Odoo is an impressive open-source ERP. But it tries to do everything—accounting, HR, marketing, sales, manufacturing—and most small manufacturers only need the production module.
Odoo gives you 50+ modules. You need 2. We build focused production systems that track jobs from quote to completion. Simple BOMs, material allocation, and job costing without the complexity of a full ERP.
You pay 100% of the subscription but typically use only 30% of the functionality
Why rent the other 70% forever?
Odoo charges per app, so if you enable Manufacturing, Inventory, and Purchase modules, you're paying $75/user/month. That's $900/year per staff member. And you still need to navigate a system designed for much larger operations with complex routing and multi-step quality control.
Beyond features, there are fundamental differences in philosophy, ownership, and total cost of ownership.
| Metric | The "Universal" SaaS (Odoo) | The Itsy Bytesy Custom Build (Production Job Tracker) |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | "One tool for everyone." | "A tool specifically for *you*." |
| Cost Model | OpEx (Rent): Per-user, forever. | CapEx (Asset): One-time build cost + minimal hosting. |
| Data Ownership | API Limits & Export Fees. | Direct SQL Access. You own the database. |
| Update Cycle | UI changes randomly, confusing your staff. | UI only changes when *you* ask for it. |
| The "Noise" | Gamification, Social Feeds, Upsell Popups. | Zero distractions. Pure utility. |
A Production Job Tracker focused on your actual workflow:
Simple bill of materials (BOM) tracking
Job-based material allocation
Production scheduling for small teams
Basic job costing and profitability
Don't guess. Book a 15-minute architecture review. We'll tell you honestly if you should stick with Odoo or build your own asset.