Odoo vs AFAS: comparing two ERP systems built for SMEs

Which ERP system should you choose?

An ERP system automates and connects an organisation's most critical business processes. The right ERP software builds a better workflow, so teams work smarter, faster and more efficiently. Before choosing, it helps to answer a few questions:

• What functionalities are important for your organisation, now and in the future?

• Is the ERP system user-friendly?

• What about training and support?

Several ERP systems compete for attention, including SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Each has its own profile: some suit large companies and multinationals, others fit small and medium-sized businesses. AFAS and Odoo sit in the second group. Both vendors built their ERP software for SMEs, and both focus on the Netherlands and Belgium.

What is AFAS? 

AFAS ERP software lets companies manage and automate business processes, with particular strength in HRM, payroll and financial management. It also covers project management, CRM and logistics. AFAS focuses heavily on the Dutch and Belgian markets and complies with local legal requirements. As of January 2024, AFAS had nearly 13,000 customers and 1.4 million unique users, and it scores highly on customer satisfaction.

What is Odoo? 

Odoo, originally a Belgian tech unicorn, helps organisations digitise and optimise their processes in one integrated system, with modules for accounting, sales, procurement, CRM, manufacturing, inventory and more. Its modular design lets a company start small and add modules over time. Odoo is less established in the Netherlands than AFAS, but globally it counts over twelve million users.

Key features of each ERP system 

AFAS is built around Finance, HRM and workflows, with CRM, projects and order management alongside. Odoo takes a different approach: it can replace up to twenty separate apps at once, such as Salesforce, Asana and Shopify, across a catalogue of 24 apps.

What does an ERP implementation partner do?

Both AFAS and Odoo work through implementation partners, and such a partner is valuable for several reasons:

• Experience and expertise that make the software rollout smoother.

• An efficient, best-practice approach that cuts implementation time.

• Training and support, so employees get going and keep access to help with questions or problems.

• Early identification of risks.

Discover the possibilities of Odoo

Running separate software packages, or unhappy with a current ERP solution? Odoo aims to digitise and optimise every process in one user-friendly ERP package.

The main benefits of Odoo 

• Modular: implement only the modules you need.

• Integrations with other tools, such as Amazon and Bol.com.

• User-friendly for beginners and advanced users alike.

• Affordable and scalable.

The main benefits of AFAS 

• Works entirely in the cloud, via an app or on the web.

• Single data entry and daily backups.

• A fixed monthly fee, cancellable daily after the first year.

• Continuous innovations added to the software.

• A Dutch software partner; data is stored in the Netherlands under Dutch law.

ERP costs per system 

Odoo: €37.40 per user per month for a personalised environment with access to all apps.

AFAS: €59 per month for two users with access to all AFAS functionality.

These prices assume you configure the systems yourself, which is worth doing carefully to get the most out of an ERP system. Bringing in an implementation partner raises the total, because you pay for a preliminary analysis, the implementation and ongoing support on top of the software.

Investing in an ERP system 

The cost of implementing AFAS or Odoo depends on several factors:

• Company size: larger companies often have more complex processes.

• Complexity of business processes: unique processes need customisation, which raises cost.

• Existing IT infrastructure: does the new system need to fit an existing IT setup?

• Timeline: a rushed project usually pushes the price up.

So the investment varies widely from company to company. A multinational with several locations, complex processes and heavy customisation needs a larger ERP budget than a small business with simple processes.

What are the key differences between Odoo and AFAS?

1. Flexibility 

Odoo is an open-source platform, so its core is freely available and companies can adapt the software to their own needs. AFAS is a closed system, which limits customisation and can be restrictive for companies with specific requirements.

2. User-friendliness 

Odoo has a modern, user-friendly interface, while AFAS is more traditional. That makes Odoo more accessible to both technical and non-technical users.

3. Support 

AFAS is known for its customer service, with 75 employees handling customer questions daily. Odoo works through authorised partners such as Dynapps, who provide consultancy and support, alongside a large, active international community on its forums.

4. Integrations 

Odoo offers integrations with external tools and platforms like Amazon and eBay. AFAS concentrates on the Dutch market, with integrations to Dutch tools and services.

ERP system chosen? That's just the beginning

Choosing the system is the easy part. Implementation is the real transition, and it takes a serious investment of time and resources: the right package, one or more skilled consultants, support inside the organisation and a solid project plan. An implementation partner like Dynapps brings the expertise, experience and support to integrate the software well. It stays a partnership, though, so both sides work together. Good preparation pays back many times over.