While most people see industry conferences as networking events with a side of product demos, Odoo Experience is fundamentally different for us at WilldooIT. More importantly, it is different for every business we partner with across Australia and New Zealand.
In two weeks, I will be in Brussels for Odoo Experience 2025 (18 to 20 September), representing WilldooIT's commitment to staying ahead of the curve. Our goal isn't just to attend, it is to filter every session, conversation and demo through a single lens: How will this help our clients in manufacturing, food distribution, renewable energy and other sectors we serve?
Understanding the real value
Odoo 19's launch will generate plenty of headlines but the real value lies in understanding the subtleties. We will be looking beyond the surface-level announcements to understand:
- Production readiness: Which new features are genuinely ready for production and which are still evolving?
- Workflow impact: How might new integrations affect existing business workflows?
- Meaningful improvements: Which industry-specific enhancements are genuine breakthroughs versus just incremental changes?
Learning from parallel journeys
Some of the most valuable insights don't come from the keynote stage but from conversations with other businesses and Odoo partners. We will be talking with those facing similar challenges in different markets.
For example, a timber distributor in Europe might have found a solution to a logistics problem that could be applied to an Australian renewable energy supplier, with a few key adaptations for local regulations and market conditions.
Anticipating integration complexities
It is not enough to know what is new, we need to understand what is practical. We will be assessing new features not just for what they can do but what they can realistically achieve for businesses of different sizes.
This helps us have honest conversations with you about what Odoo can deliver out-of-the-box and what might require additional customisation or a different approach.
Realistic expectation setting
We also focus on the long-term view. While immediate feature announcements are exciting, understanding Odoo's strategic direction, i.e. its philosophy on user experience, integration architecture and industry focus, helps us better advise you on your long-term technology decisions.
For businesses shaping their ERP strategy, these insights are crucial for understanding not just what Odoo can do today but how it will evolve to either complement or conflict with your future growth plans.
What to expect from us
We will be sharing our perspectives through a different lens than typical conference coverage. Rather than breathless announcements about every new feature, we will focus on:
- Contextual relevance: Which developments matter for specific business types and sizes.
- Implementation realities: The difference between a polished demo and a real-world production deployment.
- Strategic implications: How changes might affect existing Odoo users versus new implementations.
Ultimately, our attendance at Odoo Experience reflects our belief that a technology partnership is most effective when both parties understand not only current capabilities but future possibilities. For you, this means more informed decisions about when to invest, what to expect and how to sequence your improvements.
Let’s connect
If you are also heading to Odoo Experience this year, let's connect. I look forward to grabbing a coffee or a Belgian beer and exchanging ideas.
If you can't make it, stay tuned. We will be posting updates on LinkedIn and our blog, followed by a full wrap-up at the end of the event to share the highlights, announcements and key insights.