Company name | XLG |
Business sector | Facility management |
Odoo applications used | Planning, sales, website, purchase, projects, leave, payroll, assistance, fleet, ... |
XLG, a major player in the facilities management sector, bringing together more than 30 service activities for businesses and private individuals, has undertaken a major digital transformation to standardise its processes across its various companies. Initially an Odoo Community user via another integrator, the company decided to migrate to Odoo Enterprise with Nalios to benefit from a more comprehensive, scalable platform tailored to its growing needs.
Why did XLG switch to Odoo Enterprise?
Historically, XLG had been using Odoo Community, but this version was showing its limitations in terms of functionality and the management of inter-company flows. What's more, their previous integrator only worked with the Community version and did not offer any upgrades to Enterprise. Faced with these constraints and the arrival of a new IT manager at XLG, it became essential to review the tools in place. The need for more integrated business applications and centralised data flows led to the choice of Odoo Enterprise and Nalios as our integration partner.
A digitisation project structured into several phases
The migration and optimisation project began in June 2021 and is still ongoing. The initial aim was to centralise all data and standardise flows between the Group's various companies, while retaining the specific features required by certain divisions.
Phase 1: Identification and standardisation of processes
A first key step was to organise several workshops to analyse all the needs and specific developments to be carried out. XLG Facility, the group's largest entity, was used as a model for structuring the essential workflows: schedule management, quotations, invoicing and service management.
Phase 2: Recovery and optimisation of existing flows
Prior to Nalios' involvement, XLG was using a mixture of Odoo, Excel and other third-party solutions. The migration to Enterprise enabled all these tools to be integrated into a single database, making it easier to monitor activities and internal communications. However, some existing business software remained unchanged, in order to preserve specific features that could not be replaced.
Phase 3: Adding new applications and companies
By optimising workflows, XLG was able to integrate new companies into Odoo, particularly those that had not yet gone digital. In addition, several new modules have been activated: point of sale, on-site service, subscription management, fleet management, recruitment and attendance management.
Phase 4: Migration to Odoo 16 then Odoo 17
In June 2024, XLG carried out an initial migration from V15 to V16. The complexity of the project required several migration simulations, precise monitoring on a test basis and rigorous supervision by Nalios. Once this transition had been successfully completed, a second migration to V17 was initiated in November 2024, with even more flows, companies and developments to be migrated and tested.
Why migrate?
1. Access to the latest features
Each new version of Odoo brings improvements and new features that can enhance productivity and user experience. Recent examples:
- Optimising the user interface
- More advanced automation with AI
- New integrations with third-party tools
2. Enhanced security
Odoo regularly updates its system to correct vulnerabilities and strengthen data security. Sticking with an older version can expose your business to risk.
3. Best performance
Each update includes optimisations to speed up task execution, improve responsiveness and reduce resource consumption.
4. Enhanced user experience
Recent versions of Odoo are more ergonomic and intuitive, with :
- Smoother browsing
- More effective dashboards
- An optimised mobile experience
5. Compatibility with the latest technologies
Updating Odoo ensures that it is compatible with the latest versions of servers, databases, browsers and APIs.
6. Simplifying future updates
Waiting several years before upgrading can make migration more complex and costly. An annual update is more gradual and controlled.
7. Official support and patches guaranteed
Odoo generally supports the latest three versions. A version that is too old may no longer benefit from Odoo patches and support.
Impressive results
Thanks to this digital transformation, XLG has achieved several major objectives:
- Custom code reduced from 120,000 to 18,904 lines
- Gradual migration of all Group entities to a centralised ERP system
- Significant improvement in internal communication and data centralisation
- Introduction of automation that didn't exist before, reducing the administrative burden and errors
- Significant reduction in the use of paper
An agile methodology to meet needs on the ground
XLG and Nalios have adopted a pragmatic approach to development management. Unlike previous methods, which involved upstream development, Nalios first deploys standard functionalities before making adjustments based on feedback from the field. This flexibility has made it possible to prioritise essential developments while limiting unnecessary costs.
Outlook and next steps
XLG is currently continuing to optimise its system with a number of objectives in mind:
- Adding former group companies to Odoo
- Integration with other specific business applications
- Setting up a knowledge management system and centralised support
- Migration to a future version of Odoo for even more functions and integrations
Conclusion
XLG's move to Odoo Enterprise with Nalios was a decisive turning point in the group's digitalisation. In just a few years, the company moved from fragmented management based on Odoo Community to a structured, powerful and scalable ERP system. Thanks to close collaboration and a proven methodology, Nalios continues to support XLG in its digital expansion, guaranteeing a smooth and sustainable transformation.
If your company wants to optimise its processes with Odoo, Nalios is the ideal partner to ensure an efficient and successful transition!