Odoo is a complete and versatile system. However, this also makes it challenging for a new user to set up. That’s why we have created a complete configuration specifically for energy installers together with our Odoo partner Latus. We have already done the groundwork, so you can quickly get started with this all-in-one solution.
What is Odoo and why is it suitable for installation companies?
Odoo is a modular ERP and CRM system. This means you can start with what you need now and expand later. For installation companies, this means having control over:
- Customers and sales opportunities
- Quotes and calculations
- Field service planning
- Inventory and purchasing
- Invoicing and accounting
Thanks to the integration with Solar Monkey, Odoo also seamlessly connects to the specific needs of companies that design and sell solar energy systems. From within Odoo, you can create Solar Monkey projects, and all quote details flow back into Odoo in return.
Odoo CRM: control over your customers and sales opportunities
A good CRM system provides overview and structure in your sales process. With Odoo you can:
- Manage your sales funnel from lead to order
- Plan and log activities: appointments, phone calls, notes
- Set up automatic email flows for follow-up
- Gain immediate complete insight into all communication and matters with a contact. All information always directly accessible.
- Gain insight into conversions and performance per salesperson
Quotes and calculations (with Solar Monkey)
Quotes for energy systems are often complex. With the Odoo and Solar Monkey integration, you make this efficient and error-free.
- create a project by clicking directly from Odoo to Solar Monkey
- Panel layouts are designed directly in Solar Monkey
- Yield calculations for solar panels, including self-consumption and battery scenarios
- Sleek online quotes with digital signing
- Automatic transfer of calculations, product list, pricing and quote status from Solar Monkey to Odoo
- After accepting the quote in Solar Monkey, automation in Odoo is initiated for work preparation and installation
Products and services from the Solar Monkey quote are automatically synchronized to Odoo. This also includes the acceptance of the quote, so you can immediately proceed with planning.
Efficiently managing planning and field service
For installation companies, good coordination of technicians and installations is of great importance to deliver quality work. Odoo supports this with:
- Project planning with calendar integration: easily schedule teams and technicians.
- Digital work orders with clear descriptions, work specifications and, if desired, a link to the accepted quote.
- Automatic notifications to both customer and employees, via email or WhatsApp.
- Hours and leave registration per employee, which is directly visible in the planning.
- Upload photos and documents from the workplace, on customizable work order templates.
- Any additional work can be correctly transferred to the invoice immediately.
Automate inventory management and purchasing
You’ll no longer have surprises with shortages or surpluses. With Odoo, you keep control of your inventory, saving you costs and time.
- Real-time insight into inventory
- Automatic purchase proposals based on planned installations
- Barcode scanning in warehouses
Managing maintenance and service contracts:
With Odoo, you manage not only the initial installation but also the relationship afterward:
- Easily register maintenance contracts and subscriptions
- Create and track service requests for customer support
- Schedule periodic maintenance and link to customer files
HR and time tracking in Odoo
Efficient personnel management helps with better deployment of your team:
- Time tracking linked to projects or work orders
- Leave registration for insight into capacity
- Reports on team productivity and availability
Accounting and financial integrations
Invoicing and administration run directly in Odoo.
- Connections with well-known accounting packages such as Exact, Twinfield, and AFAS
- Convert quotes and projects directly into invoices
- Cashflow insights through automatic linking of payments and outstanding items
Dashboards and insights
All business processes come together in clear reports, which are easy to compile:
- Sales performance per salesperson or lead source
- Operational insight into progress of projects and occupancy
- Financial insight into revenue, costs, and margins
Marketing and customer communications
It’s no longer necessary to purchase a separate email marketing tool. Simply manage it from Odoo and stay in contact with your customers:
- Email marketing and campaigns
- Automatic confirmations and summaries to customers
- Lead nurturing through integration of marketing and CRM
Conclusion: why Odoo is one of the best ERP systems for installation companies
Odoo is a flexible and complete software platform that helps installation companies streamline processes. From CRM to quotes, from planning to invoicing, and even from marketing to accounting: everything comes together in one system. Thanks to the integration with Solar Monkey, complex energy calculations are also directly part of the process
Schedule a demo and discover how Odoo and Solar Monkey help your installation business grow.
Hi, I’m Joost! Via the button below, you can book a meeting with me and we’ll look together at how we can best set up Odoo & Solar Monkey for you.
Joost Bronsing
FAQ
Together with our partner, we have developed a version of Odoo that is specifically designed for sustainable installers and connected to Solar Monkey. It costs €60 per user per month.
Setup costs depend on your requirements and how much you are willing to set up yourself. A standard setup costs a one-time fee of €2750.
Yes, a direct integration is available. This allows you to automatically transfer calculations and quotes from Solar Monkey into Odoo.
Although the abundance of functionalities can be overwhelming for small businesses, thanks to its modular structure, you can start with just CRM or quotes and later expand with planning, inventory, or HR. Because it’s such a complete system, you can always scale up and never need to change your business software again. So it depends a bit on your ambitions. If you’re a one-person operation and you’re fine with that, we wouldn’t recommend Odoo. If you’re still small now but want to grow, then it’s an excellent choice.
Odoo combineert CRM en ERP in één platform. Daardoor werk je niet met losse tools, maar met één geïntegreerde oplossing. (Zie ons aparte artikel met de vergelijking).
For most installation companies, CRM, quotes, planning, and invoicing are the most important modules to start with. After that, you can expand with marketing and potentially inventory management and purchasing.
