Planning an Odoo Migration? What to Discuss at Odoo Experience 2026
Quick Summary
Moving to Odoo can help a business manage sales, finance, inventory, manufacturing, and customer service from one system. However, an Odoo migration is not only about moving software or transferring data.
It can change how different teams work, how information is shared and how important business decisions are made. Poor planning can lead to missing data, broken processes, unexpected costs and delays.
Businesses planning an Odoo migration can use the Odoo Experience 2026 event in Brussels to speak with Odoo experts, partners, developers, and other companies that already use the platform.
Odoo Experience 2026 is scheduled to take place from 24 to 26 September 2026 at Brussels Expo. For European business owners and decision-makers, the event can be a useful place to compare migration options, ask practical questions and understand the work involved before starting a project.
Instead of attending the event without a clear purpose, prepare a list of the topics you need to discuss. The following points can help you have more useful conversations about your Odoo migration.
Understand What Type of Odoo Migration You Need
The term Odoo migration can mean different things for different businesses.
Your project may involve:
Upgrading from an older Odoo version
Moving from another ERP system to Odoo
Switching from Odoo Community to Odoo Enterprise
Moving from a local server to Odoo.sh or another cloud option
Combining databases used by different companies or branches
Replacing separate business tools with Odoo
Each type of migration requires a different plan, budget and amount of work.
One of the first questions to ask at Odoo Experience 2026 is:
Are we upgrading our current Odoo system, moving from another ERP or rebuilding the way our business processes work?
A clear answer will help you understand the right next steps and choose a suitable Odoo partner.
1. Explain Why Your Business Needs the Migration
A migration should begin with the problems your business wants to solve.
Before speaking with an Odoo expert, identify the issues affecting your teams.
These may include:
Employees entering the same information into different systems
Sales and warehouse teams working with different data
Limited information about available stock
Accounting work being completed manually
Reports taking too long to prepare
Difficulty managing several branches or companies
Old software that is slow or difficult to maintain
Ask how Odoo can help solve these exact problems.
Do not focus only on the number of Odoo features available. Every module, connection and custom change should have a clear purpose for your business.
2. Decide Which Data Should Be Moved
Moving data is one of the most important parts of an Odoo migration.
However, moving every record from the old system is not always the right choice.
Your current software may contain:
Duplicate customer records
Old supplier details
Products that are no longer sold
Inactive users
Incorrect contact information
Closed transactions
Reports that nobody uses
Old records that are not needed for daily work
Before the migration begins, decide which information should be moved, corrected, saved separately or removed.
Important data may include:
Active customer and supplier records
Current product information
Available stock
Open sales orders
Open purchase orders
Unpaid invoices
Accounting balances
Questions to ask include:
How will duplicate records be found?
Who will check the data before it is moved?
How will financial balances be checked?
How will stock quantities be confirmed?
Will old information remain available after the migration?
Moving incorrect data into Odoo will not solve the problem. It will only bring the same problem into the new system.
3. Review Your Current Custom Features
Many companies add custom features to Odoo because their processes are different from the standard system.
These changes may include:
Custom modules
Odoo Studio changes
Additional fields
Special approval steps
Automatic actions
Custom reports
Third-party applications
Connections with other software
Before the migration, create a complete list of these changes.
Discuss each one with an Odoo expert and ask:
Is this feature still needed?
Is the same feature now available in standard Odoo?
Can the process be made simpler?
Will the feature work in the new version?
How much will it cost to update?
Who will support it after the migration?
Some custom features may no longer be necessary. Removing them can reduce the cost of the migration and make future Odoo upgrades easier.
4. Discuss European Accounting Requirements
Businesses operating in Europe may need different accounting settings for each country.
Requirements can vary between Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and other European markets.
Topics to discuss include:
VAT settings
Country-specific accounting rules
Charts of accounts
Intrastat reporting
Electronic invoicing
Invoice layouts
Tax reports
Transactions between EU countries
Accounting for several companies
Ask whether Odoo supports the requirements of every country where your company operates.
Useful questions include:
Which country settings are available in Odoo?
Can different companies use different accounting settings?
How will sales between EU countries be handled?
Does Odoo support the electronic invoice format we need?
Can our accountant review the setup before launch?
The system should be checked by an accountant or tax adviser who understands the rules in the countries where you operate.
5. Discuss GDPR and Personal Data
An ERP system may store personal information about customers, employees, suppliers and business contacts.
This can include:
Names
Email addresses
Phone numbers
Home or business addresses
Payment details
Employee records
Customer messages
Online account information
European businesses must consider GDPR when moving this information.
Ask the Odoo partner:
What personal information will be moved?
Is all of that information still needed?
Who will be allowed to view sensitive records?
Where will the data be stored?
How will backups be protected?
How long will old information be kept?
How can customer information be corrected or removed?
What will happen to the old ERP database?
Your company is still responsible for using and protecting personal data correctly. Installing Odoo does not automatically make a business GDPR compliant.
6. Choose the Right Hosting Option
Odoo can be hosted in different ways.
Common options include:
Odoo Online
Odoo.sh
Your own company server
A private cloud server
A managed hosting service
The right choice depends on your number of users, custom features, integrations, security needs and internal IT team.
Discuss questions such as:
Which hosting option supports our custom features?
Who will manage the server?
How often will backups be created?
How quickly can a backup be restored?
How will system speed be tested?
What happens if the system stops working?
Who will manage updates and security?
Will employees in different European countries have reliable access?
Do not choose a hosting option only because it is cheaper. It must be suitable for the way your business operates.
7. List Every System That Must Connect with Odoo
Most businesses use other tools alongside their ERP system.
Odoo may need to connect with:
eCommerce websites
Payment providers
Banks
Shipping companies
Online marketplaces
Warehouse systems
Payroll software
Reporting tools
Customer portals
Supplier systems
Manufacturing equipment
Prepare a complete list of these systems before attending Odoo Experience 2026.
Ask:
Is there an existing connector?
Will a custom connection need to be built?
Who will maintain the connection?
What happens when another platform changes its system?
How will failed data transfers be found?
Can failed orders or payments be sent again?
Which system will hold the main record?
For example, decide whether product prices will be managed in Odoo, the eCommerce website or another system. This prevents different platforms from showing different information.
8. Plan Testing, Downtime and Launch
Testing helps confirm that the new Odoo system works correctly before employees begin using it.
Testing should include real tasks completed by different departments.
These may include:
Creating and confirming a sales order
Checking and delivering stock
Creating a purchase order
Receiving goods
Creating an invoice
Recording a payment
Returning a product
Completing an approval
Producing an item
Preparing financial reports
Closing the monthly accounts
Ask how many test migrations will be completed before the final launch.
You should also discuss:
How long the old system will be unavailable
When employees should stop entering new data
How final changes will be moved
Who will approve the launch
What will happen if a serious problem is found
Whether the company can return to the old system
What support will be available after launch
Do not accept a general promise of very little downtime. Ask for a clear schedule showing each step of the final migration.
9. Prepare Employees for the New System
A new ERP system will only work well if employees understand how to use it.
Training should be planned for:
Finance teams
Sales teams
Purchasing staff
Warehouse employees
Manufacturing teams
Customer service teams
Managers
System administrators
Training should focus on the work each group completes every day.
Ask whether the migration plan includes:
Live training sessions
Recorded training videos
Written instructions
Practice tasks
Administrator training
Help after the system goes live
It can also be helpful to choose one or two employees from each department to learn the system in more detail. They can then support their colleagues and report any problems.
10. Ask for a Complete Cost Breakdown
The cost of an Odoo migration may include more than the software licence.
Ask for a clear breakdown covering:
Odoo licences
Hosting
Data cleaning
Data transfer
Custom feature updates
New development work
System connections
Testing
Employee training
Project management
Support after launch
Future maintenance
Also ask what is not included in the price.
Important questions include:
Will data cleaning cost extra?
Are test migrations included?
Is employee training included?
How long will launch support be available?
Who owns the custom code?
Will we receive written system information?
What will future updates cost?
A very low starting price may become expensive when important work is added later.
Questions to Ask at Odoo Experience 2026
Take these questions with you when speaking with Odoo experts and partners:
What type of Odoo migration does our business need?
Which Odoo version is most suitable for us?
Which hosting option should we choose?
Which custom features should we keep?
Which custom features can be replaced by standard Odoo tools?
What data should be moved?
How will financial and stock information be checked?
Which European accounting requirements are supported?
How will personal data be protected?
Which other systems can connect with Odoo?
How many test migrations will be completed?
How long will the final migration take?
What happens if something goes wrong?
How will employees be trained?
What support is available after launch?
What costs are not included in the proposal?
What to Prepare Before the Event
Bring a simple summary of your current system and business needs.
Include:
Your current ERP system
Your current Odoo version, when applicable
Number of employees who will use the system
Number of companies or branches
Countries where your business operates
Odoo modules currently in use
List of custom features
List of connected software
Main business problems
Information that needs to be moved
Preferred launch date
Expected budget
You do not need to carry a large technical document. A clear one-page summary can help an Odoo expert understand your needs and give you a more useful answer.
Final Thoughts
Odoo Experience 2026 is not only a place to watch product demonstrations. It is also an opportunity to ask direct questions before investing in an Odoo migration.
European businesses should focus on their real working needs, data quality, local accounting rules, GDPR, hosting, software connections, testing and employee training.
Attending the Odoo Experience 2026 event in Brussels can help you compare different approaches and speak with people who understand Odoo migrations.
The better prepared you are, the easier it will be to choose the right migration plan and avoid unnecessary costs, delays, and problems after launch.
