Location/Region: Ames, Iowa
Industry: Agriculture technology
Apps implemented: Sales, Purchase, Inventory, Accounting, Manufacturing, PLM
Software
Replaced: SOS Inventory
Company size: 40
Hosting type: Odoo Online
Sabanto, an agricultural technology company located in Ames, Iowa, is leading a new frontier in autonomy for farming equipment. By retrofitting existing tractors with cutting-edge autonomous kits, Sabanto offers a smarter way to cultivate crops, without the need for a driver. As the company scaled its operations, it found an essential ally in Odoo, a platform that matched their engineering mindset with intuitive tools and robust functionality.
Founded in October 2018 by Craig Rupp, Sabanto emerged to solve a critical gap involving labor constraints in agriculture. The company’s journey began in the Chicago suburbs but soon added an Iowa location to be closer to real test fields and agricultural talent.
“At one point, I was building equipment in my three-car garage,” recalls Cory Spaetti, Chief Operating Officer. Sabanto’s addition in Ames allowed access to a skilled labor pool from Iowa State University and more suitable facilities for production and testing.
As COO Spaetti recounts, Sabanto has grown from a six-person team in 2019 to about 40 employees today. Much of their growth was fueled by venture capital, including a Series A round in 2022. Their systems now serve over 100 customers across the U.S., particularly in the sod and turf industry, which relies on frequent mowing across large acreages, making automation indispensable.
"We’re not a company full of business people. We’re makers, engineers, and developers. We needed something we could understand and use right away, and that’s what Odoo gave us."
Before Odoo:
Limited Tools for a Fast-Growing Operation
Sabanto's journey to Odoo wasn’t immediate. Initially, the team used SOS Inventory, a lightweight ERP that soon fell short as the company scaled. “We quickly outgrew that one,” says Spaetti. “It was lacking in functionality.” Looking to level up, they explored several other ERP systems but none seemed to strike the right balance between usability, scalability, and cost.
The company’s engineering-heavy team found most ERPs too complex or too costly to implement. What they needed was a system that could grow with them, one that didn't require a background in operations or enterprise software to use effectively.
Why Odoo Was the
Turning Point
Sabanto discovered Odoo during their ERP search roughly two years ago. The appeal was immediate: a platform that not only hit the right price point but also offered the range of functionality they needed, from inventory to accounting, all in one place.
Getting started with Odoo was simple. The intuitive interface proved critical for a team without traditional business operations training. They didn't need an army of consultants to implement the platform, just a clear roadmap and their engineering instincts.
Under the direction of Operations Manager, Jake Wernet, Sabanto uses Odoo’s Inventory app to manage both inbound and outbound stock.
- With warehouse operations centralized in Ames, Iowa, Inventory has been instrumental in maintaining control over critical autonomy kit parts like brackets and wiring harnesses.
- Odoo’s Accounting app has also become a core part of their business operations. Every incoming and outgoing transaction is logged, creating a clear picture of financial health without needing an external accounting system.
- Another of the standout benefits has been Odoo’s interconnected structure. “We use it pretty deeply for our business accounting,” Wernet says, “but it also helps connect other operational areas like purchasing and inventory.”
- With real-time visibility into inventory and financials, Sabanto’s leadership team is better equipped to make quick decisions. Whether it's placing an urgent order or tracking the cost of a new system rollout, Odoo gives them the data they need, when they need it.
"What made Odoo stand out was how everything worked together so seamlessly. We didn’t have to jump between platforms anymore."
Cory Spaetti highlighted the significant operational efficiency gained through Odoo. By integrating functions like bill of materials, manufacturing orders, and delivery workflows, tasks now take only minutes.
"What used to take hours, managing inventory, building a kit, and shipping it, now takes just minutes. With Odoo's integrated tools, we've saved at least 50% of our time in that process."
Planting Seeds
for the Future
While the company is currently focused on expanding its footprint across the United States, international growth is on the horizon. Orders from Australia have already been placed, and the first export shipments are scheduled for later this summer. As the team looks ahead, they're leveraging Odoo to automate routine tasks and streamline workflows, laying the foundation for more efficient operations as they scale.
Where we go next is pretty simple: automate and streamline. "Odoo already has the built-in capacity to help us semi-automate day-to-day tasks and make our workflows more efficient,” adds Cory Spaetti.
Sabanto’s story is proof that even the most tech-centric teams can benefit from intuitive, powerful business systems like Odoo. Whether you're in agriculture, manufacturing, or beyond, consider how Odoo could transform your workflows, connect your teams, and support your growth, without the steep learning curve.