Location/Region: Long Lake, MN
Industry: Professional Services/Architecture
Apps implemented: Accounting, CRM, Project, Expenses, Inventory, Sales, eCommerce, Website, Invoicing, Planning, Recruitment, Marketing Automation, Social Marketing, Employees, Timesheet, Time Off.
Software
Replaced: NetSuite
Number of users: 16
Hosting type: Odoo.sh
From the heart of Long Lake, Minnesota, Architectural Overflow has grown from a small drafting service into a trusted provider of custom house plans and architectural support. Led by Lee Buescher, the company now serves architects, developers, builders, and smaller architecture firms across the United States. What sets Architectural Overflow apart is its ability to blend traditional design with modern technology, transforming the way spaces are brought to life.
"Architectural Overflow’s journey began as a side hustle, with me providing overflow drafting services to other companies. Little did I know, this small beginning would soon evolve into a thriving business offering custom house plans and architectural services across the country."
Two years after starting the business, in 2010, Lee and his team established a relationship with Southern Living Magazine to manage their house plans business. This partnership was a turning point for Architectural Overflow, changing the type of projects they were able to complete and significantly impacted the direction of the company. Despite the challenges of the housing crisis and starting a new business during this tough economic period, Lee remained determined. Over the next several years, the company grew organically, adapting to the changing market and evolving their services in response to new opportunities.
Lee reflects on those early struggles, noting that perseverance was key to their survival. This persistence, along with a drive to adapt and innovate, has been central to Architectural Overflow's ability to thrive over the years.
Embracing Change through Technology
As Architectural Overflow expanded, so did the complexity of their operations. Initially, they relied on NetSuite to manage different aspects of the business, but when Oracle acquired the system; the costs became unsustainable for their small team. In their search for a more cost-effective and scalable solution, Lee Buescher turned to Odoo, which had already caught his attention in 2017 during his research for cloud-based ERP systems.
"I attended an ‘Odoo Connect’ in San Francisco around 2018 or 2019. Since then, I've been following the platform’s evolution. Over the years, it has grown and improved in areas like accounting, e-commerce, and website management. It became a more attractive product. Odoo itself has also been an inspiring story.”
Odoo’s impact on Architectural Overflow has been transformative. By consolidating operations into a single, easy-to-use platform, the company has seen substantial improvements in efficiency and customer service. With Odoo, Architectural Overflow can manage financials, customer relationships, and order entry all from one platform. The transition from multiple systems to a centralized solution has improved their ability to track and analyze business data, leading to faster decision-making.
"The ability to consolidate our business operations into one platform has saved us countless hours. It probably makes us 40% or 50% more efficient, for sure.”
Unlike large ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite, which can be expensive and complex, Odoo offered a more efficient solution tailored for small to medium-sized businesses. For Lee, Odoo’s ability to provide everything they needed, without the burden of expensive customization, was key. "What I really appreciate about Odoo is its non-traditional ERP approach. We didn’t need heavy customization to get the benefits of a robust ERP. It's light, fast, and updated, which is what we were looking for as a small, lean team."
What’s next: Expanding Horizons
With their operational transition to Odoo complete, Lee and his team are now focused on expanding their service offerings and increasing their presence in the shelter industry. They are actively working with e-commerce partners and exploring new projects related to affordable housing, a sector that Lee is passionate about.
"We’ve spent the last 16 months focusing on this transition, and now we’re ready to expand. We’re growing our marketing efforts, launching new websites, and continuing to take on larger projects in the shelter industry, particularly in affordable housing and missing middle housing."
Architectural Overflow’s story is a clear example of how Odoo’s flexible, user-friendly, and affordable ERP solution has driven business growth. As the company expands, Odoo continues to provide the tools needed to streamline operations and scale effectively, without the complexities and costs associated with traditional ERP systems.
