Location/Region: Lake Zurich, IL
Industry: Manufacturing
Apps implemented: Inventory, CRM, Manufacturing, Email Marketing
Software
Replaced: Fishbowl, QuickBooks, Excel Spreadsheets
Company size: 8
Hosting type: Odoo.sh
Efficiency is key in the industrial components sector, where precise inventory management and customer relations can make or break a business. For Howe, a leading supplier of thermometers, sensors, and controls for the refrigeration and HVAC industries, transitioning to Odoo has been a transformative journey, enhancing operations, reducing manual workload, and unlocking new opportunities for growth.
Howe was founded in 1993 by Kevin Du’s parents in China, pioneering the private manufacturing of thermal instruments. Despite lacking formal academic backgrounds, they identified a niche in the market and built a company dedicated to precision measurement systems.
Over time, as the demand for refrigeration and HVAC controls remained strong in the U.S., the company relocated to Lake Zurich, Illinois, to serve its growing American client base. Today, Howe operates as a B2B OEM supplier, customizing products to meet the unique needs of its industry partners.
"We are part of the supply chain, which means we have the capability of customizing a lot of our products to the specific requirements of our customers."
The lessons learned
As Howe expanded, managing its inventory, sales, and accounting processes became increasingly complex. Initially, the company relied on QuickBooks, a standard choice for many small businesses. However, as they sought advanced capabilities such as CRM integration and predictive reordering, QuickBooks proved insufficient.
Attempting to bridge the gap, Howe adopted Fishbowl, but it fell short of expectations Unfortunately, the system fell short of expectations, leading to inefficiencies and data silos. It became evident that a comprehensive ERP solution was necessary to streamline operations.
"We ended up deciding to try Fishbowl to add on to QuickBooks instead of just switching over to Odoo when we first should have. That system turned out to not work very well. That system turned out to not work very well."
Why Odoo stood out?
Howe discovered Odoo while searching for scalable solutions. Initially drawn to its open-source community and extensive documentation, Kevin Du recognized Odoo’s flexibility and ease of customization.
Once onboard, Howe leveraged Odoo’s modular structure to address its immediate operational needs. Before Odoo’s all-inclusive pricing model, the company selectively integrated key applications to optimize its workflow. Now, with access to the full suite, Howe is expanding its use of Odoo, particularly in CRM automation and customer relationship management.
Implementing Odoo has significantly improved Howe’s efficiency across multiple departments. Here’s how:
- Inventory optimization: Howe’s transition to Odoo provided clear visibility into inventory levels, allowing for predictive reordering. The graphical UI made it easier to identify stock shortages and reorder points, preventing supply chain disruptions.
- CRM integration: Prior to Odoo, Howe juggled Excel spreadsheets and a third-party CRM, leading to redundant customer data. By consolidating everything into Odoo, they eliminated redundancies and improved customer tracking and follow-ups.
- Automated shipping and labeling: Odoo’s customization capabilities enabled Howe to automate shipping label generation, reducing manual data entry and minimizing errors.
- Efficiency gains: By integrating Odoo into daily operations, Howe reduced the time spent on order intake, processing, and shipping by 15–20%. Features like automated document generation further enhanced workflow efficiency.
- Enhanced team collaboration: Odoo’s log notes and chatter feature allowed for seamless internal communication, ensuring that anomalies or order adjustments were properly documented. This visibility improved order accuracy and team coordination.
"Being able to know how to fill different slots, auto-generating documents, and customizing fields just makes everything slick."
Looking to the future
Howe has ambitious plans for growth, with a focus on expanding into manufacturing operations in the U.S. Having a robust ERP system in place provides a strong foundation for this transition. In the immediate term, the company is prioritizing CRM automation, but long-term, it envisions leveraging Odoo to manage manufacturing processes seamlessly.
"I’ve always wanted an ERP system that, if we eventually step into manufacturing, we’d still be able to utilize the very same one."
Howe’s journey demonstrates the power of Odoo in revolutionizing business operations, from inventory management to customer relations. If your company is struggling with inefficient systems, Odoo offers a flexible, scalable solution to drive efficiency and growth.
