Bakon USA is a global leader in designing and supplying innovative equipment for the bakery, pastry, and chocolate industries. Founded in 1986 in the Netherlands, the company expanded to the U.S. in 1991 to bring its expertise and advanced solutions to the American market. Technology has always played a critical role in supporting growth. What began as a distribution business evolved into local manufacturing in the mid 2000s, bringing with it new operational complexity and the need for a robust ERP system. This article explores the key insights that Luc Imberechts, the owner and president of Bakon USA Food Equipment, shared regarding his experience with Odoo.

A History with Sage and Its Limits

Bakon USA adopted its first ERP system in the mid-2000s, originally using Peachtree (later Sage 50). At the time, it was a good solution: affordable, relatively simple and capable of handling accounting, inventory management, purchasing, and manufacturing through bills of materials and work tickets. Over the years, the system was upgraded multiple times, always using the same database, but as Bakon USA grew, so did its data, and that’s when some difficulties began to arise:

• The database became too large for Sage 50’s typical use case;
• System freezes and even data loss occurred frequently;
• Support was increasingly difficult to obtain;
• There was no smooth upgrade path to Sage 90 or Sage 200;
• Each product followed a different philosophy due to acquisitions.

By 2018/2019, it was clear that the system was no longer sustainable.

Covid-19: The Breaking Point

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed a critical weakness: Sage was not cloud-based. Remote access was limited, and Sage did not yet offer a viable cloud solution. At the same time, Bakon USA faced another major operational pain point: currency conversion. Importing equipment and components from Europe meant constant EUR-USD conversions, all handled manually because Sage lacked multicurrency support. The likelihood of errors was a constant risk, delegation became more challenging and problem-solving grew more costly. These challenges ultimately sparked a renewed, urgent push to pursue a modern ERP.

Why Odoo Stood Out

Having previous experience with ERP systems like SAP and Baan, Bakon USA knew they were powerful, but also extremely expensive and complex. Odoo quickly emerged as a compelling alternative:

• Cloud-based access for remote work
• Native multicurrency support
• Modular structure with fully integrated apps
• Open-source flexibility at a fraction of the cost of SAP
• A growing reputation

There was also a personal connection: Odoo originates from Belgium, Luc Imberechts’s country of birth. After researching the market and speaking with peers, Bakon USA contacted Odoo’s U.S. team and was introduced to ERPGAP to begin implementation.

Implementation: Guided, Practical, and Collaborative

Implementation began shortly after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. While any ERP change is significant, Luc was pleased to find that ERPGAP was available to guide the implementation process smoothly. There were some challenges, particularly with integrating U.S. sales tax through TaxCloud. However, Bakon USA worked closely with ERPGAP to fully understand and resolve the issues. Those issues ultimately disappeared with the migration to the new version of the system. Key implementation priorities included:

• Accounting
• CRM
• Inventory management
• Manufacturing and production
• Purchasing

ERP as a “GPS” in a Perfect Storm

Today’s economic environment has been especially challenging: rising costs, currency volatility, import/export pressures, and uncertainty across markets. In this context, Bakon USA sees Odoo as more than just a software. It’s a navigation tool.

It’s like being in a perfect storm at sea. You can’t change the weather, but you don’t want to lose your GPS. At least you know where you are and can make the best possible decisions.

Compared to Sage, Odoo’s integrated modules make it far easier to trace issues, correct mistakes, and ensure problems don’t repeat. Financial data is more reliable, faster to analyze, and easier to trust.

Expanding Beyond the Core: Helpdesk and E-Commerce

One of Odoo’s biggest advantages has been its ecosystem of interconnected modules. Bakon USA has gradually expanded into:

• Helpdesk
• Project management
• A secondary webstore used as a testing ground

Younger team members, in particular, adapt quickly to new modules, highlighting Odoo’s intuitive interface and modern design. That said, CRM automation and email marketing remain ongoing goals. Spam filters, unrecognized sender addresses, and missed emails can disrupt lead follow-up and quote approvals despite strong internal processes. The long term goal is clear: increase customer engagement and sales without increasing costs.

Looking Ahead

Bakon USA sees significant potential in Odoo’s future, especially with automation and AI-driven features. Automated reminders, abandoned cart emails, personalized follow-ups, and smarter CRM workflows could help smaller teams operate with the efficiency of much larger organizations. There’s also hope that Odoo will continue moving upmarket.

It would be good to see more large companies adopt Odoo. It’s powerful, flexible, and far more affordable than systems like SAP.

Would You Recommend Odoo?

Yes, with an important caveat. ERP decisions are highly personal and deeply tied to each company’s unique reality. Success depends not only on the software chosen, but also on the implementation partner guiding the process. For that reason, we strongly recommend:

• Exploring Odoo thoroughly to understand its capabilities and limitations
• Speaking with multiple implementation partners to compare approaches and expertise
• Choosing a partner who understands both the system and your business, not just one or the other

Although we at Bakon USA had some initial reservations about working remotely with ERPGAP’s Portugal-based team, we quickly discovered that distance was not an issue. Communication flowed smoothly, the collaboration was effective and efficient, and the overall experience was far more seamless than expected.

Final Thoughts

From fax machines to Odoo ERP system, Bakon USA’s journey reflects how much the business world has changed, and how adaptability is essential for survival. For companies outgrowing legacy systems, struggling with remote access, or seeking deeper integration across operations, Odoo offers a modern, flexible alternative that continues to evolve alongside its users.

Ready to pivot to Odoo? Contact us today and let’s get started.

As Bakon USA’s experience shows, the right ERP doesn’t just support your business, it helps you steer it through uncertainty with clarity and confidence.