Matelas Personnel, a Montreal-based manufacturer of custom mattresses, has been crafting personalized sleep solutions for over 50 years. Specializing in made-to-order products with up to 2,000 variants, the company faced increasing operational complexity as it scaled. That’s where Odoo stepped in, transforming its workflow and enabling seamless manufacturing and order processing.
Founded in the 1970s by Claude Savoie and his wife, Matelas Personnel started as a small business crafting custom mattresses for local customers. Orders were recorded on paper, and the founders handled both sales and production.
In 2021, Jacob Fel acquired the company with a vision to scale operations, expand into wholesale, and enhance retail sales through a dedicated showroom in Montreal. However, the complexity of manufacturing highly customizable mattresses proved challenging, as manual processes led to errors and inefficiencies.
"Each mattress is tailored to the customer, making manufacturing complicated. Some of our mattresses have close to 2,000 variants, requiring different materials and configurations. Entering orders manually left too much room for mistakes."
The Challenge: Scaling Beyond Manual Processes
Before implementing Odoo, Matelas Personnel relied on outdated, labor-intensive systems. Orders were written by hand, leading to miscommunication between sales and production teams. The purchasing department also struggled with inefficiencies in ordering the right materials on time.
Fel spent six months researching potential ERP solutions. He explored alternatives such as Fishbowl, Oracle NetSuite, and other platforms. However, many options required significant upfront investment, with implementation costs soaring to $100,000 or more, before even knowing if the system would fit the business’s needs.
"Other ERP providers insisted on custom-built solutions due to the complexity of our operations. The cost was overwhelming. With Odoo, I could start with an out-of-the-box solution, only customizing features if necessary."
A Smarter Way to Operate
Fel discovered Odoo through online research while looking for an ERP system. After booking a demo, he was impressed by Odoo’s approach, offering a modular, scalable system that could start as an off-the-shelf solution and adapt over time.
Since implementing Odoo over a year ago, Matelas Personnel has seen a complete transformation in its operations:
Seamless Sales Order: Odoo ensures that sales staff input every required mattress specification, eliminating errors. Each order automatically generates a precise manufacturing plan.
Purchase & inventory management: Once an order is placed, Odoo instantly creates manufacturing orders and checks inventory. If materials are missing, it generates a purchase order, streamlining procurement.
Manufacturing precision: The workshop team receives detailed instructions on how to assemble each mattress variant, significantly reducing mistakes and delays.
Scalability: Fel notes that while it was possible to manage a few custom orders manually, scaling operations without Odoo’s automation would have been impossible.
Flexibility: While the company is still using Odoo’s standard features, Fel is confident that when customization is needed, it will be a fraction of the cost compared to other ERP providers.
"Odoo made scaling possible. It was impossible to grow without it. What used to be chaotic is now smooth and efficient."
Unlocking Growth with Odoo
As the company continues expanding, its next step is to open a second manufacturing facility and warehouse. Odoo’s tracking capabilities will play a crucial role in managing production across multiple sites.
Additionally, Matelas Personnel plans to integrate Odoo’s CRM and marketing apps to strengthen customer relationships. Fel is also considering launching an e-commerce platform using Odoo’s website module or integrating an external site with Odoo’s backend for seamless online order processing.
Matelas Personnel’s success story showcases how even highly customized manufacturing can be streamlined with the right ERP solution. If your business faces similar challenges, consider exploring Odoo’s modular, user-friendly platform to optimize your operations and unlock new growth opportunities.