Much more than a simple ERP, a suite of business Apps
Odoo (acronym for On Demand Open Object) marks the evolution from ERP to an offering of tools for businesses provided in SaaS mode or as an open-source version. It's a suite of business apps, not just a simple Enterprise Resource Planning system, as summarized by Fabien Pinckaers, the founder of OpenERP. Integration out-of-the-box: beyond traditional ERP
The name change from OpenERP to Odoo indeed signifies that it's not only an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software but also a software that provides a large number of modules (Apps). In total, there are well over 3000 additional applications including CRM, project management modules, e-commerce innovations, and website builders, personnel management.
For those who have experience with previous versions of OpenERP, it's evident that the two real innovations in Odoo are the website builder (an integrated CMS, albeit still not very powerful) and the e-commerce engine integrated with the ERP (online sales are directly connected to supplier management, customer management, purchasing, sales, warehouse, billing, etc.).
As already mentioned, Odoo is available under an open-source license (continuing the tradition) by downloading the package from the website, or as a SaaS, meaning using the servers of OpenERP SA directly (free for only two users). In both cases, the software you use is exactly the same. If in doubt, you can ask for more information here.
Odoo presents itself to companies as a unique tool that meets all needs (ERP, but also website and e-commerce) without the need to integrate different software. Already from version 7.0, OpenERP, always keeping up with the times, had begun to innovate the traditional Enterprise Resource Planning by integrating it with collaboration features inspired by Social Media to increase its efficiency in a context where the sharing of business information tools (email, file sharing, etc.) was hindered.
Odoo management appWith the transition to the new version, there is a shift from Launchpad to GitHub for reasons related to speed and data organization. The terminology also changes: 'master' is used instead of 'trunk'.
Finally, despite the disappearance of the term 'Open,' Odoo remains an open-source management tool because the Community Edition available for download continues to use the GNU AGPL license.
