Lesson 1: ERP with gast speaker
Lesson 1 – ERP Introduction & Implementation (Complete Guide)
This lesson explains:
• What ERP is and why it matters
• How ERP systems like Odoo work
• The common pitfalls and risks of ERP projects
• The 6 key tips for successful ERP implementation
• Hot trends shaping the ERP world like AI and e-invoicing
• A practical case study to show how theory works in real life
1. Introduction – Who is Guidoo and Allan De Permentier
Presenter: Allan De Permentier
• Background:
o Graduated from Solvay Business School
o Worked 3 years at Odoo, gaining first-hand ERP experience
o Co-founded Guidoo to help companies implement Odoo successfully
Why Guidoo Exists:
Many ERP projects fail because companies:
• Don’t have internal ERP expertise
• Don’t know how to manage the project correctly
• Over-customize or mismanage budgets
• Struggle to train staff
Guidoo’s role is to guide companies safely through ERP projects by:
1. Planning strategically
2. Implementing efficiently
3. Training users
4. Supporting long-term success
Guidoo's Key Services
Role Description
Partner with the
Work side-by-side to plan and roll out Odoo step-by-step
client
Project phasing Implement modules gradually, not all at once
Training Teach key users so the company isn’t dependent on consultants forever
Long-term support Version upgrades, bug fixes, future improvements
Configure Odoo, integrate with legacy systems, build custom features when
Technical expertise
needed
Neutral advice Odoo is powerful, but not always the right solution -> Guidoo stays objective
,Why this matters:
ERP projects are not just about installing software.
They involve business transformation, so companies need both:
• Technical guidance (setting up Odoo correctly)
• Change management (helping people adapt to new ways of working)
2. What is ERP? (Enterprise Resource Planning)
Definition
ERP = A single, centralized IT system that integrates all major business processes and departments.
Instead of having separate tools for:
• Sales
• Accounting
• Inventory
• HR
• Marketing
ERP combines them into one unified platform with one database.
The Problem Without ERP
Imagine a company without ERP:
• Sales uses a CRM → has customer data
• Finance uses accounting software → re-enters the same customers manually
• Inventory team uses Excel → no real-time stock info
• Marketing uses another separate tool
Result:
• Duplicate data everywhere → inconsistencies
• Manual work → slow processes
• Errors → shipping the wrong product or invoicing incorrectly
• Lack of visibility → managers don’t know the real state of the business
How ERP Solves This
• Central database → everyone sees the same real-time data
• Automation → repetitive tasks are done automatically
• Integration → all departments connected
ERP is like the “central nervous system” of a company.
History of ERP
• 1960s → First basic inventory and resource tracking tools
• 1990s → ERP exploded in popularity globally
• Today → 99% of large companies use ERP
• Current challenge: Many older systems are outdated and hard to maintain
,3. Benefits vs. Risks of ERP
Benefits (Why ERP is Valuable)
Benefit Why It Matters
Speeds up operations Tasks like order approval happen instantly
Saves time on repetitive tasks Employees can focus on high-value work instead
Reduces errors No more duplicate data or manual re-entry mistakes
Foundation for analytics ERP data can be analyzed to guide decisions
Improves collaboration Everyone works from the same “single source of truth”
Centralizes communication No more endless email chains, updates are in-system
Fewer separate tools Cost savings, easier IT maintenance
Risks (Why ERP Projects Fail)
Risk Why It’s Dangerous
Failed implementation Company wastes huge amounts of money and time
Time-consuming for staff Employees must train and help set up the system
Resistance to change People may refuse to use the new ERP
Consulting costs explode Bad planning = spiraling budget
Technical debt Too much customization → future upgrades become impossible
Obsolete technology ERP becomes outdated if not updated regularly
, Real-Life Example: Lidl's Failed SAP Project (2018)
Lidl tried to implement SAP ERP and spent hundreds of millions of euros.
After 7 years, they canceled the project completely.
4 Lessons from Lidl:
1. Resistance to change kills projects
o Employees didn’t want to adapt to new ways of working.
2. Too much customization destroys ERP
o They forced SAP to fit Lidl’s exact old processes instead of improving processes to
match ERP best practices.
3. Over-reliance on consultants creates dependency
o Lidl’s internal team never learned how to manage SAP themselves.
4. Executives must be aligned
o Without strong leadership, the project had no clear direction.
Takeaway:
ERP success depends on people and leadership, not just software.
4. ERP for SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises)
ERP is not only for big corporations.
Current reality:
• 2/3 of European SMEs operate with no ERP at all.
• Many SMEs use 3–5 disconnected systems:
o Example: Excel + Accounting Software + Google Sheets + Mailchimp
• This leads to inefficiency and hidden costs.
Why SMEs avoid ERP:
• Perceived as too expensive or complicated
• Lack of internal IT expertise
• Fear of change and disruption
Modern ERP solutions like Odoo are changing this:
• Affordable
• Easy to start small
• Can grow with the company
Opportunity: SMEs can gain a huge competitive advantage by adopting ERP early.
5. Odoo – The Modern ERP
Odoo is a modular, open-source ERP:
• You start small, for example just accounting
• Later, you add modules like:
o Inventory
o CRM
o E-commerce
o HR
o Marketing
o Manufacturing
Key value:
All modules share one central database, so there’s no duplication or confusion.
Lesson 1 – ERP Introduction & Implementation (Complete Guide)
This lesson explains:
• What ERP is and why it matters
• How ERP systems like Odoo work
• The common pitfalls and risks of ERP projects
• The 6 key tips for successful ERP implementation
• Hot trends shaping the ERP world like AI and e-invoicing
• A practical case study to show how theory works in real life
1. Introduction – Who is Guidoo and Allan De Permentier
Presenter: Allan De Permentier
• Background:
o Graduated from Solvay Business School
o Worked 3 years at Odoo, gaining first-hand ERP experience
o Co-founded Guidoo to help companies implement Odoo successfully
Why Guidoo Exists:
Many ERP projects fail because companies:
• Don’t have internal ERP expertise
• Don’t know how to manage the project correctly
• Over-customize or mismanage budgets
• Struggle to train staff
Guidoo’s role is to guide companies safely through ERP projects by:
1. Planning strategically
2. Implementing efficiently
3. Training users
4. Supporting long-term success
Guidoo's Key Services
Role Description
Partner with the
Work side-by-side to plan and roll out Odoo step-by-step
client
Project phasing Implement modules gradually, not all at once
Training Teach key users so the company isn’t dependent on consultants forever
Long-term support Version upgrades, bug fixes, future improvements
Configure Odoo, integrate with legacy systems, build custom features when
Technical expertise
needed
Neutral advice Odoo is powerful, but not always the right solution -> Guidoo stays objective
,Why this matters:
ERP projects are not just about installing software.
They involve business transformation, so companies need both:
• Technical guidance (setting up Odoo correctly)
• Change management (helping people adapt to new ways of working)
2. What is ERP? (Enterprise Resource Planning)
Definition
ERP = A single, centralized IT system that integrates all major business processes and departments.
Instead of having separate tools for:
• Sales
• Accounting
• Inventory
• HR
• Marketing
ERP combines them into one unified platform with one database.
The Problem Without ERP
Imagine a company without ERP:
• Sales uses a CRM → has customer data
• Finance uses accounting software → re-enters the same customers manually
• Inventory team uses Excel → no real-time stock info
• Marketing uses another separate tool
Result:
• Duplicate data everywhere → inconsistencies
• Manual work → slow processes
• Errors → shipping the wrong product or invoicing incorrectly
• Lack of visibility → managers don’t know the real state of the business
How ERP Solves This
• Central database → everyone sees the same real-time data
• Automation → repetitive tasks are done automatically
• Integration → all departments connected
ERP is like the “central nervous system” of a company.
History of ERP
• 1960s → First basic inventory and resource tracking tools
• 1990s → ERP exploded in popularity globally
• Today → 99% of large companies use ERP
• Current challenge: Many older systems are outdated and hard to maintain
,3. Benefits vs. Risks of ERP
Benefits (Why ERP is Valuable)
Benefit Why It Matters
Speeds up operations Tasks like order approval happen instantly
Saves time on repetitive tasks Employees can focus on high-value work instead
Reduces errors No more duplicate data or manual re-entry mistakes
Foundation for analytics ERP data can be analyzed to guide decisions
Improves collaboration Everyone works from the same “single source of truth”
Centralizes communication No more endless email chains, updates are in-system
Fewer separate tools Cost savings, easier IT maintenance
Risks (Why ERP Projects Fail)
Risk Why It’s Dangerous
Failed implementation Company wastes huge amounts of money and time
Time-consuming for staff Employees must train and help set up the system
Resistance to change People may refuse to use the new ERP
Consulting costs explode Bad planning = spiraling budget
Technical debt Too much customization → future upgrades become impossible
Obsolete technology ERP becomes outdated if not updated regularly
, Real-Life Example: Lidl's Failed SAP Project (2018)
Lidl tried to implement SAP ERP and spent hundreds of millions of euros.
After 7 years, they canceled the project completely.
4 Lessons from Lidl:
1. Resistance to change kills projects
o Employees didn’t want to adapt to new ways of working.
2. Too much customization destroys ERP
o They forced SAP to fit Lidl’s exact old processes instead of improving processes to
match ERP best practices.
3. Over-reliance on consultants creates dependency
o Lidl’s internal team never learned how to manage SAP themselves.
4. Executives must be aligned
o Without strong leadership, the project had no clear direction.
Takeaway:
ERP success depends on people and leadership, not just software.
4. ERP for SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises)
ERP is not only for big corporations.
Current reality:
• 2/3 of European SMEs operate with no ERP at all.
• Many SMEs use 3–5 disconnected systems:
o Example: Excel + Accounting Software + Google Sheets + Mailchimp
• This leads to inefficiency and hidden costs.
Why SMEs avoid ERP:
• Perceived as too expensive or complicated
• Lack of internal IT expertise
• Fear of change and disruption
Modern ERP solutions like Odoo are changing this:
• Affordable
• Easy to start small
• Can grow with the company
Opportunity: SMEs can gain a huge competitive advantage by adopting ERP early.
5. Odoo – The Modern ERP
Odoo is a modular, open-source ERP:
• You start small, for example just accounting
• Later, you add modules like:
o Inventory
o CRM
o E-commerce
o HR
o Marketing
o Manufacturing
Key value:
All modules share one central database, so there’s no duplication or confusion.
