Top 10 Features to Consider for Any ERP Solution

ERP Solution

ERP Software

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software provides various important functions that integrate each department of a business all over the world by providing a real-time view of data and tasks. ERP efficiently manages every department processes for better decision making and progress of the organization.In this blog, we are presenting 10 must-have features Fast User Adoption & Easy to use of ERP

Before making an ERP investment, following qualities have to look for:

1.Fast User Adoption & Easy to use:

An ERP solution should be such that the users get acquainted with the flows easily and thus the company can make the most the ERP.

2.Modular & Comprehensive:

Because of the modular characteristics, an organization can utilize and pay for only those module which is required eliminating the need to pay for extra modules.

3.Platform scalability and flexibility:

An ERP system has to be flexible and scalable, meaning that it can be adaptable to new requirements so you need not replace it with another ERP system if any requirement emerges.

4.Corporate-wide visibility:

ERP system should be able to provide complete visibility in all the process across the various department in the organization.

5.Best Business Practices:

An ERP is efficient at following best practices if it can achieve an optimize solution in minimum steps. It makes the most of its fundamental features and ensures the increase in services and quality in reduced cost and minimum time.

6.Customer Relationship Management Integration:

CRM module is important and widely used in businesses. A complete CRM module makes certain proper management of lead, customer, opportunities and altogether better support to your customer and further progress of  a  business.

7.Finance and accounting:

An ERP system with an efficient finance management module provides financial reporting and tax requirements with a single accounting, payment systems and banking. It also provides managers with real-time information.

8.Powerful Business Intelligence/Decision Support:

One of the advantages of BI integration with an ERP system is the ability to give real-time look at the data to the manager so that they can take decisions in the short and long terms.

9.Mobile functionality:

An ERP solution should be such that it provides mobile access to its database and processes.  Using such an ERP System, companies can ensure their employees get dynamic information the company processes.

10.Ease of integration:

Every business functions differently and therefore there might be some additional supporting software that needs to integrate with the ERP software in order to avoid using multiple software’s to manage one department. Hence it is essential to check the integration abilities of the ERP software.

Therefore we can conclude that an ERP system accelerates production, manages various components within an organization and thereby promotes the growth of a business. Hence choosing a right ERP system that has the above mentioned essential features and right  ERP Solutions provider plays a crucial role in any ERP software implementation.

For details on choosing the right ERP for your business to reach us at sales@bistasolutions.com And for more queries or feedback on this blog, you can reach us at feedback@bistasolutions.com

Odoo – Magento Connector

Before we discuss about Odoo Magento Connector make sure you have Magento 2.0 and Odoo v9 installed. Following Odoo Magento Connector Extension needs to be added at Magento side. Odoo Magento Connector uses JSON RPC to interact with Odoo in the backend. There is no extra code, plugin needed at the Odoo once we have our ( Odoo Magento Connector ) connector in place. It is mandatory to provide URL, username-password and database name details from Odoo end to get the connector up and running. Whenever a transaction or change in record happens these new/ updated records will be pushed to Odoo and vice versa. Transactions such as categories, products, orders etc.

How to track the Magento records in Odoo?

Odoo holds lots of data, so how do we track which records of Odoo and which is of Magento?

Here is how we can do it. Every time a record is inserted in Odoo there is a Magento id field which is the reference to the record in Magento using which we can filter the data. It covers integration for following:

  • Category Integration

  • Products Integration

  • Product Inventory Integration

  • Product Attribute and its values Integration

  • Customer Integration

  • Sales orders Integration

  • Currency Integration

  • Taxes Integration

  • Payment Method Integration

  • Delivery Method Integration

  • Invoices Integration

  • Pickings i.e. Shipment Integration

  • Cancel Order

Firstly, we need to add configuration details in Magento and test connection with Odoo.

Login to your admin panel go to Stores > Configuration in your left nav.

1

Select OpenERP Configuration Tab under Bista Nav

Fill the required details to connect with Odoo

2

OpenERP Mapping menu in admin side will help you in synchronization of all the data with Odoo after enabling the module for the first time.

3

Following are the features on Odoo 9-Magento 2.0 Connector:

  • Category Menu

This menu shows you the Odoo and Magento category Id mapping and there is a Sync Categories button using which categories will be created/updated in Odoo.

4

Here on the categories can be synchronized as you operate on them when you save / delete category in Categories menu.

5

When saving (create/edit) category in Magento same will be created/updated in Odoo.

6 7

  • Products

T his shows list of product ids mapped with Odoo product ids.

Sync Products button throws all Product data from Magento to Odoo and Product will be created/updated in Odoo.

8 9 10

After Saving (create/edit) Product in magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

11 12

  • Product Attributes

It will throw all Product Attribute data from Magento to Odoo and Product Attribute & its values will be created/updated in Odoo.

13

14

After Saving (create/edit) Product Attribute in Magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

15

And attribute value is as below

16

  • Customer

It will throw all Customer data from Magento to Odoo and Customer will be created/updated in Odoo.

17 18

After Saving (create/edit) Customer in Magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

19

  • Sales orders

20 21 22

It will throw all Sales Order data from Magento to Odoo and Sales Order will be created/updated in Odoo.

23 24

After Saving (create/edit) Sales Order in Magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

  • Currency

It will throw all Sale Order/Currency data from Magento to Odoo and Currency will be created/updated in Odoo.

25

After Saving (create/edit) Sales Order/currency in magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

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  • Taxes

It will throw all sales Order/Tax data from Magento to Odoo and Tax will be created/updated in Odoo.

27

After Saving (create/edit) Sales Order/Tax in magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

28

  • Payment Method

It will throw all Sales Order/Payment Method data from Magento to Odoo and Payment Method will be created/updated in Odoo.

29

After Saving (create/edit) Sales Order/Payment method in Magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

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  • Delivery Method

It will throw all Sales Order/Delivery Method data from Magento to Odoo and Delivery Method will be created in Odoo.

31

After Saving (create/edit) Sales Order/Delivery Method in Magento it will be created/updated in Odoo.

32

To know more about ODOO MAGENTO connectors you can view this video

We Hope this detailed walk through the Odoo-Magento Helps you drive your businesses. For more insights on the connector get in touch with us through sales@bistasolutions.com and tell us how do you like this feature in Odoo through feedback@bistasolutions.com .

Top 5 Tricks to Keeping ERP Costs Down

There are plenty of ERP tools and systems available today in the market , each one offers different capabilities and the source code is available for most of them , having said that you have to pay attention to certain points so that minimum cost and time leads you with the Best Suitable ERP System for your Business. Here is how you can choose the right ERP system for your business and processes in place.

  1. Choose the ERP tool in accordance with your Business Requirement

There are Open source as well as Paid Version of “ERP Tools” available in Market, with their own uniqueness and special Features, so while choosing ERP Tool For Business purpose one should choose a software that meets the requirements and it’s perfectly suitable according to their Business Structure

If the features and functionality required by the company is already available in any ERP Tool , the company go in for directly getting it implemented so the building cost of that functionality would be saved, but should ensure that all the features required by them in Their ERP System are available or feasible to be developed in that “ERP Tool” before making the Decision

2. Choose ERP Vendor Accordingly

After the selection of ERP Tool that is Based on one’s business Requirement , the selection of the ERP Vendor should be done , and during this selection one should take into consideration the “Successful ERP Projects” that ERP Vendor has delivered , Vendors Reputation in ERP Market, One should choose vendor as per the ERP Tool is chosen and Vendors ERP Projects Market Value

It is advisable to choose and ERP Company that has completed plenty of projects in their field and has resources who are aware of the risk involved and are able to resolve such risk, this will help you reduce the time and cost at the later stage of the system Development

3. Use Existing Feature OF ERP Tool

ERP Systems already have certain functionality for the business purpose, in order to Low Down The ERP Cost, The business Analyst should take into consideration the ERP Features already available , and customise those features if needed according to the need , Rather than entirely building up the feature from scratch so that the time and money are saved, The system Analyst should Analyze and do comparative study of available and required feature and should Plan accordingly

4. Avoid Rework

In Order to low Down the ERP Cost, the ERP Implementation Strategies should be such that , the System Design , Its Features , Functionalities should be Planned and tested for its Feasibility before actually building up the system , so the rework time would be saved.

Strategy To avoid rework of the ERP Implementation

-> The Functional Requirements should be documented appropriately

-> The Change control Procedures should be planned in order to handle the simple small changes in the system requirement

-> The Development strategy should be such that its should detect and prevent defects at the development level so to avoid defects in future

O if the Development of the system takes such factors into consideration the “Rework” Factor can be reduced or eliminated that ultimately reduces time and cost

5. ERP Vendor and User Communication

The User of the System and the ERP System Implementing company should keep communicating on all the aspects of the system functionality and development so that there is no assumption or lack of knowledge from the ERP company side about the system functionality that may incur cost and time at later stage,

The Deployment of the system should also be planned according to the Business requirement so that unnecessary server setup cost is not added.

Communicating about the maintenance and support and choosing the best suitable maintenance and support for the system so that software issues are solved immediately and save resource

By considering these five tricks may help you to Keep ERP Cost Down and develop a robust and dependable ERP system for your business.

Please feel free to reach us at sales@bistasolutions.com for any queries on ERP software and development of customized ERP systems keeping your business processes in consideration, also tell us how you like this blog post and how it has helped you to choose the right ERP system and thus to reduce your ERP cost through feedback@bistasolutions.com .

Odoo AvaTax Module User Guide

Odoo AvaTax Module

Odoo provides integration with the AvaTax Calculation service, which includes sales tax calculation for all US states and territories and all Canadian provinces and territories (including GST, PST, and HST). The module is capable of automatically detecting origin (Output Warehouse) and destination (Client Address) then calculates and reports taxes to Avalara as well as recording the correct sales taxes for the validated addresses in your ERP.

This module utilizes core certified modules from Odoo as dependencies and will attempt to automatically (as Odoo modules typically do). The following dependencies will be installed: base, sale, account, account_accountant, and stock modules. This module also has demo configuration data to work with demo deployments as well. Once configured the module operates in the background and performs calculations and reports to the AvaTax server seamlessly. Avalara will give you access to the Avatax server dashboard when you call to get your test account or subscribe.

This guide includes instructions for the following elements:

  • Activating your organization’s Ava Tax account and downloading the product
  • Entering your AvaTax credentials into the Odoo system and Configure it to use the AvaTax Calc service Using AvaTax features within your ERP

Note:- Test the module before deploying in a live environment. All changes to AvaTax settings must be done by a user with administrative privileges.

Installation

  1. Download the AvaTax Module: https://apps.openerp.com/apps/modules/8.0/bista_avalara_salestax/
  2. Extract the downloaded file.
  3. Upload the extracted directory to your configured Odoo modules directory.
  4. Click the “Install” or “Upgarde” button.
  5. Restart Odoo
  6. Login as Administrator
  7. Navigate to: Settings>>Installed Modules>>Search for AvaTax.
  8. Click the “Install” button

To Configure AvaTax API

  1. Navigate to: Accounting>>Configuration>>AvaTax>>AvaTax API
  2. Click the “Create” button.
  3. Fill out the form with Company Code, Account Number and License Key provided to you by Avalara.
  4. Fill out the proper service URL provided to you by Avalara. (You may have two service URLs: One for the development/testing server and another for production transactions.)
  5. Click the “Test Connection” button
  6. Click the “Save” button.

You can further configure the module on this screen.

Other configuration options are:

Adapter

  • Request Timeout- Default is 300ms.
  • Enable Logging.

Address Validation

  • Attempt automatic address validation- Will perform automatic validation when performing tax computation. The other validation options (below) are not required and will be deselected but available.
  • Validate on save for customer profile – Automatically attempts to validate on the creation of customer profile update and creation. The last validation date will be visible and stored.
  • Force Address validation on customer profile save – In the case validation for the customer is required but not valid, the validation will be forced.
  • Return validation results in upper case – validation results will return in upper case form.

Avalara Submissions / Transactions

  • Order-level – All items on order are calculated as one transaction.
  • Line-level – Each line item in an order is calculated, displayed, and transacted separately.
  • Enable UPC Taxability – This will transmit Odoo’s product ean13 number instead of its Internal Reference. If there is no ean13 then the Internal Reference will be sent automatically.

Countries

  • Add or remove applicable countries. The calculator will not calculate for a Country unless it’s on the list

Disable

  • Disable Avalara Tax Calculation and reporting (reporting to Avalara’s dashboard and tracking).
  • Disable Avalara Tax reporting only.

Avalara Tax Reporting Avalara Tax Calculation
Configure Exemption Codes

Exemption codes are allowed for users where they may apply, e.g., a Government entity.

Navigate to: Accounting >> Configuration >>AvaTax >>Exemption Code

The module is installed with sixteen (16) predefined exemption codes Add, remove and modify exemption codes

Configure Exemption Codes

Product Tax Codes

Create product tax codes to assign to each product and/or product category.

Navigate to: Accounting >> Configuration >> AvaTax >> Product Tax Codes

Add, remove and modify product tax codes

 Product Tax Codes

Configure Taxes

The AvaTax module is integrated into the Taxes of Odoo. “AVATAX” is automatically added as a type of Tax to be applied. You can configure how ‘” AvaTax” integrates into the Odoo system.

Configure AVATAX Tax Type

  • Navigate to: Accounting >> Taxes
  • Select AVATAX from the list view (automatically added on module install)

Configure AVATAX Tax Type

Click the “Edit” button

Configure AVATAX Tax Type

Configure the AVATAX Tax Type with the proper tax account configuration for your system. Click the “Save” button

* Upon initial install the settings will be blank. The above image shows an example configuration.

Product Category Configuration

The Odoo product is typically assigned to product categories. AvaTax settings can be assigned to the product category. The category default tax code will auto-populate when a product category is created.

Create New Product Category

  • Navigate to: Inventory >> Configuration >> Products >> Product Categories.
  • Click “Create” button.

Product Category Configuration

Configure Product Category Tax Code

  • Under AvaTax Properties >> Tax Code, Select the desired Tax Code.

Configure Product Category Tax Code

Click “Save” button

Product Configuration

Individual products default to the tax code assigned to its product category, however you can change the tax codes if necessary. Tax calculations for a specific product can be disabled and will default to the product tax settings for the product category it belongs to.

Create New Product

  • Navigate to: Sales >> Products >> Products
  • Click “Create” button

Product Configuration

Configure Product Tax Code

  • Under Category, select a Product Category
  • Under AvaTax Properties, the Tax Calculation check box is checked by default If you wish to change the Tax Code defined by the Product Category, do so under
  • AvaTax Properties > Tax Code
  • Click “Save” button

Configure Product Tax Code

Customer Configuration

Properly configuring each customer ensures the correct tax is calculated and applied for all transactions

Customer Configuration

Create New Customer

  • Navigate to: Sales >> Customers.
  • Click “Create” button

Customer Configuration

Properly configuring each customer ensures the correct tax is calculated and applied for all transactions

Create New Customer

Configure Customer Address

  • Enter Customer Address Select the AvaTax tab
  • Click “Validate” button.

Address Validation

AvaTax Module will attempt to match the address you entered with a valid address in its database. Click the “Accept” button if the address is valid

Configure Customer Address

Tax Exemption Status

If the customer is Tax Exempt, uncheck the box Under Tax Exemption >>Is Tax Exempt Select the desired Tax Exempt Code from the drop-down menu

Customer Invoices

The AvaTax module is integrated into Customer Invoices and is applied to each transaction. The Transaction log in the Avatax dashboard shows the invoice details and displays whether the transaction is an uncommitted or committed status. A validated invoice will show an “Uncommitted” and a paid Invoice will show a “Committed” status.

The module will check if there is a selected warehouse and will automatically determine the address of the warehouse and determine the origin location. If no address is assigned to the warehouse the module will automatically use the address of the company as its origin.

Discounts are handled when they are enabled in Odoo settings. They will be reported as a net deduction on the line item cost.

Create New Customer Invoice

  • Navigate to: Accounting > Customers > Customer Invoices
  • Click “Create” button

Compute Taxes with AvaTax

Fill out the customer invoice as normal for Odoo You will note that under Taxes you should   

Compute Taxes with AvaTax

Validate Invoice

After the taxes have been computed click “Validate” button

Register Payment

To complete the invoice click “Register Payment” button

Validate Invoice and register payment

Complete the Pay Invoice window

Click the “Validate” button to finalize the Customer Invoice

 Register Payment Register Payment

Customer Refunds

Odoo applies refunds as opposed to voids in its accounting module. As with customer Invoices, the AvaTax module is integrated into Customer Refunds and is applied to each transaction.

Refund Invoice transactions will be indicated with a negative total in the AvaTax interface.

Initiate Customer Refund

  • Navigate to: Accounting >> Customers >> Customer Invoices
  • Select the invoice you wish to refund
  • Click “Refund Invoice” button

Create Refund Invoice

Create Refund Invoice

Under Refund Method select “Create a draft refund” from the dropdown Click “Create Refund” button

Create Refund Invoice

You will be taken to the Customer Refunds list view

Customer Refunds list view

Validate Refund

Select the Customer Refund you wish to refund Review the Draft Refund and click “Validate” button

validate payment

Register Refund Payment

Click “Register Payment” button to complete refund

Register Refund Payment

Complete the Pay Refund window

Click “Validate” button to finalize the Customer Refund

Register Refund Payment

Sales Orders

The AvaTax module is integrated into Sales Orders and allows the computation of taxes.  Sales

Order transactions do not appear in the AvaTax interface.

The module will check if there is a selected warehouse and will automatically determine the address of the warehouse and determine the origin location. If no address is assigned to the warehouse the module will automatically use the address of the company as its origin.

The information placed in the sales order will automatically pass this information to the Invoice where the report of the tax calculation is to the Avalara servers and can be viewed in the AvaTax control panel.

Discounts are handled when they are enabled in Odoo settings. They will be reported as a net deduction on the line item cost.

Create New Sales Order

Navigate to: Sales > Sales > Sales Orders

Click “Create” button

Create New Sales Order

Compute Taxes with AvaTax

The module will be calculated when the sales order is confirmed. At this step, the sales order will only retrieve the tax amount from Avalara but will not report the transaction to the AvaTax dashboard. Only Invoice, Refund, and pay activity are reported to the dashboard.

The module will check if there is a selected warehouse and will automatically determine the address of the warehouse and determine the origin location. If no address is assigned to the warehouse the module will automatically use the address of the company as its origin. The location code will automatically populate with the warehouse code but can be modified.

If you are looking for Odoo AvaTax integration contact us or email us at sales@bistasolutions.com.

ODOO 10 : Migrate to latest version Odoo 15

  • by bista-admin
  • Oct 24, 2016
  • 0
  • Category:

New Apps in Odoo 10
New at Odoo version 10 are Studio, Attendances, Helpdesk, Maintenance – MRP, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), and Quality Control. There is also a new Android-based Mobile App. A couple of Apps have been renamed (Sales Management and MRP). Here is a link if you want to know more about Odoo 10 MRP and PLM Odoo 10 MRP

Odoo 10 Studio

As someone who customizes Odoo, this App is very interesting to me. From the menu you want to change, you can quickly access the views, automation, reports, user security, and data filtering rules.

The way the customization aspects are centralized and available without needing to modify XML will make customizing Odoo easier for non-technical users and faster for Technical users.

access-control

The integration of Etherpad technology (hosted by Odoo) allows you to maintain Notes about each screen that gets modified – this will save digging through documents or PM systems to find out who did what and why!

Odoo 10 Attendances

The release notes mention the ability to set up Odoo in Kiosk Mode as a ‘check in’ screen for employees – much like a traditional time clock or timecard scanner. You scan your badge (printable from Odoo) or select your name (optionally enter a PIN).

checked

Odoo 10 Helpdesk

This is a full-featured system that leverages many other components of Odoo like Live Chat, Forums, and Slide/Video sharing. It is for managing tickets that are emailed, sent via a web form, captured via API, or entered by employees.

It includes the concept of teams, SLAs, ratings (feedback from Customers), and self-service resources/learning. Tickets can be assigned manually, randomly, or balanced based on workload.

The App integrates with the website where your Customers can submit and view tickets and reporting that indicates your compliance with your SLAs.

support

Odoo 10 Maintenance – MRP

This App manages requested or scheduled maintenance (regular or based on KPI’s) on equipment that you enter into Odoo. It would work well for IT hardware or shop floor machinery and tools. You can see requests and scheduled maintenance on a Calendar and plan accordingly. Maintenance can be assigned to internal teams or subcontracted and managed much like tasks (drag through different stages of completion).crosscut

Odoo 10 Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

PLM extended the Manufacturing capabilities of Odoo by supporting Engineering Change Orders to revise Bills of Materials and/or Routings for products. Odoo 10 keeps track of what you add and remove at each revision and makes it easier to attach Engineering drawings and documents.

plm

Odoo 10 Quality Control

The ability to QA/QC at various points in your picking workflows (incoming, internal movement, outgoing) will benefit a lot of Customers. You can require random, periodic (every X days) or complete tests that are either pass/fail or measurement within limits. You can assign this work to Teams and Individuals so they can perform checks, attach documents or photos, email others, etc.

Odoo 10 Accounting

The Aging reports are now expandable by Customer or Vendor, showing summary and detail information on the same report – exportable to XLSX (instead of only XLS).

receivable

Odoo 10 Integration (Odoo TaxCloud integration)

Newly integrated with Odoo at version 10 is TaxCloud. This is a great addition to the existing Avalara integration – providing another option for US Customers.

Odoo 10 is also integrated with Google’s Firebase Cloud Messaging which allows Odoo 10 to notify users via web or mobile devices. I haven’t looked at this yet.

The new Apps are great – very tightly integrated with the rest of Odoo as you would expect. The speed has improved and the design of the screens has benefited from a slight refresh.

Odoo 10Speed

I noticed Odoo 10 was faster when moving around from place to place. It just took less time for the screen to refresh. The release notes state reports will be 2 to 5 times faster to generate.

Odoo 10 for Developers

I love the new XML renderer that color codes and autocompletes XML tags when editing views:

architecture

I already upgraded three modules to v10 from v9 – it didn’t take more than 15 minutes for each one – and the main work was the metadata. As long as you have migrated to the new API at version 8 or 9 you should find simple modules ‘just work’. Here is an easy installation guide for Odoo 10.

We hope this snippet of Odoo 10 MRP and PLM helps you to get some insights on the very new Odoo 10. Stay tuned for more information on Odoo 10.

Contact us for any Odoo requirements or email us at sales@bistasolutions.com

Easy Odoo v10 Installation Steps For Ubuntu

Using a VM (Virtual Machine) gives you your own Odoo Server!
You can use this method to create a VM for Odoo 9, and Odoo 10, as well as VM’s for each client project you have to support. Start and stop each VM as you need it. You can connect to the VM while you are in the office, at home, on a plane or in your hotel – no network connection is needed after you have installed Odoo!
This example works on Windows 10 with Virtual Box at or higher than 5.1.4. Plan for 2-3 hours of time. There are many resources on the web to help with the installation of Virtual Box – We list only the main steps here.
Steps:

Download an Ubuntu Server ISO (install CD file) from

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/server Make sure you use an LTS version, I am using 16.04.1 LTS.

Install Oracle Virtual Box from

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Open Virtual Box and create a new VM. You should use no more than half the memory of your laptop when sizing it. Here is the first screenshot of the Wizard for creating a NEW VM:

1

Follow the Wizard selecting the following options:

2

3

Now wait, the creation takes a few minutes

Right click on the VM and select Settings. The first settings we need to change are Network:


4

The next are Storage, to point the VM to the ISO of Ubuntu you downloaded.  Click on EMPTY

new

Click the CD/DVD Icon and Choose Virtual Optical Disk File – point to the ISO you downloaded

newnew

Start your VM!

You will now install Ubuntu. Hit ENTER a few times (to take all the defaults) until you get to CONFIGURE THE KEYBOARD. Select YES (you use TAB to select options in the VM console) and then you will have to press several keys to detect your keyboard.

Keep hitting ENTER or CONTINUE to take all the defaults until you get to SETUP USERS AND PASSWORDS and choose odoo for the name of the new user, odoo for the username and odoo for the password.

Keep hitting ENTER to take all the defaults until you get to PARTITION DISKS, selecting YES. Click ENTER for the defaults until you get to PARITION DISKS again (write the changes to disks) and select YES. Keep hitting ENTER or CONTINUE to take all the defaults.

Wait until the system is installed. Leave HTTP proxy information blank on CONFIGURE THE PACKAGE MANAGER.

When you get to the SOFTWARE SELECTION screen, make sure POSTGRESQL DATABASE is checked.

Once Ubuntu is installed, login as odoo/odoo and make a small change to support networking so your server can be reached from any network or no network:
sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

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CTRL-O saves, CTRL-X exists the nano editor
Reboot:
sudo reboot now

Login again (odoo/odoo) and now let’s install Odoo:

1. Clone out the Odoo v10 branch through the following command inside /opt folder
cd /opt
sudo git clone https://github.com/odoo/odoo.git –branch 10.0 –single-branch

2. After downloading of source you need to install the dependent libraries
• Now simple issue a command to install all the dependent libraries from
requirement.txt file
• To install from requirement.txt file (requirement.txt is a file having all the
dependent library names)
Command lists:-
sudo pip install -r [/requirement.txt]

3. Install nodejs and npm
sudo apt-get install nodejs
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node
sudo npm install -g less

4. Install wkhtmltopdf library, to print report in PDF format:-
• Below is the command to download the wkhtmltopdf library,
sudo wget http://download.gna.org/wkhtmltopdf/0.12/0.12.1/wkhtmltox-0.12.1_linuxtrusty-
amd64.deb
• Then, follow it up by the installation command:-
sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox-0.12.1_linux-trusty-amd64.deb

5. You need to now setup the Postgresql DB for Odoo
• Install Postgresql Database with the following command:
sudo aptitude install postgresql-9.5
• Create a user role in database by firing the below command in ubuntu
su – postgres -c “createuser -s odoo”

6. Create an Odoo Configuration File
nano /etc/odoo/odoo.conf
[options]
db_host = False
db_port = False
addons_path = /opt/enterprise,/opt/odoo/addons

7. Your configuration is complete, run this command to start the odoo service:
./odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo/odoo.conf
ALL SET TO START WITH YOUR ODOO…!!

Get started with Odoo 10 as quick as this !!!
We hope this Odoo 10 installation guide helps you through your installation process.Stay tunned at www.bistasolutions.com for more details Odoo10 new features.

Feel free to get in touch with us for any assistance on Odoo10 installations or for Odoo10 training at sales@bistasolutions.com or write to us at feedback@bistasolutions.com

What’s new in Odoo 10 – MRP+PLM+QUALITY

  • by bista-admin
  • Oct 17, 2016
  • 0
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The MRP app is the highlight of Odoo 10 and has become a milestone in the manufacturing industry. Odoo10 MRP is a complete and integrated software to manage Planning, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Traceability, and PLM. So it’s no wonder it has been met with so much enthusiasm! The preview of Odoo 10 MRP attracted more than 650 people in 10 countries. 

The Odoo 10 MRP app had so many awesome expanded features. For those who missed out on the MRP tour, you will find the introduction to all the new features of Odoo 10 MRP in this blog. For any modern manufacturer to be fully functional they will have to make use of more than 10 different applications to run their business, creating a high level of complexity in both workflows and integration. With Odoo 10 MRP app, this has been simplified as this is a single software that combines all the common needs of any modern manufacturer. Odoo 10 integrates BoMs, MPS, Work Center Tablets, Schedulers, Push & Pull rules, OEE, PLM (versioning, engineering changes, and doc management), Quality Management (including control points, quality checks, and quality alerts), as well as Maintenance (preventive, corrective, etc.). With all these features incorporated, Odoo 10 seems to be a complete open-source ERP package for modern manufacturers (MRP + Maintenance + PLM + Quality). As they claim Odoo 10 will be an “ALL YOU NEED, IN A SINGLE SOFTWARE”. Odoo 10 has set very high expectations amongst the users and is the perfect example of “EASY + POWER = LEAN”

The new features introduced in Odoo 10 MRP app are listed below along with a detailed explanation.

  • BoMs

  • Finite Capacity Scheduler (Odoo Enterprise feature)

  • Manufacturing Orders

  • Push & Pull Rules

  • MPS (Odoo Enterprise feature)

  • OEE(Odoo Enterprise feature)

  • Work Center Tablets (Odoo Enterprise feature)

  • Reports (Odoo Enterprise feature)

  • New Dashboard (Odoo Enterprise feature)

  • Odoo MRP Work Center Control Panel

Feature Insight: New feature to define work center operation duration computation in 2 ways:

– set time manually

– compute based on real-time previous operations

Path : Manufacturing — > Routes –> Work Center Operations — > Operations

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  • Odoo MRP MPS

Feature Insight: Provides the ability to forecast the quantity of the products based on:

1. Starting Inventory

2. Demand Forecast

3. Indirect Forecast

4. To Supply/Produce

Path : Manufacturing — > Reporting –> Master Production Schedule

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  • Odoo MRP Dashboard

Feature Insight:

Tablets to record work operations :

1. Record productions

2. Display Worksheets

3. Time tracking

4. Quality Control

5. Barcode support

6. Trigger issues

Path : Manufacturing –> Dashboard

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We can perform all work order operations from tablets as shown in the above images.

Feature Insight:

Time Tracking:

– Helps to determine the time taken by workers for production which determines efficiency.

Path : Manufacturing –> Dashboard — > WORK ORDERS

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Feature Insight:

Quality Alert:

– Allows generating Quality Alerts if production parts are defective or of low quality.

Path : Manufacturing –> Dashboard — > WORK ORDERS

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  • Odoo MRP Masterdata

Feature Insight: Selecting “Ship this product as a set of components(kit)” sends components in Delivery Order from Sale Order.

Path: Manufacturing –> Master Data –> Routings

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  • Odoo Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Feature Insight: It gives the actual efficiency of equipment based on calculations shown in the below figure.

Path : Manufacturing –> Dashboard

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  • Odoo 10 PLM (product life cycle)

Feature Insight :

PLM is used to maintain BoM revisions and track product lifecycle based on Engineering Change orders. Basically, PLM application allows us to :

– PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) helps to create ECO (Engineering Change Orders) to :

1. Make BoM revisions.

2. Make MO Route revisions.

3. Update Work Operation based on revisions in BoM.

4. Generate alerts for changes in BoMs as well as Routes in MO.

5. Generate multi-level approvals from higher authorities for any revision (BoM or Route) before making changes in MO

– Approve Engineering Change Orders

– Manage BoM Versions

Below we have attached the snapshots of the features that we just listed

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We hope this snippet of Odoo 10 MRP and PLM helps you to get some insights on the very new Odoo 10. Stay tuned for more information on Odoo 10.

Please feel free to reach us at sales@bistasolutions.com for any queries on Odoo and its related modules.

Mistakes To Avoid While Implementing An ERP For Your Business

In today’s rapidly changing business environment, organizations must effectively manage complex operations and processes. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have emerged as effective tools for automating and integrating various aspects of business operations.

In this blog, we will discuss the most common mistakes to avoid when implementing an ERP system. We will look at how these mistakes can be avoided and what steps should be taken to ensure a successful implementation. Understanding these common mistakes can help businesses ensure the success and cost-effectiveness of their ERP implementation. In addition, we’ve included some advice on how to avoid these mistakes in your next implementation project.

Why do ERP Implementations Fail?

  • Poor Planning and Execution
  • Lack of Adequate Budget
  • Insufficient Training and Support
  • Inadequate Data Management
  • Resistance to Change

Mistakes To Avoid While Implementing An ERP For Your Business

  1. Lack of Clear Objectives and Requirements 

One of the most common mistakes is starting an ERP implementation without clear goals. Without well-defined objectives, businesses may end up with a system that does not meet their requirements or solve the problems they set out to solve.

Advice

  • Creating specific, measurable objectives for the ERP project
  • Gathering comprehensive requirements by involving key stakeholders from all departments
  1. Choosing the Wrong ERP Software 

Not all ERP solutions are the same, and selecting the wrong one can result in significant setbacks such as functionality issues, integration issues, and high costs. Businesses frequently make the mistake of selecting an ERP based solely on price or vendor reputation.

Advice

  • Conducting thorough research on different ERP solutions and vendors
  • Analyze software features, scalability, customization options, and ease of integration
  1. Over-customization of the ERP System 

While customization can help tailor the ERP to your specific business requirements, too much customization can result in higher costs, longer implementation times, and complications during updates.

Advice

  • Using standard features and functionalities whenever possible
  • Customizing only when necessary, with a focus on core business processes
  1. Inadequate Planning and Project Management 

Failure to adequately plan or manage the project can lead to delays, budget overruns, and a system that does not meet your business needs.

Advice

  • Creating a detailed implementation plan outlining tasks, timelines, and responsibilities
  • Appointing an experienced project manager to oversee the implementation
  1. Underestimating the Importance of Data Migration 

Data migration is commonly more challenging than anticipated. Poor planning can result in data inconsistencies, errors, and missing information, disrupting operations and requiring costly corrections.

Advice

  • Before starting the migration process, clean and organize the data
  • Developing a detailed data migration strategy, including mapping and validation
  1. Not Providing Adequate User Training 

Even the best ERP system will fail if users are not trained to use it properly. Insufficient training can result in resistance, low productivity, and frequent errors.

Advice

  • Creating a comprehensive training program tailored to specific user roles
  • Organizing hands-on training sessions, workshops, and online resources
  1. Ignoring Change Management 

ERP implementations frequently necessitate significant changes to the existing workflows, processes, and job roles. Businesses that fail to address change management may face employee resistance, resulting in lower adoption rates.

Advice

  • Communicating the ERP system’s benefits to all employees at an early stage
  • Providing ongoing support and resources to help staff adapt to the new system
  1. Inadequate Testing Before Going Live 

Skipping or rushing through the testing phase is a common mistake that can result in unexpected problems once the system is launched. Challenges discovered after launch can be costly and disruptive to business operations.

Advice

  • Involving end users in testing to ensure the system meets their requirements
  • Allowing enough time to fix bugs and make changes prior to going live
  1. Poor Integration with Other Systems 

An ERP system that does not integrate well with other software (such as CRM or e-commerce platforms) can result in data silos, duplicate work, and decreased efficiency.

Advice

Identifying all systems that must be integrated with the ERP early in the process

Creating a clear integration strategy, including data synchronization and API connections

  1. Not Planning for Ongoing Support and Maintenance 

ERP implementation does not end with a launch. Failure to plan for ongoing support, maintenance, and updates can cause system performance issues and user dissatisfaction over time.

Advice

  • Arranging for ongoing support from the ERP vendor or a dedicated internal team
  • Schedule regular system updates, maintenance checks, and performance reviews
  1. Underestimating the Time and Resources Needed 

ERP projects can be time-consuming, and businesses frequently underestimate how long it will take or the resources required. This can result in rushed implementations, poor results, and unexpected expenses. 

Advice

  • Creating realistic timelines and dividing the project into manageable phases
  • Allocating sufficient resources (time, budget, personnel) to the project
  1. Lack of Post-Implementation Evaluation 

Failing to evaluate the ERP system after implementation can prevent businesses from realizing the full benefits. Without a review process, it’s difficult to identify areas for improvement and address them.

Advice

  • Schedule a post-implementation review to evaluate system performance
  • Continuously optimizing the system based on user feedback and evolving business needs

Conclusion: Avoiding The Pitfalls

Avoiding these common mistakes during ERP implementation can save time, money, and frustration, and ensure a smoother transition to a more efficient and integrated system. Proper planning, training, and communication are key to a successful ERP Implementation. 

Remember, the key to a successful ERP implementation isn’t just about technology; it’s about people, processes, and careful planning. If you’re considering an ERP implementation or are currently facing challenges, feel free to reach out. At Bista Solutions, we’ve guided numerous professional services businesses through the process, helping them avoid pitfalls and achieve their goals. Let’s ensure your ERP project is a success from the start.

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Celebrating Excellence: Won Best Odoo Partner Award 5th Time in a Row!

best odoo partner in usa

Odoo ERP is dedicated to nurturing its vast ecosystem of Odoo Partners to meet the growing demand for its ERP solutions. At the same time, Odoo Partners continues to flourish within the thriving Odoo Community. We are thrilled to announce that Bista Solutions has once again received recognition at the Odoo Experience 2022 event. We have been awarded the title of “Best Odoo Partner 2022” for our exceptional ERP implementation and positive customer reviews. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment and expertise in the field.

“Our consistent recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and our continuous efforts to deliver exceptional results to our clients.”

  • “Best Odoo Partner of the Year 2022 North America”
  •  “Best Odoo Partner of the Year 2021 North America”
  • “Best Odoo Partner of the Year 2018 North America”
  • “Best Odoo Partner of the Year 2016 US”
  • “Best Odoo Partner of the Year 2015 Americas”

Quality That Set Us Apart –

  • Our uncompromising commitment to delivering exceptional solutions
  • Strong focus on customer satisfaction and long-term partnerships
  • Proven track record of 350+ successful project deliveries in varied industries
  • Continuous innovation and staying up-to-date with the latest Odoo advancements
  • The dedicated and skilled team of Odoo developers, Project Managers & QAs
  • Streamlined processes and efficient Project Management
  • Proactive problem-solving and attention to detail
  • Strong communication and collaboration with clients throughout the implementation journey
  • Consistent delivery of high-quality results, exceeding client expectations
  • Strict Adherence to Compliance & Data Security standards.

Our Odoo Services: 

  • Odoo Consultation and Strategic Guidance 
  • Odoo Implementation Services
  • Odoo Customization and Configuration 
  • Odoo Integration Services
  • Data migration and Version Upgrades
  • Odoo Custom App Development 
  • 24/7 Training and support
  • Performance Optimization Services

We are the Most Trusted Odoo Gold Partner

  •  3+ Decades of Experience
  •  200+ Custom App Development
  • 300+ Expert Odoo Devlopers
  • 350+ Happy Clients
  • 10+ Countries Explored
  •  15+ Industries catered
  •  24/7 Support Available

 

Bista’s Expert Team & their Exceptional Contribution

Best Odoo Partner

Our Offerings: Empowering Your Business for Success

  • Comprehensive Business Process Management Solution 

Enhance operational efficiency and agility with our powerful suite of tools that enables analysis, modeling, automation, and continuous improvement of workflows, tailored to your industry for seamless operations and accelerated growth.

  • Advance Manufacturing Production Planning and Scheduling

Optimize your production processes with our advanced production planning and scheduling module. Achieve seamless coordination of resources, materials, and schedules, ensuring efficient operations, reduced lead times, and enhanced profitability. 

  • Supply Chain Management

Track every step of the supply chain journey, from sub-suppliers to end customers, ensuring seamless operations, minimizing delays, and optimizing inventory levels with our comprehensive supply chain management solution.

  • Retail & E-commerce Solution

Unleash the power of our E-commerce solution, tailored to your industry’s specific needs. Create a captivating online presence, attract customers, and drive sales with an intuitive interface that makes browsing and purchasing a breeze.

  • Field Management Solution

Empower your field service teams with our field management solution. Streamline work order management, scheduling, and real-time communication, improving response times and customer satisfaction. 

  • Business Intelligence and RPA Integration

Unlock actionable insights and drive data-based decision-making with our powerful business intelligence and robotic process automation (RPA) integration. 

  • Streamline Marketing Campaigns

Amplify your reach and engagement across digital channels with our cutting-edge Marketing Automation solution. Maximize the impact of your campaigns, nurture leads, and deliver personalized messages.

  • Project Management Solution 

Efficiently manage your projects from start to finish with our comprehensive Project Management solution. Gain full visibility into project progress, allocate resources effectively, and streamline collaboration among team members

  • Comprehensive HRM Solution

Empower your workforce with our powerful Human Resource Management solution. Take your employee management to the next level with a centralized system that boosts productivity and nurtures a thriving company culture.

  • Professional Service Automation

Fuel the success of your service-based business with our Professional Service Automation solution. Seamlessly plan, track, and manage projects, allocate resources effectively, and accelerate billing processes. Collaborate effortlessly and deliver exceptional service to your clients, setting your business apart.

  • Powerful CRM Solution

 Unleash the true potential of your customer relationships with our robust CRM solution. Capture every interaction, analyze customer data, and leverage advanced segmentation to target your marketing efforts precisely. Deliver personalized experiences that foster loyalty and drive revenue growth.

  • Comprehensive Financial Management

Take control of your financial processes with our comprehensive financial management solution. Streamline accounting, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring accurate financial data and compliance. Make informed financial decisions, maximize profitability, and drive sustainable growth.

  • Warehouse Management System

Seamlessly manage your inventory with our integrated warehouse management system. Gain real-time visibility, optimize storage space, and automate critical processes like receiving, picking, and shipping. Ensure efficient order fulfillment, minimize stockouts, and deliver exceptional customer service.

  • Inventory Management Solution

Optimize inventory levels, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction with our comprehensive inventory management solution. Gain real-time insights into stock levels, automate replenishment, and align inventory with demand patterns. Make informed decisions, minimize stockouts, and improve cash flow.

  • Order Management Solution

Simplify order processing, enhance order accuracy, and boost customer satisfaction with our efficient order management solution. Streamline the entire order lifecycle, from order placement to fulfillment, ensuring timely delivery and minimizing errors. Deliver exceptional service and foster long-term customer loyalty.

  • Procurement & Vendor Management Solution

Take charge of your procurement processes from start to finish with our powerful procurement solution. Designed to optimize efficiency and strengthen supplier relationships, our solution empowers you to streamline and automate your procurement operations.

Experience Transformative Power with Our Award Winning Odoo ERP Implementation Services. Contact Us Today!

Data Science in Manufacturing

Data Science in Manufacturing

Manufacturing, simply put, is the act of transforming raw materials into finished goods on a large scale using labor, tools, machines, chemical/biological processes, or formulation. A necessity in today’s consumerist world where a man’s needs far exceed just food and shelter. The motive of manufacturers in a free market or mixed economy is to fulfill these needs at the lowest possible price, enabling the consumer to cater to more of his needs, thus, improving revenue. Optimizing manufacturing operations, thus, not only helps the business owner make more profit, but leads to better productivity. Data Science in manufacturing can achieve all the above mentioned goals.

Metrics of Manufacturing Operations

“If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” – William Edward Deming

Before we understand the importance of data science in manufacturing, it is imperative that we know the metrics of a manufacturing unit used to gauge its performance.

There are four dimensions of operational performance:

  • Cost – Indicates the efficiency of the operation
  • Quality – This is further broken into:
    • Performance Quality – measures how good of a product or service we provide
    • Conformance Quality – captures to what extent we’re able to deliver on the promise that we have made to the customer
  • Variety – measures the flexibility of an operation to provide goods and services to a heterogeneous customer base
  • Time – Our ability to provide a quick response to demand

These four dimensions are important for two reasons. First of all, they are the goals that we strive for in an operation. And so they will guide what type of performance measures we track. And then, they’re really also at the heart of defining the business strategy. These four dimensions give us the opportunity to differentiate our operations from others, thereby potentially providing us with a competitive advantage.

Use of Analytics in Manufacturing

Since the advent of the Lean manufacturing paradigm developed at Toyota in 1988, factory floors have never been the same. Essentially, lean manufacturing is a systematic method to reduce waste in a manufacturing system. The goals are:

  • Improve quality: To stay competitive in today’s marketplace, a company must understand its customers’ wants and needs and design processes to meet their expectations and requirements.
  • Eliminate waste: Waste is any activity that consumes time, resources, or space but does not add any value to the product or service.
  • Reduce time: Reducing the time it takes to finish an activity from start to finish is one of the most effective ways to eliminate waste and lower costs.
  • Reduce total costs: To minimize costs, a company must produce only to customer demand. Overproduction increases a company’s inventory costs because of storage needs.

Working from the perspective of the client who consumes a product or service, “value” is any action or process that a customer would be willing to pay for. Essentially, lean is centered on making obvious what adds value by reducing everything else.

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In today’s world, Lean manufacturing is Data-Driven manufacturing and is utilized by every manufacturer in some form or the other. The ability to anticipate downtime gives managers the opportunity to plan ahead so the capacity of all machines and labor can be utilized to the maximum. This downtime could be due to a bottleneck resource or due to falling in market demand, both of which could be identified beforehand with the employment of predictive analytics. Predicting expected sales also helps in directing productivity towards parts that are going to be in high demand.

Furthermore, continuously analyzing and monitoring the performance metrics of resources, lines, vendors and plants can help Product managers with optimizing operations, factory scheduling, maintenance, and labor deployment. Data on the usage of the finished product by customers can give key insights into improving design and manufacturing as well.

Evolution of Manufacturing

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With the boom of information technology, various advancements have revolutionized the extent to which data could be leveraged for operational efficiency. Some of these advancements include:

  • The number of sensors per machine has increased which has automated a lot of manual data gathering and provides previously unavailable data.
  • These larger datasets are easier to get from the machine to a central database because the machine is connected to the network.
  • These larger datasets are being aggregated by the companies that make the machines allowing for anonymous cross-company sharing of machine performance data.
  • High-performance computing platforms like Spark and cloud services like Amazon or Microsoft’s Azure allow businesses of any size to store, mine, and analyze these large datasets.

Present-Day Data Science in Manufacturing Analytics Scenario in the Industry

The aforementioned technological advancements have led to the amalgamation of production systems with planning toolkits, forecasting, real-time data streams of sensor data from plant floors, and much more. Some of the most beneficial innovations have led to:

  • Industrial Internet of Things: Cost-effective high-performance sensors are now utilized to gather data for the purpose of quality assurance. Sensors these days can be used to assimilate high velocity and high volume data, tracking various metrics previously thought impossible without slowing production. For example, Jet engine manufacturers utilize more than 50,000 sensors on a single engine that measure temperature, pressure, and vibrations on various parts of the engine to measure possible failure points in the design that lead to insights about the product’s durability and longevity. Thus, it gives them the ability to calculate the profitable warranty period they can offer to their customers as well as predict maintenance costs.
  • Retrace problems for better resolution: Records of common failures, either from customers or from quality checks, can help identify design flaws in products.
  • Supplier Selection: Analysis of Defect Rates and on-time delivery helps in selecting suppliers and deciding on order sizes which optimize inventory stock, cash flow, and supplier fault risk mitigation
  • Increase ROI on data stored: Almost every aspect of the business can benefit from cutting-edge data analysis such as operations, finance, human resources, marketing, sales, customer service et cetera. This makes the returns on adding a new stream of data ingestion almost intangible as it benefits more than one business function leading to a compounded improvement in company performance.

The Big Data era has only just begun. The mathematical tools and algorithms designed to explain the universe have always remained in textbooks, and for decades only ever mentioned in academia. With revolutionary advancements in data storage and computation technology, the time has come when they can finally be put to the test in real-world optimization problems and make their value known.

To know more in detail get in touch with us.