This past Tuesday, July 29th, the keynote at the OCUS Kick-Off in New York City set the tone for a new phase in the open source ERP movement in the U.S.
The keynote focused on a journey many implementers and agencies share: navigating complex clients, tight deadlines, and the constant balance between delivering quickly and delivering the right way.
This message wasn’t just for developers or consultants. It was also for clients.
If long-term value matters, then quality and sustainability must come first.
The App Store Problem
Too many add-ons sold in the Odoo App Store are black boxes. No documentation. No support. No plan for upgrades.
They may appear profitable in the short term but often lead to technical debt, blocked projects, and customer frustration.
If you've ever been burned by an app that seemed fine at first but turned into a nightmare later, you're not alone.
There is a better path.
The OCA Alternative
The OCA offers a radically different approach:
✔ Community-reviewed modules
✔ Consistent design and maintainability
✔ Real documentation and upgrade paths
✔ Built with client success in mind
If the goal is to deliver reliable solutions to clients, this is the way forward.
Next Steps: Let’s Work Together
A discussion space is being launched for the U.S. Odoo open source community: a place to collaborate, coordinate, and define how to raise the bar in ERP delivery.
After the keynote, conversations continued over drinks. That informal moment turned into an honest and inspiring exchange. Stories were shared about current struggles, gaps in coordination, and new ideas to help us grow as professionals and as a community.
