La plupart des logiciels sectoriels évoluent lentement. Ils existent depuis longtemps et offrent toute une série de fonctionnalités qui n’évoluent que très peu au fil du temps. Souvent, vous n'avez pas votre mot à dire et ne pouvez qu'espérer que la prochaine version correspondra à vos attentes.
The advantage of these software solutions is that they are stable, proven, and recognized in the industry. Their main disadvantage lies in their lack of flexibility.
Smart Biotech, on the other hand, is still young in its evolution. It is flexible and continuously progressing, which can be a key advantage, especially for companies undergoing transformation.
The birth of Smart Biotech
Smart Biotech was born out of a consulting project. In 2017, Idealis Consulting assisted a Belgian biotech in implementing Odoo 11. Custom developments were made for this client, and they later migrated to Odoo 13 before moving to SAP.
This project allowed us to familiarize ourselves with the biotech sector while noticing that there were few, if any, affordable software solutions that met the specific needs of this field.
Smart Biotech, a software based on Odoo, was thus born. We began its development in partnership with our client, focusing our efforts on their needs. Today, Smart Biotech is used by three of our clients and continues to evolve.
The advantages of a standard solution compared to custom developments
Why choose a solution based on Odoo rather than having a custom Odoo developed with the help of an integrator?
Let’s take a closer look: a standard solution offers several significant advantages.
- The budget
It is no secret that estimating the budget for an IT implementation project is complex. Many factors come into play:- Does the client have a clear vision of their needs?
- Is a decision-maker dedicated to the project?
- Is there a high turnover, leading to changes in contacts and objectives?
- Are the teams familiar with ERPs?
- The choice of the integrator
Have you chosen the right integrator? One who will understand your needs, build a relationship of trust, and integrate almost as a member of your team? This choice will determine the success of implementing software that is pleasant to use on a daily basis. - The uncertainty of results
Before the end of the project, it is difficult to be sure that your needs will be fully met by Odoo. Will the developments made by your partner truly meet your expectations? This is an uncertainty you will discover once the project is completed. - Future migrations
Have you considered the cost of future migrations? Your company and technology will evolve, and maintaining custom developments represents a cost. Will you have the necessary resources to stay up to date, or will your system become obsolete and difficult to use? The longer you wait, the more complicated the migration to a newer version of Odoo will be, to the point that it might be easier to start from scratch.
Opting for a standard solution helps avoid all these uncertainties. The budget becomes more predictable, as it is generally the specific developments that carry the most risks. You collaborate with expert teams who understand your sector and the upcoming challenges. You know in advance the features you are acquiring and precisely what to expect. Furthermore, Smart Biotech is updated annually with the new version of Odoo, significantly reducing the costs associated with migrations.
The evolution process
Odoo evolves every year. At the beginning of October, Odoo announces the release of its new version, which incorporates the latest technological advancements.
A few months later, we launch the new version of Smart Biotech, ensuring its annual compatibility with the latest version of Odoo.
To evolve Smart Biotech, we establish a new roadmap at the beginning of the year. This can be adjusted over time, but the main directions remain fixed. This roadmap is co-developed with our clients, taking into account their feedback and the needs not covered by the current solution. In other words, you are fully involved in the evolution process, ensuring that Smart Biotech is heading in a direction that benefits your business.
However, an annual new version does not mean that you have to migrate every year. It is up to you to decide when you want to carry out the migration.
The planned developments for the end of 2024
Release in early March:
- Code optimization to improve performance.
- Update of the solution to support the new features of Odoo V17.
Release in early May:
- Improvement of compliance certificate management.
- Ability to list unauthorized locations for a lot status.
- Addition of the feature to select approvers for a purchase order before sending it for approval.
Release in early October:
- Tracking of items by lot and serial number.
- Ability to modify an incorrectly entered quality control measurement after validation, with traceability.
- Definition of a failure policy: does an inspection plan fail at the first error, or should it include all controls?
Release at the end of 2024:
- Generation of samples from multiple parent lots.
- Implementation of a feature to prevent negative inventory.
- Requirement for an electronic signature with login and password entry to validate a quality control (release of lots).
- Ability to enter measurements in text form.
- Addition of automatic generation of item references by category.
- Facilitation of product consumption for internal projects to track the profitability of R&D projects.
Conclusion
Smart Biotech stands out from traditional industry-specific software due to its flexibility and continuous evolution. Unlike fixed solutions, which are often slow to adapt, Smart Biotech adjusts to the changing needs of companies, especially those undergoing transformation. By relying on a standard solution based on Odoo, you not only benefit from the stability of a recognized platform but also gain adaptability that keeps you at the forefront of technology.
Thanks to a roadmap co-developed with our clients and an annual update synchronized with the new versions of Odoo, Smart Biotech guarantees an up-to-date solution that meets the specific needs of the biotech sector. Additionally, the flexibility of migration allows each company to choose the right moment to integrate these developments, ensuring a balance between innovation and cost control.
In summary, Smart Biotech offers a dynamic and participatory environment that places your company’s needs at the heart of its evolution while ensuring compatibility and performance with the latest available technologies.
To find out more about the solution, visit our product page.
Smart Biotech, a software that evolves.