End-to-End ERP Transformation for Visual Citi: From NetSuite to a Fully Integrated Odoo Ecosystem
Overview
Visual Citi is a B2B manufacturing and services company specializing in retail displays, signage, and custom fabrication. Their operations span multiple disciplines including design, manufacturing, installation, and project delivery across retail and commercial real estate environments.
As the business scaled, their existing system, NetSuite, was no longer aligned with how their teams actually worked. They needed a system that could handle both manufacturing complexity and project-based execution without forcing workarounds.
Bista Solutions implemented a fully integrated Odoo ERP system to replace NetSuite and unify operations across departments.
The Challenge
Visual Citi was dealing with a fragmented workflow across sales, projects, manufacturing, and finance.
Key issues included:
- Disconnected systems between CRM, project management, and manufacturing
- Manual handoffs between teams, increasing errors and delays
- Limited visibility into real-time project costs and margins
- Inefficient estimation and BOM calculations
- Complex delivery requirements with multi-location shipments
- Document management scattered across systems
- Dependency on NetSuite with limited flexibility for customization
At its core, the problem was not just software; it was a lack of continuity across the business lifecycle.
The Objective
The goal was straightforward but ambitious.Visual Citi needed a single system that could:
- Manage the entire lead-to-cash lifecycle
- Support both project-based and manufacturing workflows
- Provide accurate, real-time cost and margin visibility
- Automate data flow across departments
- Improve customer experience through transparency and faster approvals
- Preserve historical data while transitioning from NetSuite
This was not a module implementation, it was a full operational rebuild.
The Solution
Bista Solutions implemented Odoo as a centralized ERP platform, connecting all core business functions into a single workflow.
Core Modules Implemented
The system included:
- CRM for lead and opportunity management
- Sales for quotation and order processing
- Project Management for execution and task coordination
- Manufacturing for BOMs, job cards, and production tracking
- Inventory for warehouse and delivery management
- Purchase for vendor and procurement workflows
- Accounting for multi-company financial management
- Customer Portal for approvals and communication
Each module was not just configured, but deeply connected to ensure data flowed without duplication or manual intervention.
Key Integrations
To support end-to-end operations, several integrations were implemented.
Avalara Tax Integration
- Automated line-level tax calculations
- Real-time tax updates across quotes, orders, and invoices
- Support for multi-state compliance
Google Drive Integration
- Automatic project-based folder creation
- Version control and access management
- Centralized document storage tied to workflows
NetSuite Migration
- Full migration of financial and master data
- Preservation of legacy IDs and relationships
- No disruption to ongoing operations
Custom Development
Out-of-the-box functionality was not enough. Several critical custom systems were built.
Estimation Management System
- Full estimation lifecycle with version control
- Multi-currency support
- Direct conversion from estimate to sales order
- BOM-driven pricing with manual overrides
Dynamic BOM Calculation Engine
- Real-time cost calculation across materials, labor, & subcontracting
- Margin and markup automation
- Ability to reverse-calculate costs from selling price
- Controlled pricing modes
Multi-Shipment Management
- Multiple delivery addresses per order
- Shipment-level tax calculations
- Consolidated invoicing across deliveries
Customer Portal
- Quote approvals with digital signatures
- Centralized communication through chatter
- Access to project documents and updates
Workflow Transformation
The biggest impact came from how workflows were redesigned.
Lead to Cash
- Leads convert into projects, then estimates, then quotes, then orders
- Data flows automatically across each stage
- No re-entry, no duplication
Manufacturing
- BOMs generated directly from estimates
- Job cards created from sales orders
- Production scheduling aligned with project timelines
Procurement
- Purchase requests triggered from project and sales data
- Vendor RFQs automated
- Vendor portal supports pricing input
Project Execution
- Tasks auto-created for design, production, and delivery
- Role-based assignments for engineers and designers
- Stage tracking ensures accountability
Results
The implementation produced measurable improvements across the business.
- 100% lead-to-cash workflow automation
- 85% reduction in manual data entry
- 95% improvement in pricing accuracy through real-time cost calculations
- 60% faster quote approvals via customer portal
- 70% reduction in time spent searching for documents
- 50% faster production planning through job card automation
- Full migration from NetSuite with zero data loss
More importantly, the system now reflects how Visual Citi actually works.
Final Takeaway
This project succeeded because it did not try to force Visual Citi into a generic ERP structure. Instead, the system was built around:
- Their hybrid manufacturing and project model
- Their need for precise estimation and costing
- Their operational reality across teams
As such, the result was an ERP system with a connected operational backbone that supported growth without adding unnecessary complexity.
Looking to implement an industry-tailored ERP solution? Contact our team for a free consultation.