A Seamless Transition from NetSuite to Odoo for a U.S.-Based Robotics Manufacturer
A Bista Solutions Case Study
Overview
- Company Name: SISU
- Industry: Automation Machinery Manufacturing, Custom Robotics Manufacturing
- Location: Texas, United States
- Apps Implemented: Inventory, Manufacturing, Sales, Purchasing, Accounting, Helpdesk, Employees, Timesheets, ShipStation sync
The Client
SISU, a U.S.-based leader in customized robotic arm manufacturing, relies on advanced ERP capabilities to manage its operations, from manufacturing and inventory to sales and accounting.
The first person to reach out to Bista Solutions was Marc Christenson, co-founder of SISU. The company was approaching a pivotal moment. Their ERP renewal was due, and the cost was becoming a significant concern. They needed an alternative that could deliver the same level of functionality, support future growth, and be implemented quickly.
The Challenge
SISU’s existing ERP system was functioning operationally, but the renewal cost was substantially higher than what they were comfortable investing in. With 47 active users and a daily dependency on ERP processes, they required:
- A cost-effective, full-featured ERP replacement
- Minimal downtime during migration
A partner experienced in both Odoo and NetSuite to ensure a smooth transition
Why Bista Solutions
While researching options, SISU discovered that Bista Solutions is the most highly ranked Odoo partner in North America and has a dedicated NetSuite team. This dual expertise was key. Our familiarity with NetSuite’s structure and workflows allowed for a smoother, faster migration process. Combined with our award-winning track record in Odoo implementations, SISU had confidence that Bista could deliver within their tight timeline.
The Solution: Odoo ERP
After evaluating their needs, SISU selected Odoo ERP for its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and strong out-of-the-box features. Bista’s goal was to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) capable of replacing their existing ERP immediately, while keeping customizations minimal to meet the short deadline.
Odoo Apps Implemented:
- Inventory
- Manufacturing
- Sales
- Purchasing
- Accounting
- Helpdesk
- Employees
- Timesheets
- ShipStation Sync
The Implementation
From kickoff to go-live, the migration was completed in just 42 days, ahead of the renewal deadline. Most of the work was done remotely, with only the initial business analysis and go-live support handled onsite.
Key Focus Areas:
- Data Migration: Cleaning and reconciling accounting data from multiple entities to ensure accuracy in Odoo.
- Accounting Setup: Addressing discrepancies from the prior system to establish a clean financial foundation.
Close coordination between Bista’s implementation team and SISU’s internal stakeholders kept the project on schedule despite these complexities.
Training & Adoption
Training was delivered both remotely and onsite. During go-live week, Bista conducted hands-on sessions for inventory and manufacturing workflows. By practicing directly in the Odoo environment, SISU’s team quickly adapted, minimizing the need for prolonged training periods.
The Integrations
- Completed at Launch: ShipStation integration for streamlined shipping
- Planned Enhancements: Divvy for expense management and a Solidworks–Odoo sync developed in-house to extend functionality
The Achievements
With Bista’s support, SISU achieved:
- A complete ERP migration in 42 days
- Significant cost savings by selecting an ERP with a more sustainable pricing model
- A modern, flexible platform built to scale with their growth
- A smooth user adoption process, thanks to Bista’s training and Odoo’s intuitive interface
Successful Outcome
By partnering with Bista Solutions, SISU transitioned seamlessly to a future-ready ERP system, on time, on budget, and without operational disruption. Bista’s combination of Odoo expertise and NetSuite migration experience was key to making the change both efficient and reliable, ensuring SISU could continue focusing on innovation in custom robotics manufacturing.
Client Testimonial:
“Bista was fantastic to work with and did a phenomenal job helping us transition to Odoo. From the very beginning, their team came on site to make sure they had a solid understanding of our business and needs. The implementation process went very well. Their team was very responsive and available to any needs we had. They did a great job remaining flexible and explaining the pros and cons of various options we had and helped us tailor a deployment that is working great for our needs.”
— Steven Lutz, General Manager, SISU