What Is Odoo ERP? The Complete Guide to Odoo (Formerly OpenERP) for Saudi Businesses
From TinyERP to OpenERP to Odoo 19 — how the platform evolved and why 12 million+ businesses run on it today
Odoo is an open-source ERP platform used by more than 12 million businesses across 100+ countries. Originally launched as TinyERP in 2004, renamed OpenERP in 2009, and rebranded as Odoo in 2014, the platform has grown from a basic accounting tool into a comprehensive business management suite covering finance, HR, inventory, sales, procurement, manufacturing, and e-commerce — all in a single integrated system.
In Saudi Arabia, Odoo has become the leading ERP choice for mid-market and enterprise businesses seeking ZATCA Phase 2 e-invoicing compliance, GOSI automation, and WPS-Mudad payroll integration. iWesabe has delivered more than 200+ Odoo implementations across the Kingdom over 14+ years, and this guide explains everything you need to know before evaluating the platform.
From TinyERP to Odoo: A Brief History
Odoo's evolution spans two decades of platform maturity. Understanding the name changes helps explain why legacy documentation and community forums still reference 'OpenERP' — both terms describe the same product at different stages of its development.
| Year | Version / Event | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | TinyERP 1.0 | Launched by Fabien Pinckaers in Belgium; basic accounting, invoicing, and stock management on a Python/PostgreSQL stack |
| 2009 | OpenERP 5.0 | Renamed to OpenERP; modular architecture formalised; 1,000+ community modules; web client introduced |
| 2013 | OpenERP 7.0 | Full web client rewrite; improved UI/UX; 700+ certified partners globally; over 1 million installs |
| 2014 | Odoo 8.0 (Rebrand) | Renamed Odoo; launched e-commerce, website builder, and POS modules; Odoo SA raised Series A funding |
| 2017 | Odoo 11.0 | Community and Enterprise editions formalised; Odoo.sh cloud platform launched; Odoo Studio introduced |
| 2024–2025 | Odoo 17–19 | AI-powered features (Odoo AI Copilot); spreadsheet views; Odoo Studio 2.0; native ZATCA Phase 2 clearance engine; Odoo 19 released late 2025 |
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What Does Odoo ERP Include?
Odoo is built on a hub-and-spoke model: a core framework handles the database, ORM, workflow engine, and UI renderer, while individual modules add business functionality. All modules share the same data model, which means Finance, HR, Inventory, and Sales are natively integrated — no middleware or data sync required.
| Module Area | Core Modules | Saudi-Relevant Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Accounting | Accounting, Invoicing, Expenses | ZATCA Phase 2 e-invoicing (simplified + clearance B2B), VAT 15%, Zakat annual return, bank reconciliation, multi-currency |
| HR & Payroll | HR, Payroll, Leaves, Attendance | GOSI contribution automation, WPS-Mudad payroll file, Nitaqat Saudisation quota reporting, biometric device integration |
| Inventory & Supply Chain | Inventory, Purchase, Logistics | FEFO/FIFO costing, multi-warehouse management, vendor portals, landed cost allocation, IKTVA tracking |
| Sales & CRM | CRM, Sales, Subscriptions | Arabic-RTL customer portal, quotation builder, recurring billing, full pipeline management |
| Manufacturing | MRP, PLM, Quality, Maintenance | Bills of materials, work orders, quality control checkpoints, preventive maintenance scheduling |
| E-Commerce & POS | Website, eCommerce, Point of Sale | Zid/Salla connector, mada/STC Pay/Tamara payment gateways, ZATCA-compliant POS receipts, Arabic product catalogue |
Odoo Community vs. Odoo Enterprise
Since Odoo 11.0 (2017), the platform ships in two editions. The distinction matters most for Saudi businesses because the Enterprise-only compliance modules — ZATCA Phase 2, GOSI, and WPS-Mudad — are not available in Community.
| Feature | Community | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Source code | Open-source (LGPL) | Proprietary (source-available, not LGPL) |
| Licence cost | Free | SAR 450–1,800 / user / month (varies by edition) |
| Saudi compliance modules (ZATCA, GOSI, WPS-Mudad, Nitaqat) | Not included | Fully included |
| Odoo Studio (no-code customisation) | Not available | Included |
| Odoo.sh managed cloud hosting | Not available | Included (add-on) |
| Official support (Odoo SA + partners) | Community forum only | SLA-backed support via certified partners |
| Best for | Tech-savvy teams with dedicated developer resources | Most Saudi businesses needing compliance automation + support |
Why Saudi Businesses Choose Odoo
iWesabe has delivered more than 200+ Odoo projects across Saudi Arabia over 14+ years — covering manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality, contracting, and professional services. Three factors consistently drive the decision to choose Odoo: the Saudi compliance modules are built-in rather than bolted on, the open-source core means customisation has no vendor lock-in ceiling, and the total cost of ownership is significantly lower than equivalent SAP or Oracle deployments.
iWesabe holds three Odoo awards recognising performance in the MENA region: Best Partner MENA 2023, Highest Revenue KSA 2022/2023, and Top Revenue Achiever KSA 2023/2024 — making iWesabe one of the most decorated Odoo partners in the Gulf.
See iWesabe's Odoo Track Record
Odoo vs. Other ERP Systems
For Saudi mid-market companies (SAR 10M–500M revenue), Odoo competes primarily with SAP Business One, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, and Oracle NetSuite. The comparison below covers the criteria that matter most in a Saudi regulatory context.
| Criteria | Odoo Enterprise | SAP Business One | Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC | Oracle NetSuite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licence cost (mid-market) | SAR 450–1,800/user/mo | SAR 3,000–8,000/user/mo | SAR 2,500–7,000/user/mo | SAR 4,000–10,000/user/mo |
| Saudi compliance (ZATCA, GOSI, WPS-Mudad, Nitaqat) | Native — built into core | Requires local partner add-ons | Requires local partner add-ons | Requires local partner add-ons |
| Implementation time | 6–16 weeks (typical) | 6–18 months | 6–18 months | 9–18 months |
| Customisation ceiling | High — open-source core, no vendor lock-in | Moderate — SDK-limited | Moderate — extension framework | Moderate — SuiteScript |
| Arabic UI (right-to-left) | Full RTL — native since Odoo 8.0 | Partial RTL | Partial RTL | Limited RTL |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Odoo ERP used for?
Is OpenERP the same as Odoo?
Is Odoo ERP free?
Which version of Odoo is the latest?
Is Odoo suitable for Saudi businesses?
How long does an Odoo implementation take in Saudi Arabia?
iWesabe Editorial Team
Practitioner insights on Odoo ERP, ZATCA compliance, and Saudi enterprise digital operations — written by iWesabe's consulting, finance, and engineering teams.
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