Choosing an Odoo partner matters more than choosing Odoo. The software is the same for everyone. The design, data migration, training and support are what make a project work or fail.
This guide explains what Odoo’s partner levels mean, what certifications and references really tell you, the red flags to watch for, the questions to ask and a checklist to score proposals side by side. It includes extra questions for businesses moving from SAP.
What Odoo partner levels mean
Odoo runs an official partner program. At the time of writing (October 2026), Odoo lists these levels for official partners, with requirements per year:
| Level | New Odoo Enterprise users sold per year | Certified active internal staff | Minimum customer retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready | 10 | 1 | Not specified |
| Silver | 75 | 3 | 70% |
| Gold | 300 | 6 | 80% |
There is also an entry “Learning” level for firms starting out. Odoo can change these thresholds, so check the current figures on odoo.com.
What the levels tell you:
- Volume. Higher tiers have sold more Odoo Enterprise users. That signals activity and a relationship with Odoo.
- Certified people. Higher tiers must keep more certified consultants on staff.
- Retention. Silver and Gold partners must keep a minimum share of customers renewing.
What the levels do not tell you:
- Whether the partner knows your industry.
- Whether the certified people will work on your project.
- Whether they have done a migration like yours.
- How they treat smaller clients.
A Gold partner can be a poor fit for a 20-user manufacturer. A Ready partner can be excellent at one niche. Treat the tier as a starting signal.
What certifications and references actually tell you
Certifications
Odoo certifications are held by individuals. They are taken per Odoo version, and they stay with the person if they change employer. So ask:
- Which version are your consultants certified on? A current version matters.
- Are the certified consultants the people who will run my project?
- Are they employed by you, or subcontracted?
A certification shows functional knowledge of Odoo. It does not show industry knowledge or project management skill.
References and the partner listing
Each partner’s page in the odoo.com partner directory shows its level and typically includes details such as a retention figure, project sizes and listed customer references. Use it to check claims. Then go further:
- Ask for two or three references similar to you in size and industry.
- Call them. Ask what went wrong and how the partner handled it.
- Ask whether the project finished on budget, and what was left out.
Red flags
- Claiming a tier not held. Check the partner’s level on odoo.com. It takes a minute.
- No named references. Confidentiality is real, but a partner should be able to put you in touch with someone.
- A fixed price that looks too small. Low prices often leave out data migration, training, testing or reports. Ask what is excluded in writing.
- Heavy customisation in the first proposal. Odoo works best close to standard. If the proposal starts with lots of custom modules, you are buying future upgrade cost. Ask which requirements could be met by changing the process instead.
- No local knowledge for Australian compliance work. Payroll, GST, BAS, Single Touch Payroll and local banking need people who know Australian rules, wherever the rest of the team sits.
- No plan for after go-live. Ask who supports you in month two, and how.
- Vague answers about upgrades. In recent years Odoo has released a new major version roughly once a year. Ask how customisations will be upgraded and who pays.
Questions to ask any partner
- Who exactly will work on our project, and what are their certifications?
- Which similar projects have you delivered? Can we speak to those clients?
- What is included in the price: analysis, configuration, data migration, training, testing, go-live support?
- How much of our scope needs custom development? Why?
- How will you handle Odoo version upgrades?
- What does support look like after go-live? Response times? Cost?
- Where is the team based, and what hours will they work for us?
- Who owns the code you write for us?
Extra questions if you are leaving SAP
Moving from SAP brings specific risks. The partner needs to understand where you are coming from as well as where you are going.
- Can you read our SAP configuration? Someone needs to understand your company codes, plants, movement types, pricing procedures and custom code before mapping them to Odoo.
- Who maps our company codes, plants and organisation structure to Odoo companies and warehouses?
- Who maps our data? Material masters, BOMs, routings, customers, vendors, open items and history. Which data moves and which is archived?
- How will you replace our Z-programs and custom reports? Many can be dropped. Some cannot.
- How will you test that the numbers match? Opening balances, stock values and open orders should reconcile.
For a deeper view of the move, see What it really costs to leave SAP for Odoo, Odoo vs SAP S/4HANA, moving SAP data to Odoo and, for manufacturers, SAP PP to Odoo MRP, mapped.
Onshore vs offshore: a fair view
Both models can work. Many good projects use a mix.
Offshore delivery often costs less per hour. Some offshore teams are large and have deep Odoo development benches. For well-defined development tasks, this can be good value.
Onshore delivery costs more per hour. In return you get same-time-zone workshops, local knowledge of Australian tax, payroll and banking, easier on-site visits, and support during your business hours.
Things to weigh:
- Time zones. Workshops and go-live weekends are easier in the same time zone.
- Australian compliance. Payroll, superannuation, GST and BAS reporting need local knowledge.
- Communication. Requirements are easy to lose in hand-offs.
- Data and privacy. Know where your data and backups are hosted, and who has access.
- Total cost. Compare the full project cost, including rework and your own staff time.
A common model is an onshore lead team for design, data and training, with development shared between onshore and offshore staff. Ask each partner how they split the work.
A scoring checklist
Score each partner from 1 (poor) to 5 (strong). Weight the criteria to suit you.
| Criterion | Weight (suggested) | Partner A | Partner B | Partner C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry experience with similar clients | 15% | |||
| Named, contactable references | 10% | |||
| Certified consultants on the current version, on your project | 10% | |||
| Clear scope: migration, training, testing included | 15% | |||
| Low customisation; process fit first | 10% | |||
| Upgrade approach and cost | 10% | |||
| Australian compliance knowledge | 10% | |||
| Support after go-live | 10% | |||
| SAP knowledge (if leaving SAP) | 5% | |||
| Cultural fit and communication | 5% | |||
| Weighted total | 100% |
About EnCollab
EnCollab is a Queensland-based Odoo Silver partner and an SAP partner. Our team has more than 30 years of SAP experience, so we can read your SAP setup and map it to Odoo. We also build automotive products for importers and dealer networks. See ERP for vehicle importers and distributors and our SAP and Odoo implementation services.
Next step
If you are comparing partners and want a second opinion on a proposal, or want to know how your SAP system would map to Odoo, talk to us. No pressure. We are happy to answer questions even if you choose someone else.
If you are on SAP, book a free SAP Exit Assessment for a quick first view.
FAQ
What is the difference between Odoo Gold, Silver and Ready partners?
The levels reflect how many new Odoo Enterprise users a partner sells each year, how many certified consultants it employs, and, for Silver and Gold, a minimum customer retention rate. At the time of writing, Ready needs 10 users and 1 certified person, Silver 75 users and 3 certified, and Gold 300 users and 6 certified.
Is a Gold partner always better?
No. Gold shows volume and scale. The best partner for you is the one with relevant experience, the right people on your project and a clear scope.
How do I check if an Odoo partner is genuine?
Search the partner directory on odoo.com. It shows the partner’s level and, typically, details such as retention, project sizes and listed references.
Are Odoo certifications held by companies or people?
By people. Each certification is linked to an individual and a specific Odoo version.
Should I choose an onshore or offshore Odoo partner?
Both can work. Onshore partners offer local compliance knowledge and same-time-zone support. Offshore partners often have lower hourly rates. Compare total project cost and risk.
What should I ask an Odoo partner if I’m leaving SAP?
Ask who will read your SAP configuration, who maps your company codes and data to Odoo, how custom SAP programs will be replaced and how they will prove the numbers reconcile.