Client: Safetyware Group
Industry: Manufacturing, Trading & Distribution, Services, Training & Consultancy
Challenge: High ERP costs, fragmented tools, complex features, and low user adoption
Solution: Full migration to Odoo ERP with company-wide customization and implementation by Keyway Digital Labs
The Background
Safetyware Group, a leading integrated safety solutions provider and a public-listed company on Bursa Malaysia, previously ran its operations on Oracle NetSuite ERP, a globally recognized cloud ERP system. While NetSuite offered a centralized database and core business functionalities, the company still had to rely heavily on third-party applications such as:
- Mailchimp for email campaigns
- HubSpot for marketing automation
- Google Forms for surveys
- Separate social media management tools
- And more...
The lack of built-in, holistic tools created data silos, made integration difficult, and required costly add-ons or customization just to meet standard operational needs. Features like HR management localized for Malaysia, rental business management, and point of sale were either missing or came at a steep price.
The Problem
- Overly High Costs: NetSuite’s recurring subscription fees, add-on costs, and pricing model complexity resulted in unsustainable long-term ERP costs, especially for an SME-driven enterprise.
- Low Flexibility: Customizing reports (e.g., Saved Search, dashboards) required technical knowledge many employees did not possess.
- Limited Usability: The interface and workflows were not user-friendly, leading to low adoption among non-technical users.
- Fragmented Ecosystem: Despite using a central ERP, Safetyware still depended on 6–8 additional software tools for core marketing and CRM tasks.
The Transition
Partnering with Keyway Digital Labs, Safetyware Group transitioned from NetSuite to a fully customized implementation of Odoo ERP, replacing not only the core ERP system but also consolidating many auxiliary functions into a unified, all-in-one platform.
Modules implemented included:
- Sales & CRM
- Inventory & Warehouse Management
- Procurement
- Manufacturing
- Finance & Accounting
- HR & Payroll (localized for Malaysia)
- Marketing Automation
- Email Marketing
- POS & Rental Management
- Survey, Events, and eLearning
The Results
- 80% Cost Reduction
- By switching to Odoo ERP, Safetyware reduced their ERP-related software costs by over 80%, while gaining far more functionalities than before.
- Improved Productivity & Adoption
- The user-friendly and intuitive interface of Odoo allowed employees at all levels to adapt quickly. Instead of spending time figuring out how to use tools, they focused on doing what matters most.
- Full Integration & Centralization
- All major business functions now run on Odoo, creating a single source of truth that significantly enhances AI adoption, reporting, and data analytics.
- Faster Learning & Internal Enablement
- Thanks to Odoo’s large open-source community, extensive documentation, and online tutorials, employees trained themselves rapidly without needing costly external support.
- Strategic Scalability
- The cost savings and system flexibility freed up capital and capacity for growth initiatives, while the modular nature of Odoo ensured that future expansion could be easily accommodated.
“After years of struggling with high ERP costs, fragmented tools, and limited usability, Odoo has completely changed the way we work. Our teams are more empowered, and the company has never been more agile.”
The Takeaway
Even for public-listed companies like Safetyware, the choice of ERP can dramatically affect operational efficiency, technology ROI, and employee productivity. With the right partner and a business-first approach, Odoo ERP proved to be a smarter, more sustainable path for digital transformation.
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