Odoo is the same software everywhere. What makes one project a success and another a year of frustration is the team that sets it up. In our rescue projects, almost every failed Odoo started with a partner chosen on price alone, without a few simple questions being asked.
Here are the questions we would ask if we were the buyer. Ask every partner the same ones and compare the answers side by side.
1. Have you done a project like ours?
A distributor, a factory and a hospital need very different setups. Ask for a project in your industry and of a similar size, and ask if you can speak to that client for ten minutes.
2. Who will actually work on our project?
The person who sells the project is often not the person who builds it. Meet the functional consultant and the developer, and ask how many other projects they are running at the same time.
3. What exactly is included in the price?
A good quote lists the apps, the number of users, what data will be migrated, how many training sessions you get and how many weeks of support follow go-live. If it only says "Odoo implementation", ask for the details in writing.
4. How much custom code do you plan to write?
Every customization has to be maintained and upgraded later. A partner who solves most needs with standard Odoo and ready apps saves you money every year after go-live.
5. What happens after go-live?
Ask about the response time, how support is billed and who you call when invoices stop printing on a Saturday. Support is where long-term relationships are won or lost.
6. Will we own the database and the code?
You should have admin access to your Odoo, a copy of every custom module and the right to move to another partner if you want. Be careful with anyone who keeps these to themselves.
7. How do you handle Pakistani tax and local needs?
Sales tax, withholding, FBR reporting, Urdu documents and local banks all matter. Ask the partner to show how they set these up for another Pakistani client.
The most expensive projects we see are not the ones with the highest quote. They are the ones where nobody wrote down the scope, so every change became an argument. A one-page written scope saves more money than any discount.
Warning signs
- A price given before anyone has asked about your process
- No written scope or timeline
- Heavy customization proposed for standard needs like sales or invoicing
- No access to your own database or source code
- Support that is only "we will see after go-live"
Frequently asked questions
Does the partner need to be in my city?
Not necessarily. Most Odoo work is done remotely today. A few on-site days for workshops and training help, but the quality of the team matters more than the distance.
Should I choose an official Odoo partner?
Official partners are listed by Odoo and resell Enterprise licenses. What matters most is the experience of the team, so ask the questions above to every company you consider.