Odoo version upgrade: SICTIAM winning bet to break the technical deadlock and find a tool that serves the business.

The context

The dead end of an over-customized tool that hinders its evolution

SICTIAM is a public operator specializing in supporting local authorities with digital services and energy. A key player in the digital transformation of territories, SICTIAM provides a range of IT services, training, and studies to its members .
 

Faced with Odoo version 12, which had become over-customized over the years through the accumulation of specific developments and technical overlays, the tool had become a dead end. Its rigidity and complexity prevented any native updates and jeopardized the long-term viability of the information system. SICTIAM therefore chose Smile to regain an ERP system that served its business needs by upgrading to Odoo v18.

Our approach

Challenge each need to find the standard solution

Smile's guiding principle was to adhere as closely as possible to the Odoo standard to ensure the sustainability of developments and their future maintenance. The methodology began with a thorough scoping phase to understand SICTIAM's business activities, processes, and specific needs, before challenging each requirement based on Smile's expertise in Odoo.
Once the most suitable standard Odoo solutions were identified, design workshops enabled the integration of SICTIAM's business processes into the solution. Smile took into account the organization's specific characteristics (member management, differentiated pricing, specific needs of each department) while remaining within the tool's standard framework.
Finally, to evolve team practices towards the standard while maintaining the same business objective, Smile supported this change management process through key user training, impact analysis on business operations, and anticipation of future developments.

The result

An ERP version upgrade to better serve business needs

More than just a technical update, this upgrade to Odoo v18 now places Odoo at the heart of SICTIAM's processes:

• Centralization and interconnection of the platform: Odoo has established itself as the central repository for digital services and member relations, and as a true strategic management tool. Furthermore, Odoo is interconnected with the member portal, automatically updating it with any new interaction (support requests, central purchasing requests, etc.).
• Sustainability of the IS assured: Thanks to Smile's expertise in compliance and development in accordance with Odoo standards, Sictiam can now natively upgrade to new versions, integrate new modules and evolve its tool at the pace of its business needs, without risk of finding itself in a dead end again.
• Optimized training management: Automation of training processes while taking into account the specificities of communities, allowing time to be saved and new programs to be implemented.
• Increased productivity: Business process automation has saved time for teams who have naturally adopted the tool, allowing them to reinvest that time in high-value tasks. For example, invoice processing has been reduced from 2 days to just 2 hours per month.
• Enhanced member experience: Local authorities now have real-time access to their data via the member portal powered by Odoo, thus strengthening trust with SICTIAM.