Reference: Spiderbeam GmbH - v17 Upgrade

The Company

Spiderbeam was founded in Germany in 2000 by Cornelius Paul and specialises in the development, manufacture and distribution of antennas, fibre optic and aluminium masts and accessories. The company now supplies B2B customers such as the United Nations and the International Red Cross as well as B2C customers worldwide and is known for its particularly reliable products and exceptional customer service.

In 2019, Spiderbeam opted for a new ERP solution to replace its existing xtCommerce system and overcome challenges such as an extensive product portfolio and international shipping. Octic, a certified Odoo partner, implemented Odoo in two phases: First focussing on purchasing, inventory and manufacturing, then on sales, accounting, website and eCommerce. The Odoo v14 system, which went live on 1 January 2023, optimises efficiency and supports the company's long-term growth.


The Challenge

Odoo officially offers three years long term support for each version, and with the 2020 release of Odoo v14, support for that version ended in 2023. By upgrading to Odoo v17, Spiderbeam wanted to benefit from bug fixes, security patches and technical support. Odoo v17 also brought numerous new features, performance enhancements and improved usability, particularly in the areas of inventory, manufacturing and eCommerce, which directly supported Spiderbeam's operational needs. However, the upgrade had to be completed within a clearly defined timeframe and budget to avoid unexpected expenses, technical failures and to manage a planned transition. Furthermore, there were many customer-specific requirements that also needed to be realised in the new version within the aforementioned schedule so as not to disrupt daily operations.


The Solution

The upgrade process was carried out in several phases to ensure a smooth transition without disrupting ongoing operations. Even before the official Odoo update script was released, software testing began on a separate demo system. Development took place exclusively on isolated development environments, with the live system only being updated on the day of the launch.

Pre- Upgrade Analysis

Thanks to the close collaboration on technical support, the Octic team already had a comprehensive overview of the customer's business processes and requirements. This helped the creation of detailed test cases which mirrored typical everyday tasks and were later used to efficiently test the new system and quickly identify errors. At the same time, a software analysis was carried out that documented the structure and functionality of the existing system and took into account all relevant custom modules and configurations.

Database Upg​rade

The database upgrade process carried out by Odoo ensured the error-free migration of all standard data from the old version to the new version. Octic also developed custom scripts to ensure that custom tables and data were transferred correctly. During this phase, the database upgrade was tested several times to ensure that the master database was ready for the final migration at the end of the project.

Code Refactoring

Prior to integration testing, the Octic team refactored all custom code to ensure that all custom modules and functions were compatible with the new Odoo version. The code was reviewed and optimised to remove outdated structures and adapt to new APIs and libraries. In parallel, unit tests were written to ensure that all functions work correctly after customisation and that no errors occur.

Integration Tests

During the integration phase of the database and code modules, detailed test cases were used to identify errors at an early stage. Any errors found were documented in Asana and fixed in an iterative development process. The Octic team worked closely with Spiderbeam to ensure that all business-critical functions were working properly.

User Acceptance Testin​g

Once the Octic team had tested all functions thoroughly, the Spiderbeam team was integrated into the test process. Detailed test cases were carried out by Spiderbeam in order to identify possible errors under real conditions. All reported errors or change requests were quickly processed by the Octic support team.

v17 Launch

The go-live took place on Monday morning, followed by an intensive week of support during which all support requests were dealt with and answered as quickly as possible. After the successful database update via Odoo's own script and the implementation of all customisations, the shop was accessible to customers again after just four hours.

Intensive Support

As it is impossible to identify all potential errors in advance, a follow-up support phase followed in which questions about daily operations were clarified and any unforeseen problems were quickly solved. After two weeks, the transition to regular support was seamless.


The Impact

The successful transition from Odoo v14 to v17 at Spiderbeam shows how important careful planning and structured implementation by a certified Odoo partner is. Thanks to intensive preparation, iterative development and thorough testing, all data and custom functions were migrated to the new Odoo version. The launch went smoothly and normal business procedures were able to continue without any noticeable interruptions. In addition to existing customisations, additional change requests were also integrated into the new version with ease. The Spiderbeam team received the necessary training on the new system to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction.


The Final Word

“Every business software upgrade is a major stress factor in a company. However, thanks to Octic's direct and personal service, questions were always answered and problems with the new Odoo system were solved quickly. The ever-increasing demands of trade regulations and reporting require a lot of customisation these days, so it is important for us to constantly develop the company's software system. We place great value on customer service for our own customers, so we particularly welcome the fast, straightforward and personal support from Octic in this ongoing process. We look forward to continuing our successful and long-term partnership with Felix and Ollie from Octic."

Rafaello Minuzzi -  Managing Director, Spiderbeam GmbH


About OCTIC 

We are a certified Odoo Partner able to provide the full spectrum of services to ensure your Odoo system rapidly fulfils your business goals with the maximum return on investment.

We implement innovative solutions and provide our clients with the necessary expertise and long term support for their Odoo projects to be successful. We work for SMEs who are serious about their long term success.

Odoo Ready

We specialise in integrating and connecting Odoo systems with other platforms such as WooCommerce, Shopify, Quickbooks and xtCommerce.

Our team of experts has the full spectrum of expertise to ensure your Odoo project is successful. We are based in different locations around the globe to ensure we can meet our clients development needs and continue to provide the long term, reliable support they need to run their businesses.

Our network of international partners and tried and tested plugins also ensures we implement exactly the right mix of Odoo apps, 3rd party plugins and custom software to best suit the project's needs.

Our Approach

We work very closely with our customers to understand their products, processes and business model so we can help plan the perfect implementation strategy and maximise return on investment. We are straightforward, practical and reliable.
 
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