Odoo Functional vs Odoo Technical: Which One Do You Need?

When a business decides to implement an ERP or CRM system like Odoo, one of the first questions that usually comes up is:

"Do we need a functional consultant or a technical consultant?"                                                                          
Many business owners struggle with this decision because the roles sound similar, but they actually handle very different responsibilities. Each type of consultant brings unique strengths to the project, and understanding these differences helps you choose the proper support for your business.

In reality, an Odoo Functional Consultant and an Odoo Technical Consultant both play equally important roles in any Odoo project. One focuses on business processes and workflow, while the other focuses on code, customization, and technical development. You can hire one, outsource the other, or work with an Odoo Consultant or Odoo partner who provides both.

This blog explains the roles, responsibilities, and differences between the two, so you can easily decide which consultant your business needs.

What Is an Odoo Functional Consultant?

An Odoo Functional Consultant acts as the bridge between the business team and the technical development team. Their main job is to understand your business processes, analyze challenges, and map them into Odoo workflow.

They do not write code, but they play a significant role in making the system work the way the business needs.

In simple words:

A functional consultant understands business

They don't handle coding

They are experts in Odoo modules, business flows, configuration, and Odoo training.

A functional consultant will:

• Understand your company's daily operations
• Identify gaps in your current workflow
• Suggest the right Odoo modules
• Configure Odoo based on your needs
• Prepare documents and process flows
• Train your employees to use Odoo properly

Think of them as the business doctor who studies your entire company and designs an accurate treatment plan.

Read More:  Choosing the Right Odoo Training Center in Ahmedabad

Roles and Responsibilities of an Odoo Functional Consultant

Below are the key tasks handled by an Odoo Functional Consultant:

1. Business Process Analysis

This is the first step in any Odoo project.

The functional consultant meets different departments—sales, inventory, finance, HR, manufacturing, etc.—and studies how the business currently operates.

They run workshops, ask questions, observe processes, and identify:

• Bottlenecks
• Missing steps
• Repetitive manual work
• Problems that Odoo can solve

This helps them design the proper ERP structure for the company.

2. Requirements Gathering

Once the analysis is complete, the functional consultant documents all the business requirements clearly.

These requirements are then shared with the technical team in a structured format.

This step ensures:

• The technical team understands exactly what needs to be built
• The client gets the correct configuration and customizations
• No critical steps are missed during implementation

3. Odoo Configuration

Functional consultants configure Odoo modules based on the client's business flow.

This includes:

• Setting up master data
• Defining workflows
• Creating approval rules
• Adjusting module settings
• Setting user roles and permissions

An exemplary configuration often reduces the need for heavy customization.

4. User Training

Once the system is ready, the functional consultant trains employees on:

• How to use the Odoo modules
• How the new workflow works
• What steps to follow
• What mistakes to avoid

They also create training materials, guides, and documentation.

This ensures smooth adoption after the system goes live.

5. Solution Design with Technical Team

Functional consultants work hand-in-hand with the technical consultants.

They explain:

• What the business needs
• How data should flow
• What custom features are required

Together, they create a solution that fits both business logic and technical feasibility.

What Is an Odoo Technical Consultant?

An Odoo Technical Consultant focuses on the technical side of the ERP. They work with coding, backend configuration, custom module development, system integration, and performance tuning.

They are responsible for translating the functional consultant's requirement documents into:

• Custom modules
• Code changes
• New features
• System enhancements

In simple words:

❌ They don't handle business workflows

✅ They handle programming and technical implementation

They make Odoo "do things" that are not available by default.

Roles and Responsibilities of an Odoo Technical Consultant

Here are the key responsibilities of a technical consultant:

1. System Setup and Server Configuration

Technical consultants take care of all the technical setup needed for Odoo to run smoothly. They install Odoo, prepare the server, and configure the database so everything works correctly. They also install the required modules and make sure the system performs fast and without errors. Their job is to keep the system technically stable, secure, and ready for everyday use.

2. Customization and Module Development

Whenever your business needs something outside the standard Odoo features, the technical consultant writes custom code.

This includes:

• Creating new modules
• Adding new fields
• Creating custom workflows
• Changing existing features
• Modifying reports
• Adding automation

They use Python, XML, JavaScript, and the Odoo Framework to develop features.

3. System Integration

Many businesses need their ERP to work smoothly with other systems like eCommerce websites, payment gateways, shipping services, older ERP software, IoT devices, or external databases. A technical consultant makes this possible by creating the necessary APIs and connectors. They ensure that Odoo exchanges data properly with these platforms so everything works together without any interruptions.

4. Data Migration

When a company moves from an old system to Odoo, one of the biggest challenges is transferring all the data safely. A technical consultant handles this by extracting the data, cleaning it, converting it into the correct format, and then importing it into Odoo. They carefully check everything to make sure the information is accurate and nothing gets lost during the move. Their role is to ensure a smooth and error-free transition from the old system to the new one.

5. Troubleshooting & Technical Support

Whenever there is a technical error, performance issue, or backend bug, the technical consultant resolves it.

They ensure the system runs:

• smoothly
• fast
• without interruptions

They also support the team after the system goes live.

Key Differences: Odoo Functional vs Odoo Technical Consultant

Which One Do You Need?

Choosing the right consultant depends on what stage of the project you are in and what type of problem you want to solve.

Here are common scenarios:

You need a Functional Consultant if:

• You want to map your business processes
• You want to understand which Odoo modules to use
• You need help with workflows, approvals, or documentation
• You need an Odoo configuration without coding
• You want training for your team
• You want to optimize your operations using Odoo

They are perfect for planning, designing, and guiding the business side of the implementation.

You need a Technical Consultant if:

• You need custom modules or new features
• You want to integrate Odoo with external systems
• You need backend development
• You are migrating large amounts of data
• You need performance optimization
• You want to automate processes using code

They are perfect for building the actual technical solution.

In Most Cases, You Need Both

Odoo projects require a mix of:

• Business knowledge
• Technical development
• Workflow mapping
• Custom code
• User training

That's why most companies either hire both types of consultants or work with an experienced Odoo Partner who provides a complete implementation team.

Conclusion

Both Odoo Functional Consultants and Odoo Technical Consultants are indispensable in the execution of an ERP project. While the functional consultant ensures that the system fits your business, the technical consultant ensures it is built correctly. Their roles complement each other, with both helping your company get the best results from Odoo.

Choosing the right consultant depends on your current business needs, but most companies benefit from having both. With proper guidance and expertise, your Odoo implementation becomes smoother, faster, and far more effective.