Odoo Functional vs. Technical Consultant: What’s the Difference?

Odoo functional consultants and Odoo technical consultants serve two essential but different roles. The functional consultant focuses on business needs, workflows, and module configurations, while the technical consultant handles backend customization, Python code, and database structure.

In this article, I’ll break down the difference between Odoo functional and technical consultants, based on 10+ years of staffing experience. You’ll learn which one your project needs, how to collaborate with both, and how to choose the right expert depending on your growth stage and team setup. This guide is particularly aimed at businesses in the US, Canada, and Europe seeking to build effective Odoo teams.

1. Why It's Important to Have Consultants in Odoo Implementation?

Not so long ago, I had a client who found out about the effectiveness of Odoo for businesses in some webinar and decided to try implementing it himself. Not being a tech-savvy guy in the slightest, the CEO resorted to Code2day in search of a certified Odoo ERP functional consultant.

Before I helped the client outstaff a suitable specialist, I had to explain the purpose and role of a consultant for Odoo implementation. For starters, we differentiate between two main types of Odoo consultants: technical vs functional, and both of them play a crucial role in Odoo implementation and use for any business.

A consultant is, first of all, the person who clarifies the functions and advantages of Odoo from the point of view of your particular business needs. Basically, they help you unleash the full potential of Odoo and explain how it can help you reach your corporate goals. I explained this fundamental definition to my client and then, of course, he wanted to know more about the advantages of both Odoo consultants.

2. What is an Odoo Functional Consultant?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you come up with a brilliant ERP business idea but your team doesn’t have a specialist who can realize it properly? This is when Odoo functional consultants come into play.

An Odoo functional consultant is a person who carefully evaluates your ERP project and streamlines your business so it works in one consistent and logical algorithm. Basically, they understand your business processes first and then turn them into the tasks that can be dealt with by Odoo. Here is what you need to know about the main responsibilities of the functional consultant role.

Role and responsibilities of a functional consultant

Last time I helped a client outstaff a techno functional consultant for Odoo, they required someone who could configure Odoo modules in such a way that they met the business requirements. Then, this person was supposed to organize comprehensive training for the rest of the team, especially the departments that were supposed to work with the ERP closely.

I received the first report from Jan, an Odoo consultant from Poland who we outstaffed for the client, within the first month of their collaboration. As a functional consultant, Jan applied his expertise in Odoo and experience working with similar projects in such processes as:

• Gathering and documenting business requirements. For starters, he evaluated the business and processes associated with it to design a stable workflow. Then, he prepared a pack of documentation in which he explained his deep understanding of the company’s regular processes and how they could be automated or streamlined with Odoo.
• Configuring Odoo modules. Then, Jan set up the Odoo ERP for the client’s company in such a way that its modules corresponded to their business needs. For this, he mapped out the plan in cooperation with the rest of the technical team and consulted all the departments in order to better understand their needs.
• Providing user training and support. After the system was configured in a proper way, Jan conducted mandatory training for everyone who was supposed to use the ERP via video calls. Additionally, he was and still remains open for 24/7 support in case someone struggles with using Odoo for their day-to-day tasks.

Jan was a true find for the client’s company: as a retail business, it was in urgent need of one cohesive system to manage their client database, orders, product stock, transactions, and reporting.

Skills required for Odoo functional consultants

When I was looking for a fitting candidacy for the role of an Odoo functional consultant, Jan was the first professional who came to my mind and so I contacted him immediately. Why? Although Code2day has over a dozen of Odoo functional consultants on its database, I was hoping to find someone who had experience working with retail projects. Luckily, Jan was exactly this person: over 5 years of Odoo functional set-up and training for various online stores across Europe and even the US made him the perfect match.

Then, of course, he had the required skill set needed for the Odoo functional consultant roles and responsibilities:

• Odoo Knowledge: Deep understanding of Odoo modules and functionalities, including ERP, CRM, HR, and accounting. Ability to demonstrate how these modules can be used to solve specific business problems.
• Business Process Understanding: Ability to analyze and understand various business processes to implement Odoo solutions effectively. Translating complex workflows into Odoo configurations.
• Configuration and Customization: Skills in configuring Odoo modules and customizing workflows to meet specific business requirements. Implementing tailored system settings to optimize operations.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical abilities to assess client needs and provide appropriate solutions. Identifying inefficiencies and proposing Odoo-based improvements.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with clients and team members. Acting as a crucial liaison between business users and the technical team.
• Project Management: Familiarity with project management methodologies to oversee Odoo implementation projects. Keeping projects on track from a functional perspective.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues that arise during the implementation process. Addressing user-reported issues related to system configuration or workflow.
• Training and Support: Skills in training users and providing ongoing support post-implementation. Empowering users to effectively utilize Odoo in their daily tasks. Data Migration: Understanding of data migration processes to transition data from legacy systems to Odoo while ensuring data integrity.
• Data Migration: Knowledge of data migration processes to transition data from legacy systems to Odoo.
• Technical Understanding: Basic understanding of programming languages like Python and XML, which can help in working with developers.

The feedback I received from the client about Jan’s work was more than pleasant: in fact, they were surprised that such a gem of a professional was at arm’s length. I doubt the client could have found a perfect specialist for their needs this fast without an outstaffing solution from Code2day.

Use cases for functional consultants in Odoo implementation

Apart from Jan, Code2day has outstaffed several other Odoo functional consultants for different business types and projects. The main question asked by many clients who wanted to implement Odoo was: what is a functional consultant for Odoo? After I explained the role of such a professional and supervised the oustaffing process as well as the integration of every expert into their new team, the results didn’t take long to show themselves.

Odoo functional consultant for a manufacturing company

Janek, an Odoo functional consultant oustaffed by Code2day, was called to help a local furniture manufacturing company streamline its operations. The company struggled with tracking raw materials, production schedules, and inventory levels. After a thorough analysis of their business processes, Janek recommended implementing Odoo’s Manufacturing and Inventory modules.

He worked closely with the production team, mapping their existing workflow and configuring Odoo to manage inventory in real-time. After a few weeks of training sessions, the employees felt confident using the new system. Janek facilitated a user acceptance testing (UAT) phase, ensuring that everything worked as intended. The result? The company saw a 30% reduction in material wastage and a significant improvement in order fulfillment times, leading to increased customer satisfaction.

Odoo functional consultant for a consulting team

Marek, an Odoo functional consultant from Code2day’s database, joined a rapidly growing consulting firm that needed a better way to manage projects and client communications. The team was juggling multiple spreadsheets, leading to confusion and missed deadlines. Marek initiated a deep dive into their project management needs.

He recommended the implementation of Odoo’s Project Management and Timesheet modules. After customizing the workflow to fit the firm’s needs, he led training sessions to help the consultants adapt to the new system. Marek also set up automated reminders for project deadlines and milestones. Within a few weeks, the firm reported improved efficiency, with project delivery times reduced by 20%, allowing them to take on more clients without compromising quality.

Odoo functional consultant for a healthcare company

Anna, an Odoo functional consultant, Code2Day outstaffed for a medium-sized healthcare clinic, solved all the problems with automation. The clinic used a patchwork of software and manual processes, which often led to errors and patient dissatisfaction.

After an initial assessment, Anna recommended implementing Odoo’s Healthcare, CRM, and Accounting modules. She worked closely with the clinic’s administrative staff and medical professionals to understand their unique needs and streamline workflows.

Anna configured the system to allow for easy patient record management, appointment scheduling, and automated billing processes. She also set up a patient portal, enabling patients to book appointments and access their medical records online.

Following several training sessions, the clinic staff felt empowered to use the new system. After going live, patient wait times decreased by 40%, and the clinic reported a significant drop in billing errors. Patient satisfaction scores soared, allowing the clinic to expand its services and reach more individuals in need.

3. What is an Odoo Technical Consultant?

An Odoo ERP technical consultant is the person who develops and customizes Odoo software for the needs of your company. They work in close cooperation with functional consultants to make sure that all Odoo modules are configured in a proper and fitting way. Technical consultants are the coding and system architecture experts who bring complex customizations and integrations to life.

Code2day has experience outstaffing Odoo technical consultants for businesses in such spheres as logistics, retail, consulting, healthcare, education, and others. Our recent project involved finding a technical Odoo consultant for an online educational platform.

Role and responsibilities of a technical consultant

I personally contacted Marion, an Odoo technical consultant from Lyon, France, for the job of a technical Odoo consultant for a platform with online courses and webinars. The client needed someone to optimize their ERP for student management systems, course tracking, and billing solutions. In her new role, Marion performed such tasks as:

• Technical customization and development. Marion assessed the specific needs of the platform and customized Odoo’s modules accordingly. She developed tailored features to enhance user experience, such as creating custom forms for student enrollment, modifying workflows for course approvals, and ensuring that the system could handle varying course types and structures. This involved writing custom code in Python and XML.
• Integrating Odoo with other systems. Marion worked on integrating Odoo with third-party applications essential for the platform, such as payment gateways for seamless billing and learning management systems (LMS) for effective course delivery. This integration enabled data synchronization across platforms, ensuring that student records, payment statuses, and course completions were accurately reflected in real-time. Examples include integrating with payment processors like Stripe or PayPal, or connecting to an external learning platform.
• Troubleshooting and performance optimization. Marion regularly monitored the system for any issues and quickly addressed them. She performed performance optimization tasks, such as enhancing database queries, streamlining processes, and ensuring that the system could handle peak loads during course enrollments or webinars, resulting in a smooth and efficient user experience. Ensuring the system remains fast and responsive even under heavy load.

Thanks to Marion’s efforts, the client managed to automate many otherwise tedious processes for internal management of his platform: student profile keeping, progress tracking, billing, and others. Her technical expertise enabled the platform to scale and handle a larger volume of users and data.

Skills required for Odoo technical consultants

Just like Marion, other Odoo technical consultants in our database possess the required technical skills and business understanding:

• Business flow expertise. This is the key skill required of any Odoo technical consultant. Before they ever get down to working with the software of a particular company, they must know how businesses work in general in different industries. For example, Marion had to demonstrate her expertise in the most common workflows of educational platforms online. Understanding the underlying business processes is crucial for developing effective technical solutions.
• Good problem-solving and cooperation abilities. Of course, a technical Odoo consultant must know how to communicate both with shareholders and developers in order for all components to work harmoniously together. Marion had to take into account the needs of all departments and set up Odoo in such a way that it met them all. Collaborating effectively with functional consultants and the client’s IT team is essential.
• Expertise in Odoo Modules. In her work, Marion juggled such Odoo modules as workflows, reporting tools, and dashboard configurations in order to optimize them for a particular company. Deep knowledge of the Odoo framework and module structure is fundamental for customization.
• Team Management. As a technical consultant, Marion was frequently involved in different ERP projects of the company. Her tasks included controlling the processes and tasks and making sure that all deadlines were met, as well as supervising the financial side and ensuring that the project remained within its dedicated budget. While primarily technical, involvement in project management aspects ensures timely and budget-conscious delivery of technical solutions.

As you can see, the work of a technical Odoo consultant is way more detailed and perhaps even more tedious compared to a functional Odoo consultant. However, both of them are critically important for the success of your business if you want your Odoo implementation to go as smoothly as possible.

4. Key Differences Between Odoo Functional and Technical Consultants

Functional and technical consultants for Odoo are not the same. From my experience, I know that if you want to use the full potential of this ERP system for your company, you need to hire both specialists and see what magic they can do in tandem. Let’s have a closer look into what sets functional and technical Odoo consultants apart.

Focus Area: Business vs. Technical Implementation

Functional consultants primarily concentrate on understanding business processes, requirements, and how Odoo can meet these needs. They focus on configuring Odoo modules, optimizing workflows, and ensuring the system aligns with business objectives.

In contrast, technical consultants focus on the underlying technology and infrastructure, including software development, system integrations, and customizations. They delve into coding, database management, and server configurations to ensure that Odoo operates efficiently and effectively.

Interaction with Business Users vs. IT Teams

Functional consultants frequently engage with business users, gathering insights about their needs, pain points, and preferences. They serve as a bridge between the users and the technical team, translating business requirements into technical specifications.

On the other hand, technical consultants typically interact more with IT teams and developers. They focus on technical discussions, system architecture, and code-related tasks, ensuring that the system’s technical aspects align with the functional requirements set by the business.

Tools and Technologies Used

Functional consultants utilize tools related to business analysis, project management, and user training. They often work with Odoo’s user interface, reporting tools, and business intelligence software to create dashboards and generate insights.

Technical consultants, however, use programming languages like Python or XML, development environments, and tools for version control, testing, and deployment. They may also work with APIs and integration tools to connect Odoo with other systems.

5. When to Hire an Odoo Functional Consultant?

Now that you know the Odoo functional consultant meaning, you might consider hiring such a professional for your business purposes. Before you do that, it’s crucial to know how exactly a functional consultant for Odoo can help your project thrive. Therefore, I present to you the perfect cases that may require their engagement.

Ideal scenarios for functional consultant engagement

Why hire an Odoo functional consultant? Consider several project cases.

• New ERP Implementation. Not so long ago, we worked with a client whose company was about to transition from another ERP system to Odoo. Of course, they couldn’t do without a functional consultant as they mapped out the purposes and process of the Odoo implementation for the company in all detail.
• Customization of Odoo Modules. If a business has unique requirements that standard Odoo modules don’t fully address, a functional consultant can help customize those modules. Jan, the Odoo functional consultant we hired for a client not so long ago, was able to ensure that Odoo aligned with specific business goals while maintaining usability.
• User Training and Support. After implementing Odoo, employees may require training on how to use the new system effectively. Jan personally developed training materials for his colleagues and conducted teaching sessions to ensure staff members understood how to navigate and utilize Odoo’s features by themselves.

These are just a few examples of how a properly chosen Odoo functional consultant can contribute to and simplify the processes of your company. In fact, their scope of practical skills can go way further depending on your particular business goals.

Benefits of having a functional consultant

With all this said, I can conclude by gathering the following benefits of Odoo functional consultants:

• Good Odoo functional consultants have expertise in Odoo best practices and know exactly how to implement Odoo so it does what you want it to. They ensure you get the most out of the standard Odoo features.
• Odoo functional consultants always use an individualistic approach, not just making the system work to its full capability but also fit your specific workflows. They tailor the system configuration to your unique business needs.
• Odoo functional consultants are irreplaceable when it comes to data migration as they can ensure the integrity of your data whenever you move it to a new ERP, which is Odoo. Minimizing the risk of data loss or corruption during the transition.
• Hiring a functional Odoo consultant is often more cost-effective than managing all the processes by yourself. Leveraging their expertise saves time and resources.
• Professional Odoo functional consultants can provide comprehensive in-depth training to other members of your team, making sure that each of them can use Odoo properly without outside help. Boosting user adoption and productivity.

If you want to hire a functional Odoo consultant for a temporary position in your team, we advise you to consider outstaffing. This is the fastest way to find credible and project-tested Odoo professionals without spending a considerable share of your budget to support full-time in-house workers. Code2day can help you with this: just connect with us and outline your project details and requirements so we can commence the recruitment process on your behalf.

6. When to Hire an Odoo Technical Consultant?

Odoo technical consultants can provide a more profound view into the technical processes of your company. Even though their work is very similar to those of functional consultants, they are more tech-savvy and can properly implement the ideas devised by functional experts in practice.

Ideal scenarios for technical consultant engagement

Technical Odoo consultants basically pick up on the planning and design work done by functional consultants. From there, they can either collaborate with functional consultants or keep working on their own. Here are some practical cases from our experience:

• E-Commerce Integration. In one project for a growing online fashion retailer, the functional consultant outstaffed by us, Magda, identified the need for a seamless integration between Odoo and the client’s existing eCommerce platform. She outlined the requirements and asked us to connect with Adam, an Odoo technical consultant from our database. Adam took charge of developing a custom API that ensured real-time synchronization of inventory and orders. Their collaboration allowed the retailer to automate stock updates and fulfill orders faster, leading to a 50% reduction in order processing time.
• Custom Reporting Tools. During a financial services project, the functional consultant, Tomasz, recognized that the client needed advanced reporting capabilities to meet regulatory standards. He defined the reporting requirements and passed the work further to Lena, a technical consultant. She designed custom reports within Odoo and incorporated complex calculations and compliance metrics.
• Automating Workflows. In a large manufacturing firm, the functional consultant, Ania, mapped out the existing workflows and pinpointed areas for automation. She engaged with Krzysztof, the technical consultant, to develop automated workflows within Odoo. Krzysztof implemented triggers and actions to streamline the production process, allowing for automatic notifications when raw materials ran low and enabling quick order placements. Their teamwork resulted in a 30% decrease in manual intervention and significant time savings for the production team.

These experiences demonstrate that a harmonious work of functional and technical Odoo consultants can do wonders when these experts are outstaffed and assessed properly.

Benefits of having a technical consultant

With all this said, here are the advantages that a skilled and experienced Odoo technical consultant can bring to your team:

• In the case with Adam, creating a custom API for a company was one of the most complex yet effective solutions for a business. This basically made Odoo work for a company like a full-time employee, its modules and capabilities tailored to meet its daily and global needs;
• The experience of Lena showcased that Odoo technical consultants are indispensable for proper security and compliance. A technical consultant can set the reporting system in such a way that it meets the regulatory requirements of a particular country;
• A technical consultant like Krzysztof can automate otherwise long and tedious manual processes for any business. The decrease in manual work can positively impact the time a company spends on calculations and planning and thus boost its income in the long run.

These benefits demonstrate that an Odoo technical consultant is indispensable for companies that want to automate either labor-intensive or delicate processes that are sensitive to human-made errors.

7. Collaboration Between Functional and Technical Consultants

In fact, functional and technical Odoo consultants work very closely together, especially when it comes to using the best practices for successful Odoo implementation. A good example that comes to my mind is our recent case in which we outstaffed both professionals for quite a large online retail platform.

Oleksandr, who is Ukrainian from Lviv, is an Odoo functional consultant who’s been on our database for over 3 years. Bartosz, a Polish Odoo technical consultant from Warsaw, recently joined our database after three successful projects with the highest client ratings. They were both outstaffed for the same client to meet the following business goals with the help of Odoo:

• Streamlined Order Management: Oleksandr analyzed the client’s existing order processing workflow and detected the aspects that could be improved with the use of Odoo. Then, he configured Odoo to automate order approvals, streamline inventory management, and enhance customer communication.
• Enhanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Understanding the importance of customer engagement, Oleksandr tailored the CRM module to track customer interactions, preferences, and feedback.
• Data Integration and Reporting: In his turn, Bartosz focused on integrating Odoo with the client’s existing systems, such as payment gateways and shipping providers. He developed custom reports and dashboards to provide real-time insights into sales performance, inventory levels, and customer behavior.
• Scalable Infrastructure: As the online retail platform expected significant growth, Bartosz ensured that the technical infrastructure was scalable. He optimized the database and server configurations to handle increased traffic during peak sales periods. This enhanced the overall performance and reliability of the system.
• User Training and Support: Both Oleksandr and Bartosz conducted training sessions for the client’s staff, ensuring they were comfortable using Odoo. They provided ongoing support during the transition period, addressing any questions and troubleshooting issues as they arose.

Through their collaboration, Oleksandr and Bartosz successfully implemented Odoo for the online retail platform, achieving a 40% increase in order processing efficiency and a 30% boost in customer engagement within just a few months. Their combined expertise not only met but exceeded the client’s business goals, demonstrating the power of having both functional and technical consultants working in tandem.

8. Conclusion

What is functional consultant for Odoo? This is a person who plans the entire process of Odoo implementation for your company from scratch. Why do you need to hire a functional consultant for Odoo? For starters, it is cost-effective since one person manages multiple processes at once, ensuring that your newly implemented ERP corresponds to your corporate and functional needs.

For a step-by-step overview of the hiring process, check out our complete guide on how to hire Odoo consultants.

Then, of course, you can improve the process even further: by outstaffing an Odoo functional consultant with Code2day, you can save time on searching for a fitting candidate manually. At your first request, we will handpick and interview candidates that meet all your requirements. Well, what are you waiting for? Contact us today with your request so we can find a talent that can turn your business prospects into reality.

Curious how other companies scaled their Odoo team fast? Read how OpsWay hired Odoo Experts fast with our help.

FAQ

Do I need both a Functional and a Technical Consultant for my Odoo implementation?

Yes, having both a Functional and a Technical Consultant can greatly enhance your Odoo implementation. The functional consultant focuses on understanding and optimizing business processes, while the technical consultant handles customizations and technical configurations.

How do I know if my project requires custom development by a Technical Consultant?

To know for sure, it’s better to contact our company and lay out your business needs. I will personally assess your project and advise you on the best solution. Then, if your company does require a technical Odoo consultant, I will move on to finding a professional that suits your needs best.

Which consultant is better for small businesses using Odoo: Functional or Technical?

For small businesses, a Functional Consultant is often more beneficial initially, as they can help configure Odoo to fit business needs and improve processes. However, if customizations or technical issues arise, having a Technical Consultant on hand will also be valuable for long-term success.