Customers of KPMG Belgium could already use the real-time accounting software of Walloon Brabant tech gem Odoo. That is now being extended to all of Odoo’s software services. Companies will thus find everything they need for their digital transformation in one place.
Odoo made its name with a complete software package for the business operations of small and medium-sized companies. E-commerce, marketing, human resources, customer relationship management, project management, everything is in there. Founded in 2004, the tech company from the Walloon Brabant town of Ramillies broadened its target market about four years ago. “Then we started to focus, first reactively and later proactively, on corporates as well,” Sébastien Bruyr, Odoo’s operations director, tells Trends.
According to Sébastien Bruyr, Odoo often saw that a company that knocked on their door to install an ERP software package also started to think about the future: “They were looking at their strategic vision on a long-term basis of five to 10 years,” says Bruyr. “Participating in that is not our role.” That is the role of big consulting firms, such as KPMG, though. “They have the experience and consultants to help companies digitise.” So pairing Odoo’s technology with KPMG’s expertise and advice is at the heart of this partnership.
The partnership grew out of a collaboration initiated last year. KPMG has been using Odoo’s real-time accounting applications since then, but the consulting firm’s clients asked to be able to use its non-accounting software applications as well. Thus, companies can find in one place both the software and the advice for the digital transformation of their business.
Odoo is for the first time entering into such a partnership with one of the Big Four, as the big four global consulting firms are called. It is not an exclusive partnership. Belgium is the first country where Odoo and KPMG will enter into such a partnership, possibly more countries will be added later. “It is important because this is the first partnership with a Big Four firm in Belgium. It allows us to grow at larger companies. Thanks to KMPG, we get access to audiences we were not yet reaching,” explains Sébastien Bruyr.
“Our first collaboration with Odoo in real-time accountancy was a great success,” said Julien Stocq, Odoo alliance lead KPMG Belgium, in a press release. “The software is a great solution for a lot of our clients. It is flexible, scalable and customisable, both for medium-sized and large companies. With this new step, we want to provide our clients with the most innovative technology that meets the changing needs of businesses.”
