Founded in 2005, TGWT has been at the forefront of environmentally friendly water treatment solutions for steam boilers, cooling towers, closed loops, and industrial wastewater. The company is particularly known for its tannin-based products, which offer a greener alternative to conventional chemicals, enhancing efficiency while reducing water and energy consumption.
From its base in Quebec, TGWT operates with a dual business model: providing direct water treatment services in Quebec and Ontario while distributing its tannin-based products across Canada and the United States. Over the past two decades, TGWT has established itself as a leader in sustainability, with customers like Beaulieu Canada remaining loyal since the company’s inception.
"When I started at TGWT, 12 years ago, the environmental message wasn’t really being heard. Companies focused more on cost savings than sustainability. But over the past two years, everything has changed-people want greener solutions and are actively looking to reduce their environmental impact. Now, the demand for sustainable water treatment is stronger than ever, and our products are making a real difference."
The problem? Disconnected systems and inefficiencies
Before adopting Odoo, TGWT faced significant operational challenges due to its reliance on multiple disconnected software tools. The company used separate systems for CRM (Highrise HQ), project management (Basecamp), accounting (Sage 50), inventory and production tracking (managed through Excel). These inefficiencies led to several issues:
- Data Inconsistencies: Customer records varied across platforms, with inconsistent formatting leading to errors and miscommunication.
- Limited Access: Sage 50 could only be accessed by two users, creating bottlenecks in order processing and invoicing.
- Cumbersome Workflows: Production, sales, and financial management required manual data entry across multiple systems, slowing down operations.
"We knew we needed a system that could bring everything together, streamline our operations, and support our growth. Odoo stood out as the best option because of its flexibility, ease of integration, and ability to adapt to our evolving needs."
Choosing Odoo:
A strategic decision
LP Cloutier explained that their journey with Odoo started with insights from their German partner Korn GmbH and discussions within the EntreChefs PME network members. "After evaluating multiple solutions, including NetSuite, we found that Odoo offered the best balance of capabilities and cost. It was the right fit, and we made the leap," he said.
In 2018, TGWT transitioned to Odoo, recognizing its potential to streamline operations by unifying all business functions under a single platform. The move proved to be a strategic advantage, particularly when the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to adapt to remote work.
"One of Odoo’s greatest strengths is Studio. It allows us to customize applications seamlessly within the platform, without needing a programming specialist. We can add fields, automate actions, and tailor reports with ease. Plus, when upgrading to a new version, there’s no hefty migration cost—everything flows smoothly. We’ve already built and customized around 10 modules, and we’re eager to expand even further," said Benoît Gaboriau.
Since implementing Odoo, TGWT has seen transformative improvements across multiple areas:
Streamlined quotation to delivery process: One of the most significant efficiency gains the company has experienced with Odoo is the seamless flow from quotation to delivery. With everything integrated into a single platform, there is no longer a need to manually input data across different systems, reducing errors and saving a substantial amount of time.
Customer Center and reporting efficiency: The implementation of a Customer Center module has drastically improved reporting efficiency. Generating detailed sales reports, which once required an entire day due to cumbersome data extraction from SAGE 50 and formatting issues in Excel, can now be completed in just two clicks. In under five minutes, the system compiles comprehensive sales insights, including purchase history, product categories, and quantities. The report itself is generated in just 10 seconds, allowing for quicker and more data-driven customer reviews.
Automated monthly package billing: The company is beta-testing a new module for managing monthly package billing, designed to significantly reduce processing time. Previously, handling invoices for the water treatment program involved multiple manual steps, from updating reports to verifying service visits and managing purchase orders. With the new Odoo module, invoices will be generated in one click, improving accuracy, expediting billing, and ensuring technicians have full visibility into their schedules. This advancement is expected to reduce administrative workload and enhance overall team accountability.
"Tasks that took hours of manual work can now be completed in seconds, allowing the team to focus on delivering value”
Looking ahead
The company is currently undertaking a major project to expand its manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, the team is developing an innovative scale and corrosion inhibitor for cooling towers made from wood residues, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and efficiency. To support these ambitious initiatives, Odoo plays a crucial role in optimizing inventory management, barcode tracking, and location implementation, ensuring smooth operations despite the modest size of the team.
With multiple projects in motion, the company recognizes the importance of streamlined processes and automation to maximize productivity. Odoo’s integrated system helps bridge resource gaps by providing real-time inventory insights, automation tools, and improved logistics management, allowing the team to focus on innovation rather than manual workflows. These digital enhancements are critical to maintaining agility as they scale their operations.
Businesses in manufacturing and beyond can benefit from Odoo’s scalability and efficiency, regardless of team size. Whether optimizing supply chain logistics, automating routine tasks, or improving resource allocation, Odoo provides a comprehensive all-in-one solution to drive growth and innovation.
