In brief
Digitalising does not mean the same thing for everyone. Digital maturity follows a progressive path, often in three stages. These are not levels of judgement, but natural stages.
The 3 levels : Computerise ("We're going digital"), Organise ("We structure what we do") and Orchestrate ("The system works for us").
It is not a race, but a trajectory. What matters is knowing your level, so as not to burn through the stages, nor settle for the first one.
Digitalisation means different things to different companies
When a company starts talking about "digitalisation", one question is rarely asked... How far does it want to go?
Because no, digitalising does not mean the same thing for everyone. At Niboo, we have been supporting SMEs since 2014 that want to step up a gear, sometimes to sell better, sometimes to produce better, often to steer better.
And what we have observed is that digital maturity follows a progressive path, often in three stages. Not levels of judgement. Natural stages. Here they are, with what we see every day in the field.
Level 1 : Computerise, "We're going digital"
Objective : no longer depend on paper or scattered tools.
This is the first stage, often invisible from the outside. We swap hanging files for digital files, replace notebooks with spreadsheets, create accounts in a "healthy" application.
But under the hood, habits do not change yet :
Data is still entered several times,
Tools do not "talk" to each other,
Employees juggle emails, Excel files and screenshots.
A real-life example :
An SME manages its quotes in Odoo, but prints them to send them.
Then it re-enters the information into external accounting software, because its accountant only agrees to use that one. Even though Odoo offers a rock-solid Accounting app !
It is progress compared with paper... But the mental load and the risk of error are still there.
Level 2 : Organise, "We structure
what we do"
Objective : have a clear, shared and reliable overview.
Here, we no longer just do "the same thing, but on a computer". We start thinking in processes. Creating flows. Harmonising roles and access. We stop depending on a colleague "who knows how to do it". We can train, delegate, steer.
This is often the stage where the ERP becomes central:
data flows automatically from one application to another,
schedules are unified,
teams no longer work in silos.
A real-life example :
A maintenance company moves to a flow :
Quote → Work order → Invoice → Payment → Profitability analysis.
Sales reps, technicians and accounting use the same system, with different views.
Result : less tension, fewer "lost emails", more steering.
Level 3 : Orchestrate, "The system
works for us"
Objective : automate intelligently, save time... and gain peace of mind.
This is the most "mature" stage. But also the quietest, because it runs without a sound.
We no longer need to check whether an invoice has gone out : it has. We no longer need to check reminders: they are scheduled. We no longer need to repeat to each new recruit "how we do things here" : the system guides them.
Humans focus on what requires a decision or nuance. The rest is taken care of. The tool is configured on the basis of scenarios : "If X happens, then do Y".
A real-life example :
An e-commerce company has configured its stock thresholds.
As soon as an item falls below its threshold, a supplier order is generated, automatically validated if the amount is reasonable, and the customer is notified of a lead time.
The director ? He finds out in a weekly report.
Digitalising means replacing paper documents and processes with digital tools. Automating means having the system carry out actions without human intervention.
Computerise (no longer depend on paper or scattered tools), Organise (have a clear, shared and reliable overview, thinking in processes) and Orchestrate (automate intelligently so the system works for you).
An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning, or Integrated Management Software) is a single tool to manage all of a company's operations. Instead of 5 different programs for Accounting, Sales, Logistics and more, you have one system where everything is managed and communicates. Odoo is an example.
A workflow is a sequence of logical, predefined steps in a process, for example: Quote, Work order, Invoice, Payment, Profitability analysis.
It is not a race but a trajectory, and each company moves at its own pace. Some must first put things in order before automating. Others can go fast, but then come back to forgotten foundations.
The tool is configured on the basis of scenarios: "If X happens, then do Y". For example, when an item falls below its stock threshold, a supplier order is generated, validated automatically if the amount is reasonable, and the customer is notified of a lead time.
Conclusion : it's not a race, it's a trajectory
Each company moves at its own pace. Some must first put things in order before automating. Others can go fast, but then come back to forgotten foundations.
What matters is knowing your level, so as not to burn through the stages... nor settle for the first.
At Niboo, we don't sell buttons to click. We build digital foundations that teams can rely on. And beyond being an Odoo Partner since 2014, we help you with much more than that: cybersecurity, modern workplace and hardware.
Feel free to check out our latest updates on our social media channels :
Ready to digitalize your procurement?
Trust 15 years of Odoo expertise. Our consultants work hand-in-hand with you toward operational excellence.
. 