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Odoo Deployment Strategy Overview

This document outlines the strategic options, trade-offs, and phased planning required for a successful deployment of Odoo in an enterprise context. It includes rationale behind different deployment models, associated costs, learning curve considerations, and a bottom-line deployment roadmap that ensures each phase builds upon the last.

🧭 Deployment Options Overview

Odoo offers two primary deployment modes under the Enterprise license:

Option 1: Odoo.sh (Cloud Platform by Odoo SA)

A fully-managed cloud instance with built-in DevOps pipeline.

✅ Pros:

  • GitHub integration with auto-deploy pipeline
  • Managed hosting and upgrades
  • Support from Odoo SA
  • Simplified staging and production environments
  • Easy rollback and sandbox testing

❌ Cons:

  • No shell access (no terminal debugging)
  • No system-level service control (e.g., cannot run Redis, n8n, custom scripts)
  • PostgreSQL and server performance tuning restricted

👨‍🏫 Learning Curve:

  • Low for functional users
  • Moderate for devs new to Git-based CI/CD

💰 Estimated 3-Year Cost (10 users):

  • Subscription: \~\$19,182 USD (including hosting, upgrades)

Option 2: On-Premises Enterprise Deployment

Self-hosted instance running on internal infrastructure or third-party server (e.g., AWS, DigitalOcean).

✅ Pros:

  • Full shell access, including odoo shell, PostgreSQL (psql), logs
  • Advanced performance tuning, monitoring, and integrations
  • Ability to run custom services: n8n, external APIs, custom CRON, etc.
  • Better control for regulated environments

❌ Cons:

  • Must self-manage updates and patches
  • Requires internal DevOps / IT support
  • Backup, security, and infrastructure are your responsibility

👨‍🏫 Learning Curve:

  • Steep for infrastructure and DevOps
  • Low for functional teams once deployed

💰 Estimated 3-Year Cost (10 users):

  • Licensing: \~\$21,780 USD
  • Hosting + Backup: additional (excluding IT team, assumed paid already)

📄 Web & UI Customization: Studio vs QWeb

Capability Odoo.sh On-Prem
Studio custom views ✅ ✅
QWeb template edits ✅ (via Git) ✅ (via shell or Git)
Website portal edits ✅ ✅
Dynamic controller routes ⚠️ Limited ✅ Full control

For complex client-facing documents (quotes, invoices, certificates), QWeb is essential. On-Prem enables deeper debugging via shell (odoo shell, logs).

🧪 Shell Interface Use Cases (On-Prem Only)

  • ORM queries (odoo shell)
  • Live error trace and performance debugging
  • Integration testing (n8n, APIs)
  • CRON jobs and automated backend scripts
  • Full database backup and restore control

These are essential in scenarios requiring audit, external system orchestration, or advanced tuning.

✅ Recommendation Summary Table

Use Case Best Fit
Fast deployment, no in-house IT ✅ Odoo.sh
Tight API and workflow integration ✅ On-Prem
Custom services (e.g., n8n, Redis) ✅ On-Prem
Deep control of infra and shell ✅ On-Prem
Upgrades and rollback ease ✅ Odoo.sh
Web customization and branding ✅ Both

🚦 Deployment Phase Roadmap (Preserving Progress)

Phase 1: Design & Planning

  • Choose deployment model (Odoo.sh or On-Prem)
  • Map your business processes to Odoo apps
  • Define core data models: Contacts, Products, Orders, etc.
  • Agree on naming conventions (e.g., External IDs)
  • Identify key dependencies (e.g., PaymentTerms, PriceLists)

Phase 2: Setup of Master Records

  • Create multi-company structure

  • Root: OVES HQ

  • Children: regional companies, linked by res.company
  • Define central products under OVES HQ

  • Pre-populate:

  • res.partner (internal companies, staff, etc.)

  • account.payment.term, product.pricelist
  • User roles and team hierarchy

Phase 3: Staged Data Migration

  • Migrate from core systems in logical order:

  • eCount: Internal SKUs, structured BoMs, costs

  • Shopify: External product listings, sales metadata
  • QuickBooks: Financial and sales transactions

  • Upload sequence:

  • Contacts

  • Products
  • BoMs / Pricelists / PaymentTerms
  • Sales Orders

Phase 4: Validation & UAT

  • Confirm SalesOrder accuracy (due dates, pricing, contacts)
  • Perform invoice run and reconciliation
  • Validate BoM logic and manufacturing planning
  • Run real user walkthroughs (Quotes → Orders → Invoices)

Phase 5: Go-Live & Rollout

  • Final production data import
  • Lock source systems / freeze parallel edits
  • Onboard teams in live environment
  • Enable full automation and integrations (e.g. payment, n8n)

🧩 Final Notes

  • Odoo Studio helps functional users modify models without code
  • Custom modules can coexist with Studio in both On-Prem and Odoo.sh
  • Migration logic should be scripted and repeatable for staging and go-live

Prepared for teams evaluating Odoo Enterprise rollout in a multi-company, multi-system integration environment.