GlobX Commerce Ltd and Odoo Rwanda hosted the country’s Rwanda's largest enterprise technology engagement event on December 04, bringing together nearly 1,000 business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, technologists, and students.

The gathering focused on the accelerating shift toward digital business management, particularly through Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and highlighted why these tools are becoming essential for organisational growth.

The event, sponsored and led by GlobX, a leading digital transformation firm and official Odoo Partner, served as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in Odoo’s integrated business applications and to discuss how Rwandan businesses can leverage modern tools to improve efficiency, cut costs, and scale operations.

Organizers said the goal was also to "maximize visibility” and drive deeper ERP adoption across the economy.

GlobX Commerce Ltd specializes in helping businesses move from manual processes to smart, automated, and integrated systems.

The company provides Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation, Odoo software customization and deployment, business process analysis, systems integration, training and capacity building, and ongoing technical support.

It operates in Rwanda, the United Arab Emirates, and India. GlobX brings global expertise while tailoring solutions to local business needs, serving sectors from retail and logistics to finance, manufacturing, hospitality, and even government institutions.

"We saw almost double the number of people in the hall. Last time we had around 400, and now it’s almost 1,000. That means people are serious about digitizing their operations,” said Vinay Dev, Managing Director of GlobX Rwanda.

Vinay emphasized that Rwanda’s digital journey is not just about replacing manual work but improving organization and decision-making.

"I cannot say digitized; I can say more organized. This is the change we want to see for businesses in Rwanda,” he said.

He added that introducing integrated payment systems and linking banks directly to business operations through Odoo will greatly reduce cash handling and boost transparency.

ERP for everyone

Vinay believes that ERP is for everyone, even one-person businesses. GlobX plans to accelerate adoption among SMEs.

"People think ERP is expensive. But with Odoo, 10 users can cost around $100 a month—less than hiring an accountant. And Odoo will organize the entire company. The return on investment is usually less than a year,” he explained, adding that even a one-person business can find value in Odoo.

Vinay pointed out that the biggest digital transformation obstacle isn’t cost or technology but mindset.

"The biggest challenge worldwide, not just in Rwanda, is resistance to change. It has to start with top management. Employees fear that when AI comes, they will lose jobs. But AI still needs human input. We just need to move out of our comfort zones,” he said.

He noted that adoption is slowly but steadily increasing, and many businesses that have used Odoo return asking for more functionalities.

"The first step toward going digital is understanding what is happening. Now they have to go back, analyze, and ask, ‘Is this good for my company?’ That is where we come in—to guide and support them,” he said.

"Odoo becomes addictive because it gives total control over your data. And everything is mobile,” he added.

An all-in-one system for every business function

Odoo, one of the world’s most widely used open-source ERP platforms, provides over 70 integrated business applications under one system.

These include accounting, human resource management, CRM, inventory and manufacturing, e-commerce, project management, marketing automation, point of sale, and dozens more.

Instead of juggling multiple software tools from different vendors, businesses can manage everything in one place, with one login and one subscription.

Its affordability makes it especially attractive to SMEs, startups, and organizations looking to digitize without heavy upfront costs.

Every industry in Rwanda can benefit

Franklin Muthui Musyoka, Partner Manager, emphasized that Odoo does not serve a single industry; its applications fit every business.

"We don’t have a specific niche. Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, finance—any business can use Odoo. We customize based on each company’s actual operations,” he explained.

He highlighted three biggest advantages of Odoo: an "all-in-one platform” where no more juggling multiple software vendors is required, "scalability,” allowing businesses to start small and expand as they grow, and "affordability,” with user-based pricing designed for African markets and SMEs.

New Odoo features

Odoo’s new Version 19 includes stronger AI features and a new ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) application, helping companies track sustainability metrics such as energy savings and carbon impact.

"Digitization is growing rapidly, and these tools help businesses streamline operations while contributing to global sustainability standards,” Muthui said.

"Your data is yours. We only access it when you request. We are protected by global GDPR rules, and you have full backups and security features,” he explained.

"SMEs, medium enterprises, and large corporations—everyone can be accommodated. If a business wants efficiency, accuracy in financial reporting, and better decision-making, Odoo is the right choice,” he said.

Organizers say that Rwanda has positioned itself as a continental leader in ICT adoption. Therefore, as businesses grow in size and complexity, the need for integrated, efficient systems becomes essential.

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