Specialized Tools
If you are currently looking for an answer to this question, I want to start by congratulating you. The desire to switch to a more advanced tool stems from the fact that your company has grown to the point where a simple (yet powerful) tool like Excel is no longer enough. You have undoubtedly put in a lot of hard work to reach this stage. Congratulations. So, what is the next step?
Naturally, it is choosing a tool that will streamline your work, allow you to reclaim time, or regain control over what is happening in your warehouse. There are many reasons to switch from Excel to another tool, and every one of them is valid—as long as you feel that Excel is slowing down your current operations.
Just remember that there are many different systems—some more advanced than others—but it is their proper implementation and usage that determines whether the software will succeed. In this article, you will learn what I recommend and why.
Adapt IT – Software Selection Philosophy
Some systems offer a vast array of tools, but in the end, you only use 20% of them (following the Pareto principle, where 20% of features account for 80% of the value). Sometimes, the sheer number of options is discouraging—the noise caused by an overcrowded UI makes the system difficult to use. That is one extreme. The other extreme is a lack of options... but that is likely where you are right now. After all, you are looking for something "better than Excel," so you feel something is missing. What you are looking for lies between these two extremes.
The software you choose should not have a million different options. It should simply be right. To use an allegory—in a city, the car model you drive has a minimal impact on how quickly you reach your destination. Similarly, many systems exist, but which one you choose matters little as long as it meets your assumptions and requirements.
But we do have a suggestion!
What to choose instead of Excel for inventory control? Odoo!
Due to its versatility, configurability, and the options available as standard, Adapt IT bets on Odoo. Our philosophy is consistent with what this software offers. I believe that this is your first, natural step when moving from Excel to the world of ERP-class systems.
Why?
First and foremost, Odoo is simple. Truly.
During a meeting with my Partner Manager from Odoo, he said that Odoo works in a way that focuses on the most important functionalities. This sentence resonated fully with what I felt while using and exploring Odoo. You won't find a million features that you might only use once or twice. You will find the most important ones.
By choosing Odoo, you benefit from this simplicity. You will grasp the program's operation quickly, all essential information will be right on the surface, and your employees—the system users—won't be discouraged. The time saved on configuration will be noticeable. The software overhead will be minimal—it will be a tool that helps you work, not one that adds more work.
Odoo for Inventory Control
Odoo Functionality for Logistics
Odoo has a dedicated Inventory module. It is through this module that you will gain control over your stock levels. You can use this module as a standalone application, but if you need to link it with, for example, sales orders or transport using your own fleet—that is also possible.
The Odoo Inventory module allows you, among other things, to:
Track current logistics orders on a single Dashboard. You can see the total number of orders and the number of late orders. You can quickly jump to the order list.
View a list of expected deliveries, shipments, and internal transfers. Depending on the configuration—warehouse movements for production, deliveries, and receipts from subcontractors, as well as Quality Control operations.
View and perform inventory counts (stocktakes) divided by warehouse zones. You can define which zone holds which products and set the maximum weight/load capacity of shelves.
Define products, their replenishment paths, and logistic routes.
Improve work efficiency using barcode scanners—this speeds up work and limits the number of errors.
Calculate actual product costs related to warehouse logistics.
Access a history of stock moves and analysis tools (tables, charts, dashboards).
Manage documents linked to warehouse movements.
Prepare packages (order picking) in various types: batch, cluster, and wave picking.
Integrate carrier accounts (DHL, DPD, etc.) to control deliveries to customers.
Handle dropshipping models.
I may have missed something here. If you are looking for a solution to a specific problem and are having trouble finding it, schedule a call here or send an email with your question (via the Adapt IT contact form or directly to dawid.gacek@adapt-it.pl). I will respond quickly as to whether Odoo will meet your requirements.
What does Odoo look like from the inside?
If you haven't seen what Odoo looks like from a user's perspective, I will present a few screenshots shortly. Importantly, Odoo views are mobile-friendly—so you can monitor logistics from anywhere. There is also a mobile app.
The content presented is from the Enterprise version. Not all functionalities are available in the Community version, but a large portion are. This is a matter of implementation and cost.
When you enter the Odoo Inventory module, the main view you will see is the Dashboard:
Image 1. Odoo Inventory Dashboard
The dashboard view consists of tiles for different operation types: Receipts, Deliveries, Internal Transfers, etc. The ones shown above are standard implementations, but you can also add your own. In this view, all movements are visible—in this case, including those related to Manufacturing and the Point of Sale (PoS).
By going to a list (e.g., clicking "4 To Receive"), we see a list of expected warehouse receipts:
Image 2. List of warehouse receipts – Odoo Inventory
When opening a specific order, the information form looks like this:
Image 3. Receipt information form – Odoo Inventory
On this form, we see all information about what should be received and when. Additional information regarding weight and dimensions is also available. On the right side, there is a chatter panel (empty in the screenshot) for change history and communication. You can write notes about this movement, send an email directly to the customer, or add an activity (reminder) for yourself or another employee. Every employee with access to the module will see the history.
The view of stock levels and the list of movements look as follows. Note that we have a convenient search bar with grouping capabilities, which significantly speeds up work.
Image 4. Stock move history – Odoo Inventory
Image 5. Product stock levels (in this case, a warehouse not divided into zones) – Odoo Inventory
Adapt IT Offer – From Excel to the Odoo Logistics System
As I mentioned, Odoo is software. It must be properly configured to assist us in our work. There are many ways to configure Odoo—from simple warehouse movements (in one step) to complex logistics operations.
Since switching from Excel to Odoo involves a challenge and an increased workload, be cautious about the implementation. Do not leave this solely on the shoulders of your employees, who are likely already overloaded with work.
You risk a flawed implementation and frustration that leads to resistance against using the system you want to adopt. And a lot of wasted time.
Choose Adapt IT as your implementation partner. We have experience in logistics. We will analyze how Odoo can best meet your requirements and expectations for an inventory control system. We will implement the tool and train the users. This will make the transition from Excel to Odoo natural. And you will finally feel that the system is supporting you, rather than standing in your way.
Schedule a meeting. Move to advanced inventory control.