Location/Region: Victoria, CAN
Industry: Tools and supplies retail
Apps implemented: Sales, Purchase, Inventory, E-Commerce, Invoicing
Software
Replaced: In-house accounting software.
Size of the company: 1-5
Hosting type: Odoo.sh
Skookum Tools, an innovative industrial consumables provider based in Victoria, British Columbia, turned to Odoo for a comprehensive solution that would address their e-commerce and operational challenges. With Odoo’s suite of apps, Skookum Tools transformed their workflow, boosting efficiency and accuracy in their order processing and inventory management.
Founded 25 years ago by Robert McDonald, Skookum Tools started as an industrial supplies company aimed at revolutionizing the way tools and shop supplies were delivered. Originally inspired by Snap-on Tools' delivery model for auto mechanics, Robert introduced a unique approach by offering supplies via a van service, taking products directly to customer locations. Despite some struggles with franchising and economic downturns, Skookum pivoted toward e-commerce in the early 2010s, aiming to meet the growing demand for online shopping in the industrial sector.
By 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, Skookum Tools saw a surge in demand for safety supplies like dust masks and gloves. This boom helped the company fully embrace e-commerce, enabling them to expand their brand across Canada and into the United States.
"We were ahead of the curve when we decided to go fully into e-commerce. And when the pandemic hit, it accelerated everything."
A complex, labor-intensive process
Before adopting Odoo, Skookum Tools faced numerous inefficiencies with their legacy accounting system. Their operations involved a lot of double and triple data entry, particularly in the order processing and shipping systems. The e-commerce platform didn’t mesh well with their accounting software, forcing employees to repeatedly enter customer and order data. This resulted in excessive labor hours and a higher risk of human error.
In their search for a solution, Skookum Tools considered several other software options, including Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, and Acumatica. However, the high implementation costs of some platforms made them less appealing. Robert and his team were particularly drawn to Odoo because it offered flexibility, customizability, and a lower upfront investment. The open-source nature of Odoo, familiar to their team, made it an ideal fit for their needs.
"We looked at a lot of different systems, but Odoo stood out because it gave us control over our investment, allowing us to grow at our own pace.”
Odoo: The game-changer
Skookum Tools’ journey with Odoo was not without its challenges. The team faced difficulties due to their highly customized needs, but after a year, they pivoted an existing employee, Ryan, to focus on configuring Odoo. Through a deep dive into tutorials and hands-on experimentation, Ryan successfully adapted the system to meet their requirements, turning Odoo into the driving force behind their operational efficiency.
Odoo’s implementation led to a dramatic reduction in time spent on order entry. Before, the team could process 25 to 30 orders per person in a six-hour period. With Odoo, this increased to 100 to 125 orders per person within the same time frame, an improvement of up to 400%.
Additionally, Skookum Tools was able to fully automate the dropshipping process. With Odoo’s integrated feature, orders from their e-commerce platform could be converted into sales orders and purchase orders within minutes, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing errors. This level of automation has not only saved time but has also improved the accuracy of their order fulfillment.
Odoo’s customizations, such as the "dropship all" and "invoice and deliver" buttons, have also been game-changers. The dropship feature, in particular, has allowed Skookum to easily manage their inventory and vendors. The invoice and deliver button, customized for local sales, enables Skookum to generate invoices, process shipments, and update the warehouse stock in a single click, cutting down on manual work and improving customer satisfaction.
"Odoo has saved us so much time. What used to take all day now takes just an hour or two, and we’ve increased our order processing capacity by 400%.”
What’s next?
Skookum Tools is eager to expand its presence in the U.S. market, with plans to further refine their e-commerce platform and order fulfillment systems. With their Odoo-driven improvements, they aim to continue increasing order volume and reducing operational bottlenecks. As the company grows, they’re committed to continuously improving their workflows, keeping up with industry trends, and ensuring a seamless customer experience.
As an example, the company aims to enhance their inventory management further, expand their e-commerce platform, and explore new integrations. They’re also working on improving the shipping process and refining their dropshipping workflow to continue scaling their operations efficiently.
For businesses in industrial supplies, e-commerce, or any sector facing similar operational challenges, Odoo offers a flexible, scalable solution that can save time, reduce errors, and enhance efficiency. With its robust suite of apps and customization options, Odoo can be the game-changing solution your business needs to scale and thrive in the competitive e-commerce landscape.
