How Odoo Food Distribution Software
Delivered a 90% Reporting Time Drop

Odoo 18 Enterprise Implementation for Food Manufacturer
client

Client:

Chocolate manufacturer
food

Industry:

Food Manufacturing
core technologies

Core technologies:

Odoo 18 / Odoo.sh
country

Country:

Belgium
Client Background

Client Overview

The Limitations of Spreadsheet-Heavy Operations

This Belgian chocolate manufacturer, with over 80 employees and annual revenue exceeding €15 million, was relying on outdated systems including spreadsheets, siloed scheduling tools, and basic accounting software. These legacy systems hindered efficiency, making it challenging to scale operations effectively.
The company sought a more integrated solution to streamline processes and drive growth.
Challenge

Challenge

What Drove a €15M Chocolate Manufacturer to Upgrade Its Tools

Truffle Crafters approached Glorium Technologies with the main challenge: demand was rising, but their internal systems were falling behind.
Work orders were managed with sticky notes and spreadsheets. Labor costs were static, calculated as rough estimates in the bill of materials. And when deadlines were missed, it was nearly impossible to pinpoint why—or who was responsible.
The team was losing over 20 hours per week due to the need to reconcile schedules and rework orders. Costs fluctuated unpredictably, reporting took days, and there was no unified view between the production floor, HR, and inventory.
Enterprise Implementation

Why They Chose Glorium Technologies

Reasons Behind the Odoo Food Distribution ERP Partnership

  • 15+ Years of Expertise: Proven track record in optimizing business processes.
  • Custom Solutions: Ability to offer solutions specific to the company’s operational challenges.
  • Scalability: Ability to provide a solution that could grow alongside the company, supporting its future expansion.
Solution

How Food ERP Distribution Software Delivered End-to-End Control

To help Truffle Crafters keep up with growing demand and reduce manual work, we implemented Odoo 18 Enterprise, hosted on Odoo.sh. The new system connects Production, Inventory, and HR, giving the team a full view of operations in one place and saving time every day.

Using the Sales (with Shopify integration), Manufacturing, Quality, Inventory, Purchase, HR, and Accounting modules, the system supports batch production, real-time labor cost tracking, end-to-end stock control, vendor management, and employee cost profiling.

Key Features

Workflow Overhaul Made Possible by ERP Software for Food Distribution

  • Automated Bills of Materials (BoMs) to reduce manual setup and improve accuracy
  • Barcode scanning for real-time tracking of inventory and production status
  • Labor cost tracking by individual employee, based on role, skill level, and contract
  • Work order assignment to specific people (not just roles), improving accountability
  • Dashboards and reports for quick visibility into production, costs, and performance
  • Up to 500 daily orders supported, with efficient resource and labor planning
Results

How Odoo Implementation Transforms Daily Work—from Production to Shopify Sales

After our partnership, the client achieved impressive results, with key modules implemented that streamlined operations and boosted overall efficiency.

Manufacturing

1

Manages the full production process, from start to finish. Allows creation of detailed work orders, real-time tracking of tasks, and assignment of specific employees to each step. Helps plan batches, monitor progress, and reduce delays.

Quality

2

Ensures consistent product quality with built-in checks at every stage—ingredients, in-process items, and finished goods. It facilitates the tracking of issues, establishes quality standards, and links these checks directly to work orders or batches.

Inventory

3

It keeps track of all ingredients, packaging, and finished products in real time. Supports barcode scanning, automatic stock updates, and alerts when items are running low. Handles multiple storage areas with ease.

Purchase

4

Automates ordering materials based on current stock and future needs. Compares prices across vendors, manages lead times, and helps avoid shortages or overstocking.

Human Resources (Employees, Timesheets, Planning)

5

Tracks employee profiles, roles, skills, contracts, and schedules, allowing managers to assign work orders, log hours via timesheets, and plan shifts. It integrates HR data seamlessly with manufacturing and cost reports.

Accounting

Accounting 01

Calculates real labor costs based on actual hours worked, employee roles, and contracts. Connects with HR and manufacturing to track production costs accurately. Simplifies vendor payments, invoicing, and financial reporting.

Sales (with Shopify Integration)

7

Connects Odoo with the Shopify web store. All online orders flow directly into Odoo for production and delivery. Inventory updates automatically, and sales data is available for reporting and planning. It aids in preventing overselling and enhances the overall customer experience.

Our Implementation Approach

A Clear Three-Phase Plan for Bringing the Odoo ERP System Live

The estimated timeline for the project was 14–18 weeks, starting with:

  • Manufacturing
  • Inventory
  • Quality

Then extending to HR and Accounting integration, and Sales (with Shopify Integration)

Phase 1: Planning & Configuration

  • Process mapping workshops
  • Setup of Manufacturing, Inventory, and Work Center modules
  • Employee cost profiles by role, skill, and contract

Phase 2: Labor Cost Tracking Integration

  • Work order–level employee assignments
  • Shop floor timers + digital worksheets
  • Labor data linked directly to product cost analytics

Phase 3: Training & Optimization

  • Role-specific training for operators and managers
  • Planning dashboards for live workload balancing
  • Quality checks as mandatory digital steps before order closure
Business Value

Cost Reduction Meets Real-Time Visibility in a Unified Odoo Environment

Reduction in Production Costs:

Glorium Technologies helped to achieve a 10% reduction in production costs. Each work order now tracks actual hours worked by each employee. Odoo calculates labor costs based on real inputs, not estimates, so Truffle Crafters always knows how much each batch really costs to make.

Labor Cost Transparency:

The integration of Odoo’s labor cost tracking functionality provided complete transparency into labor expenses. Each employee’s time and associated costs are now accurately tracked at the work order level, resulting in 100% visibility into labor expenses compared to the previous system of rough estimates and averages.

Time Savings:

Previously, the team spent 20 hours per week reconciling production schedules, orders, and labor hours manually. By automating work orders, HR data integration, and real-time inventory tracking, Truffle Crafters now saves 50% of this time, freeing up more resources for production activities.

Improved Reporting Efficiency:

Before the implementation of Odoo, reporting would take days. With Odoo’s real-time data synchronization and automated reporting, Truffle Crafters has seen a 90% reduction in reporting time, allowing for quicker decision-making and a more agile business response.

Connected Production, Inventory, and HR

All departments now work in sync. As production moves forward, inventory updates automatically, and HR can see who’s working on what and when. There’s no more need to manually match up spreadsheets or schedules.

Sales with Shopify Integration

Online orders from Shopify were automatically pulled into Odoo. It reduced manual data entry, kept stock levels accurate, and ensured the production team is always working from the latest demand. Now customers get faster, more reliable service.

Ready to See These Results for Your Business?
See how we can help you achieve the same results! Start transforming your business today.
Anna Vozna
Account Executive

Awards & recognitions

More achievements
Frame 1000001760
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Clutch
award
excellence award

Inc. 5000

2020
2021
2022
2023

Named among the Inc.5000 (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) & Regionals (2021, 2022, 2024) fastest-growing private companies in America

Certifications

ISO 9001
ISO 13485
ISO 27001
aws
aws
microsoft

Questions You May Have

How can food service distribution software strengthen a company’s approach to food safety?

As the system provides you with strong inventory management along with lot traceability, you can track food products by lot, expiration dates, and storage conditions across multiple locations. You can perform quality control checks on a daily basis, reducing the risk of lost sales or compliance issues. For food distributors and manufacturers, food distribution ERP software creates a reliable, traceable process that keeps your entire operation aligned with safety standards.

How can wholesale food distribution software improve fulfillment speed?

Once the ERP system goes live, you can find out what’s going on with orders, stock levels, and supply chain operations in real time. You gain stronger inventory control and improved inventory accuracy, meaning you can pick, pack, and ship without second-guessing availability. Automated order routing and electronic data interchange skyrocket communication with suppliers and customers, cutting hours from manual workflows. For food and beverage distributors as well as manufacturers, this means faster turnaround times and more reliable service across the food industry.

How well does food and beverage distribution software integrate with eCommerce tools?

Food and beverage distribution software works well with eCommerce tools because orders and stock levels stay in sync, and customer details update the moment something changes. You don’t need to waste time retyping information or chasing down mistakes. Online orders go straight into your system. As a food manufacturer and distributor, you get clearer visibility, better food safety tracking, and quicker turnaround times. For the food and beverage industry, it creates a more connected and efficient flow from order to delivery.

What specialized features should businesses expect in ERP software for food distribution?

You can expect tools for product traceability, order management, production planning, batch, expiry date, and lot tracking, automated purchasing, and supply chain coordination. Strong quality control features support food safety, while integrated accounting helps you track true production costs. Odoo also includes sales and warehouse tools, so your entire operation—from receiving ingredients to delivering finished goods—runs in one connected platform.