Company Name: METER Japan Co., Ltd.
Location: Tokyo, Japan (Headquarters in the U.S., branch in Germany)
Industry: Equipment Manufacturer (Research and quality control instruments for food, agriculture, and environmental applications)
Company Size: 200 employees
Odoo Users: 9
Hosting Type: Odoo SH PaaS
Implementation Partner: Portcities Japan
Implemented Apps: Purchase, Inventory, Sales, Accounting, Contacts
Implementation Period: 1 year
"In Japan, many small and medium-sized enterprises have yet to implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). But once you try it, you can immediately experience its convenience. Odoo is a well-balanced ERP solution that simultaneously improves operational efficiency and reduces costs."
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METER Japan provides research and quality control instruments used in the food, agriculture, and environmental sectors.
The company is headquartered in the U.S., with branches in Germany and Japan to service the global network.
METER Japan’s Odoo Journey
According to Mr. Ohki, he first encountered Odoo through an introduction from the U.S. headquarters CFO. At that time, the Japan branch had not implemented any ERP systems, and multiple tools for accounting, inventory, sales, and purchasing were operated separately. As a result, data aggregation and reporting to headquarters took time, and manual calculations and Excel-based processes proved limiting.
METER’s headquarters and German branch were using a different ERP, which required a significant recurring cost and time for implementation.
After some consideration, Mr. Ohki decided to implement Odoo as the ERP system that best suited the Japan branch, offering excellent cost-performance and functionality, with a proven ability to integrate smoothly across all business functions for the team.
Centralized Management of Inventory, Sales, and Accounting
METER Japan currently utilizes five Odoo apps:
Purchase
Inventory
Sales
Accounting
Contacts
When a customer inquires about stock, staff can immediately check the status using the Inventory app. Purchase decisions are streamlined using historical data for demand forecasting. The Sales app enables the creation of quotes, invoices, searching through past records, and managing sales dashboards. The data is automatically linked with the Accounting app, enabling highly efficient operations across departments.
Contact management is also fully integrated within Odoo, allowing staff to experience seamless business operations within a single system. METER Japan has also started using some manufacturing apps, and CRM implementation is being considered in the future.
Benefits with Odoo: Improved Efficiency and Reduced Reporting Time
One of the most significant changes is the efficiency in reporting to the headquarters. The U.S. headquarters requires reports on total daily, weekly, and monthly orders, as well as P&L and balance sheets. With the Sales app’s reporting features, necessary figures can be accessed immediately. Aligning accounts with the headquarters template is also easy, automating tasks that were previously done manually.
Inventory valuation can now be calculated instantly and accurately using the Inventory app. Tasks that used to take over an hour at month-end now take only about ten minutes. Additionally, the Odoo accounts are shared with the accountants and CFO based in the US without any additional barriers as the interface language automatically switches to English, enabling smooth operation in a global, multilingual environment.
Odoo’s Value Propositions: Easy to Use,Cost-Effective,Quick Implementation
By customizing the system, METER Japan was able to optimize Odoo according to its own business processes, operating more efficiently. Compared with other solutions, Odoo offers excellent balance between functionality and price, allowing the company to use it with confidence over the long term. The implementation period was about one year, which is relatively short compared to other ERP systems.
Centralized Operations and Cost Reduction
With Odoo, METER Japan has achieved centralized business operations, and data integration across branches and headquarters is now smooth. ERP operational costs are controlled while enabling quick and accurate decision-making, enhancing the competitiveness of a globally expanding enterprise.