolling).

Total Number of New Enterprise users sold in the last 12 months.

Total Number of Certified Employees covering the Odoo versions.

Customer retention percentage i.e. keeping customers in the Odoo ecosystem.

While the rankings of 'Learning, Ready, Silver and Gold' can potentially indicate the size of a partner's size and experience, the famous phrase of 'all that glitters is not gold' very much comes to mind in this case. Indeed, Gold Partners typically tend to be the 'biggest' but are based on their status from the criteria above and not on their quality of service.

Here is a small insight into the tier system and what is expected of partners at different levels based on experience and growth. Source: Odoo

Now I will say that strictly - 99.9% of gold partners are BRILLIANT! But... it's important that you remain vigilant on your needs and requirements. In thousands of cases, customers have picked either a Silver or Ready partner because they fit their needs in a more adept way. Odoo Gold Partners don't always represent the optimal choice.

I know, even writing this, it sounds judgemental of myself saying 'all Gold partners are rubbish' - 'never pick a gold partner' but that's not the case. Rank goes out the window when assessing a partner from a complete agnostic view.

Value The Partners Expertise, Not Rank

Subjectively, when assessing any Partner, you should be closely assessing their skillset, platform knowledge, aftercare support, and long-term engagement plan rather than determining whether they are 'Gold' or 'Silver'. Only then is your journey focusing more on requirements and project success. Seek customer testimonials, and interview multiple partners; speak to customers and check out community feedback through The Purple Juice Co.

Understanding Your Requirements - And So Should Any Odoo Partner (Easily)

One of the most crucial steps is YOUR requirements. Any Odoo Partner needs to be able to cater to that and how the business will be affected by an implementation. Ultimately, this is one of the most critical factors to success. Having a crystal clear vision of your business needs is how you assess ROI and get started. Identify those gaps.

I always feel in my eyes that it is a 'red flag' if a partner neglects process mapping and making an effort to understand business concepts.

I admit, I have talked about this endless times. Plan realistically.

Another aspect I discuss with any Odoo user or customer is that when it comes to mapping processes, a partner should be willing to work on mapping processes to the platform, rather than mapping platform to the processes. I, of course, reference the need for customisations, and while this can often be the case with complex projects, the first thought should always be 'Out-of-The-Box' or native functionality in every situation.

Additionally, many businesses think, 'I know my business requirements inside out,' but do you??? But, really, do you? Because I'm being serious, it's important. Make sure you plan, analyse, and adjust if needed. A Partner is essential to achieving this, and one who can help this process is one to keep around.

You're laying a solid foundation here, along with any partner, so that a great service can be delivered. Doing this correctly through aspects like a 'GAP Analysis' will also ease pain and even potentially save costs for lacklustre requirements.

I always refer to great videos like the one below from Eye on Tech, talking about the importance of GAP Analysis and the core fundamentals.

Odoo did cover this a few years back, and while the video is a little old, the core fundamentals remain the same what, whatever version you are looking to implement when it comes to the platform. 

Evaluating An Odoo Partner's Expertise & Field Experience Before Moving Ahead

Any Odoo Partners, skills and expertise should be assessed - PERIOD.

Look at it this way. If you are looking to build your dream home - you wouldn't choose someone who has only built sheds up until this point. While still important, the same concept applies to how much expertise you need.

My recommended way to assess this would be by asking for customer references.

Pro Tip: I always recommend to potential customers, that they pick what customers they would like to hear from. Being in the industry for over 10+ years with Partners, I have found in all different types of platforms that particular Partners will only pick from a selected pool. It's always good to have an agnostic view. Pick testimonials which will work for you based on similar factors such as location, industry and requirements.

This also relates to picking a partner with experience in your field of expertise. If you feel it is essential, ensure that the Odoo Partner has previous experience in your industry. By doing this, you could feel more comfortable that they can match your unique challenges and requirements. The same applies whether it's manufacturing, retail, healthcare or any other industry.

It all comes down to the company's reputation across different formats. Some partners might be good at one thing but struggle with another.

If you are systematically unsure that Odoo will work with your industry, you can check the thousands of references available.

Any reputable Partner should be able to provide a solid track record of successful implementations or, at most, use cases to showcase past experience. Experience = value.

Checking Methodology Processes

Now, let's discuss methodology. While it can be a little daunting for non-techies, it's critical to note that this is how a given Partner will tackle any Implementation. Expertise is typically driven through a structured and proven methodology that aligns with project goals and expectations.

Take a look at Odoo's recent update to their Implementation Methodology Booklet. ⬇️

Some typical questions include:

• Does an Odoo Partner follow a specific Framework or Methodology
• How is the 'Project Management' handled?

All critical to ensuring that any engagement stays on track and within budget. Flexibility is, of course, critical, too, alongside regular communication and transparency. Ensure that when using a Partner, thorough testing and training are conducted. Training is critical to this process, as well as ensuring that your team knows how to use Odoo effectively. For me I can express how important this is.

The Human Factor

Any Odoo Partner shouldn't be a 'selling machine' or an 'emotionless robot' - harsh but true. The 'human' factor, as I like to call it, is something that I think is often overlooked. While it's all well knowing that a Partner can get an implementation done, they should also be able to match your values and core company concepts. Ensuring that an Odoo Partner can be suitable culturally and fit within the team.

I kid, of course, but it's a point I recommend not to be overlooked - like expertise if you don't emotionally click with a partner, then the relationship becomes sour.

Proximity and availability can also play a significant part. In many cases, companies will find better use in a partner's expertise when they are local to a certain region. This comes back into play with key aspects like:

- Being able to provide on-site support

- Being able to provide remote support

- Being effective in communication

- Addressing concerns promptly

- Ensuring proactivity across operations

Any partner who can further cater towards your needs emotionally and be accessible and ready will help you ensure that a project runs smoothly and issues are quickly resolved. I lot of the 'Human Factor' plays additionally into that gut feeling. Does something feel right?

Clarification & Transparency In Costings

As with any other project or platform, there is an associated cost. While that is natural and understandable, it's important that Partners are transparent in their costings and, of course, ensure that there are no hidden costs. That is a big NO.

Different partners will charge different prices dependant on expertise, rank and scope of project.

Being clear about budget and costs from the start is, well, a standard practice, you would think. Inquire about different components and ensure that a breakdown is given across implementation fees, support (if needed), licenses, customisations etc. A transparent and well-detailed partner should be providing a breakdown.

And, of course, ensuring that there are no hidden costs.

I think it's always relevant to note partners that will charge significantly lower or significantly higher. Typically, there is always a reason, but it's important that quality of service and support is paramount and not affected. Indeed, referring to the long term as well, being transparent regarding budget means a better-fostered relationship and avoiding unpleasant surprises.

The Aftercare Process - Ensuring Quality Support & Maintenance After Implementation

As I said before, it's all about the long term. An engagement shouldn't stop after a product is implemented. Support, Aftercare, and Maintenance should follow.

Odoo Partners often approaches this using a phased process. More likely than not, companies need support in upgrading and ensuring consistent growth.

- Will the partner provide aftercare support?

- What is the response time for critical issues?

- Is there a post-implementation plan in place?

Understanding the level of support available always gives peace of mind, knowing that support is just a call or email away. It can often be neglected but companies should be regularly looking to undertake system health checks to ensure efficiency. This can often be misunderstood as well. When completing a health check, it doesn't mean that the system is not fit for purpose but focuses more on new processes to be implemented or new functionality.

Partner Checklist Criteria

To ensure you are entirely happy before making a decision, I would highly recommend that you consult this checklist criteria before starting the process.

Technical Factors

• Implementation Methodology processes
• Test their expertise
• Documentation is critical
• Maintenance of Customisations
• Risk Mitigation
• How is Change Management dealt with?
• Is GAP Analysis being offered?
• Will a Project Roadmap be supplied?

Emotional Factors

• Are they local enough?
• Do they fit 'my' values as a human?
• Time + resource management

Additional Factors

• Database Access Rights
• Intellectual Property confirmation
• Who is working on the team?
• Get customer references from others!!!

Have you used the checklist before making a decision?

The Bottom Line

In reality, the bottom line of this article is to ensure that you are getting the service you deserve based on your investment. The good news is that within the Odoo community, there are hundreds of brilliant partners who can assist in ensuring that your journey with Odoo is fuelled with positivity and growth.

Don't neglect homework mixed with intuition to make an informed decision.

Of course, if you need additional support in picking a partner - Odoo are always there to lend a hand/some advice before making a decision.

I'd lastly like to thank the inspiration for prompting me to write about this topic and add my own twist and thoughts. While some would consider this 'controversial,' it's all about education and fostering long-term growth with the platform to ensure every implementation is a success.