As Hevari Oy’s multichannel business grew, so did the demands on its ERP system. The old system could no longer keep up, and the company chose Odoo as its modern replacement. The project initially began with another implementation partner, but Hevari soon switched to SprintIT.
Hevari Oy sells practically everything needed for harness racing and horse riding, serving enthusiasts, professionals and businesses alike. In addition to its stores in Vermo and Heinola, Hevari operates three mobile stores that serve customers at harness racing events across Finland.
Its operations also include an online store, wholesale, imports, exports to several countries and small-scale manufacturing.
Such a diverse business has many moving parts: sales across multiple channels, several warehouses, a large product range, purchasing, manufacturing and financial management.
With the old ERP system no longer meeting the needs of the growing business and some processes still handled manually, Hevari decided it was time for a complete ERP overhaul.
“Our goal is always to sell more, improve how we sell and serve our customers better. This ERP upgrade is also part of our drive for growth,” says Kaisa Vaaramaa, E-commerce and IT Manager at Hevari Oy.
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Odoo stood out for its flexibility
Before choosing a system, Hevari thoroughly assessed its needs and reviewed its processes. Several options were considered, but Odoo quickly emerged as a strong candidate. It offered a way to bring previously scattered operations together in one system.
Hevari was particularly drawn to Odoo’s customisability, extensive scope for further development and open-source approach. The company wanted a solution that could continue to evolve alongside its business.
The right system also needs a partner with the right expertise
Hevari’s ERP project initially began with another Odoo partner. It soon became clear, however, that the partner could not deliver a key e-commerce integration to the required scope.
Hevari quickly decided to switch to SprintIT, who had the expertise needed.
“SprintIT had the right people with the skills we needed,” says Vaaramaa.
The experience showed Hevari how much the implementation partner’s expertise matters alongside the choice of system. When assessing potential partners, it is worth checking their experience and capabilities in critical integrations and processes in advance.
In addition to its integration expertise and Odoo experience, SprintIT offered the ability to develop the solution over the long term. Another key factor was SprintIT’s accounting solution for Odoo, designed to meet Finnish requirements. This allowed Hevari to manage its finances within the same system, without needing separate accounting software or an integration to connect it.
Not a turnkey solution, but a true collaboration
Hevari has considerable IT and data expertise in-house. Rather than looking for a partner to do everything for them, the company wanted a way of working that would make the most of both parties’ strengths.
Responsibilities were divided early in the project. Hevari already had strong data expertise in areas such as e-commerce, product information and price lists, so it made sense to handle these tasks in-house. SprintIT also helped assess what Hevari should do itself and where the partner’s expertise would add more value.
“The people at SprintIT get things done. Working together was easy and practical. We were able to resolve every issue together very quickly. We didn’t always know exactly what to ask for, but SprintIT understood what we needed and knew how to make it happen,” Vaaramaa explains.
Another of SprintIT’s strengths was its ability to translate business needs into technical solutions. When Hevari described a need and the desired outcome, SprintIT’s experts could find a practical way to get there.
Vaaramaa also gives particular praise to Natalija Soini, SprintIT's Project Manager.
“Our project manager had everything under control every minute and every second. She played a major role in making this project a success.”
Sales, Inventory, Point of Sale and Accounting in one system
One of the main benefits of implementing Odoo at Hevari has been bringing its operations together in a single system.
Sales and Purchases flow directly into accounting, reports are readily available, and previously manual tasks have been automated. Accounting is now an integral part of the company’s ERP system.
In a few months, the solution will become even more comprehensive when Hevari starts using the Payroll module developed by SprintIT.
Real-time information is particularly important in inventory management. With several warehouses and a large product range, Hevari needs to know what is in stock, what is arriving and where products are heading.
Based on the first few months of use, Hevari has been pleased with Odoo’s inventory forecasting and reporting. With the stores’ point-of-sale systems also running in Odoo, stock levels update in real time.
The Point-of-Sale (POS) solution has been a positive experience for Hevari.
“We’ve been using Odoo’s POS system for a few months now, and we think it can certainly hold its own against many more expensive systems,” says Vaaramaa.
People make the difference in a technology transition
An ERP upgrade is more than a technical project. At Hevari, employees have varying levels of IT skills, so training and change management have been a key focus during implementation.
SprintIT has also supported Hevari in this work. According to Vaaramaa, help has been readily available through various channels throughout the project, with questions typically answered the same day.
“The support has been incredibly thorough and really fast.”
The major ERP upgrade required a significant amount of work from Hevari’s own team. Even so, Vaaramaa says the project has stayed on schedule and collaboration with the chosen partner has run smoothly.
A successful ERP project starts with doing your homework and involving your people
Vaaramaa sees thorough preparation as the most important starting point for a successful ERP project.
Companies should review their processes carefully before planning technical solutions. The key is to understand what they want to improve in day-to-day work and why. With a clear goal, system experts can help find the right technical solution.
“Employees often have insights into day-to-day work that IT experts alone simply don’t have. When your people know what they want to achieve and why, the experts can help find the best way to make it happen.”