A Successful Odoo ERP Implementation Case Study For Trading & Procurement

A Successful Odoo ERP Implementation Case Study for Trading & Procurement

In the competitive world of international trading and procurement, efficient operations and accurate financial insights are essential. Melchers Components GmbH is a trading company in Germany.

With over 150 years of experience, they worked with Softhealer. Together, they replaced SAP and set up a custom Odoo ERP system. This case study highlights the challenges faced, solutions implemented, and measurable outcomes achieved through this digital transformation.

In this case study, we examine Melchers Components GmbH. They are a global trading and procurement company.

We will see how they solved complicated procurement processes. They also dealt with fragmented data and difficult profit calculations using Odoo ERP. Through our successful Odoo ERP implementation, the company achieved smooth tender management, project-specific profit tracking, and integrated operations for faster, data-driven decision-making.

About Company

A subsidiary of a historic trading company founded in 1806, the company has a strong reputation. For two centuries, it has excelled in global trade, including 150 years of success in Asia.

They serve small and medium-sized businesses around the world. They focus on finding technical parts and managing supply chains. They support many industries, from industrial kitchens to train parts. To automate complex procurement and project workflows, the team implemented Odoo ERP, which enabled integrated operations, efficient tender management, and project-specific profit tracking.

The Challenges: When Old Systems Can’t Keep Up

Before their migration, the Company faced critical operational hurdles that hampered efficiency and profit clarity:

Managing Purchases The company provided procurement services to many clients. This meant dealing with purchases from many vendors and a wide range of products. Comparing prices, negotiating terms, and considering various factors for each order made decision-making cumbersome and time-consuming. Their existing system struggled to provide the agility required for effective ERP for trading company operations.
Elusive Project-Level Profit Calculation This was perhaps their most significant challenge. Post-procurement, variable costs piled up, including diverse nation-specific import duties, handling charges, transportation, storage, and insurance fees. Different regions incurred unique landed costs, and the use of multiple third-party warehouses added layers of complexity.

The company needed to calculate profits precisely at a project level for each client. Accurately assessing the profit margins of GP1, GP2, and GP3 for each project proved extremely challenging. This shows a significant gap in their ERP software for trading companies.

The company's initial query clearly articulated their need for workflow automation and an estimated 30% return on investment (ROI). This became the guiding star for our Odoo ERP implementation.

The Softhealer Solution: Custom Odoo ERP Implementation

Looking at the above challenges, we offered custom Odoo-based solutions catering to the company’s specific needs:

1. Tender Management System

Introduced a dedicated Tender Management System in Odoo to automate procurement.
Enabled the company to initiate tenders for each procurement, creating a competitive vendor environment.
Vendors could submit estimates via a user-friendly portal, ensuring transparent and efficient communication.
Provided analytical reports to compare prices, supplier performance, and other critical factors for well-informed purchasing decisions.

2. Analytical Accounting Integration

Implemented Analytical Accounting across all business workflows, including tenders, purchases, sales, and inventory.
The Analytic Account became a centralized tool for calculating gross profits at three levels: GP1, GP2, and GP3.
Enabled project-specific profitability analysis, offering deeper insights for strategic decision-making.
Ensured financial transparency and accurate profit tracking across the entire operation.

3. CRM System

Deployed Odoo CRM to handle the growing volume of inquiries more effectively.
Integrated CRM smoothly with Purchase, Sales, and Tender modules, ensuring a single platform for all customer and vendor interactions.
Improved lead-to-order management, boosting conversion rates and customer relationship visibility.

The Results: What Changed After Odoo ERP Implementation

After implementing Odoo, the company saw major improvements across its business. Here’s what made this a successful ERP implementation case study.

Faster and Smarter Purchases

The new Tender Management System streamlined procurement, reduced manual work by 40%, and improved accuracy in vendor selection.

Clear Financial Insights

Analytical Accounting gave managers real-time visibility into costs and profits, enabling more confident, data-driven financial decisions.

Project-Level Profit Tracking

Odoo ERP allowed easy profit calculation for each project (GP1, GP2, GP3), helping identify and enhance overall profitability.

Stronger Decision-Making

With integrated data across departments, Melchers’ leaders gained full operational visibility for faster, smarter, and more strategic decisions.

Why Odoo ERP Was the Right Choice

This case study about the implementation of an ERP system shows how flexible Odoo can be. Unlike old systems, Odoo is easy to customize and connect. It gives trading and procurement companies everything they need from tender management to accounting and CRM in one place.

For the Company, Odoo turned into the perfect ERP for a trading company setup, simple, fast, and completely integrated.

Conclusion: Digital Success Through Odoo ERP

This Odoo case study proves that even long-established trading companies can transform with the right ERP system.

By working with Softhealer, Melchers Components GmbH achieved:

30% higher operational efficiency
Accurate project-level profit tracking
Faster procurement and financial clarity

This ERP software for trading companies shows how digital transformation can boost performance, accuracy, and growth in the industry.

Are you also looking to automate your business operations?

A Successful Odoo ERP Implementation Case Study For Trading & Procurement