Odoo Customisation vs Standard Odoo – What Should You Choose?

Choosing the right ERP is a strategic business decision — but choosing how to implement it is even more critical.

One of the most common questions businesses ask before adopting Odoo is:

Should we use standard Odoo or go for customisation?

The answer depends on your business complexity, growth plans, and long-term vision.

At Vraja Technologies, we help businesses make the right Odoo decisions by balancing speed, scalability, and sustainability. In this blog, we’ll break down the differences, benefits, risks, and best practices to help you choose the right approach.

What Is Standard Odoo?

Standard Odoo refers to using Odoo’s built-in modules and features as-is, without modifying the core business logic or workflows.

Common Standard Odoo Modules

• Sales & CRM
• Purchase Management
• Inventory & Accounting
• Manufacturing (MRP)
• Website & eCommerce
• HR, Project & Helpdesk

Suggested Screenshot (Odoo 17 / 18 / 19):

• Sales → Orders → Quotations list view
• Standard Sales Order form (no custom fields)
• Default workflow buttons: Confirm → Delivery → Invoice

Purpose: Show how Odoo works out-of-the-box without customization.

Advantages of Standard Odoo (Detailed)

1. Faster Implementation & Go-Live
   Standard Odoo follows predefined workflows, allowing businesses to deploy ERP systems quickly without long development cycles. This is ideal when speed-to-market is critical.
2. Lower Initial Investment
   Since there is little to no custom development, costs remain predictable and affordable — especially for startups and SMEs.
3. Upgrade-Friendly Architecture
   Standard Odoo aligns fully with Odoo’s core updates, making version upgrades (Odoo 17 → 18 → 19) smoother and less risky.
4. Stable & Community-Tested Features
   Core modules are widely used across industries, ensuring reliability, fewer bugs, and long-term support.
5. Simpler User Training
   Employees can easily learn Odoo using official documentation and tutorials without needing custom training material.

Limitations of Standard Odoo (Detailed)

1. Limited Process Flexibility
   Businesses with non-standard workflows may struggle to fit their operations into Odoo’s default structure.
2. Manual Workarounds
   Teams often rely on spreadsheets or manual steps to handle exceptions, increasing operational risk.
3. Not Industry-Specific by Default
   Logistics, manufacturing, and compliance-heavy industries often require functionality beyond standard modules.
4. Reduced Competitive Advantage
   Using the same ERP flows as competitors may limit differentiation in operations and customer experience.
5. Scalability Constraints
   As transaction volumes grow, lack of automation may lead to inefficiencies.

What Is Odoo Customization?

Odoo Customization means extending or modifying Odoo to match your exact business needs using:

• Custom Odoo modules
• Python (ORM) logic
• XML views & workflows
• API & third-party integrations
• Automated rules & dashboards

Customization ensures Odoo adapts to your business — not the other way around.

Examples of Odoo Customization

• Custom pricing & discount rules
• Advanced shipping & freight calculations
• Multi-warehouse automation
• Custom dashboards for CSR, Finance, or Warehouse teams
• Third-party API integrations (Shipping, Payments, Marketplaces, EDI, FTP)

Suggested Screenshot (Odoo 17 / 18 / 19):

• Custom dashboard with KPIs (using Studio or custom module)
• Tiles for Orders, Revenue, Pending Deliveries
• Role-based view for CSR / Accounts / Warehouse

Purpose: Demonstrate power of customization and role-specific insights.

Advantages of Odoo Customization (Detailed)

1. Business-First ERP Design
   Customization ensures Odoo mirrors your real-world processes rather than forcing operational compromises.
2. End-to-End Automation
   Automated pricing, inventory routing, invoicing, and reporting significantly reduce human intervention.
3. Higher Productivity & Accuracy
   Employees focus on value-added tasks instead of repetitive data entry.
4. Industry-Specific Workflows
   Custom modules enable compliance, documentation, and process control tailored to your industry.
5. Data-Driven Decision Making
   Custom dashboards and reports provide actionable insights across departments.

Risks of Customization (If Done Wrong)

1. Upgrade Complexity
   Poorly designed customizations may break during version upgrades.
2. Performance Bottlenecks
   Inefficient code can slow down critical operations.
3. Over-Engineering
   Customizing every minor requirement increases complexity without proportional ROI.
4. Higher Maintenance Costs
   Lack of documentation and modularity leads to long-term dependency and expenses.

⚠️ Best Practice: Always follow modular, upgrade-safe, and well-documented development standards.

Standard Odoo vs Customized Odoo – Comparison

When Should You Choose Standard Odoo?

Standard Odoo is ideal if:

• ✔ Your processes align with Odoo’s default flows
• ✔ You are a startup or small business
• ✔ Budget is limited
• ✔ You need quick go-live
• ✔ Minimal automation is acceptable

Best Use Cases

• Retail & trading businesses
• Simple manufacturing
• Service-based companies
• Early-stage startups

Suggested Screenshot (Odoo 17 / 18 / 19):

• Apps menu showing Sales, Inventory, Accounting enabled
• Default dashboard widgets without Studio customization

Purpose: Highlight simplicity and quick usability of Standard Odoo.

When Should You Choose Odoo Customization?

Customization is recommended if:

• ✔ You have complex workflows
• ✔ You want deep automation
• ✔ You handle large data volumes
• ✔ You need third-party integrations
• ✔ You want ERP to support future growth

Best Use Cases

• Logistics & shipping companies
• Manufacturing with advanced BOMs
• eCommerce with multi-warehouse setups
• Enterprises with compliance requirements
• Fast-scaling businesses

Suggested Screenshot (Odoo 17 / 18 / 19):

• Inventory → Picking operations (custom buttons or logic)
• Shipping label generation screen (ShipStation / carrier integration)
• Automated tracking update in Sales Order

Purpose: Showcase advanced automation achievable with customization.

The Hybrid Approach – Best of Both Worlds

Most successful Odoo implementations follow a Hybrid Model:

• Use Standard Odoo wherever possible
• Apply Customization only where it adds real business value

This approach ensures:

• Faster implementation
• Lower risk
• Easy upgrades
• High ROI

Need Expert Guidance?

At Vraja Technologies, we specialise in:

• Odoo implementation & customization
• Shipping, EDI, FTP & marketplace integrations
• Performance-optimized architecture
• Upgrade-safe development

We help businesses turn Odoo into a growth engine, not just an ERP.

📩 Let’s discuss how Odoo can work for your business — the right way.