Location/Region: Reno, NV
Industry: Lighting Distribution Wholesale
Apps implemented: Sales, Inventory, Accounting, Invoicing, Purchase, Studio, CRM, Project, and Dashboards
Software
Replaced: QuickBooks
Company size: >10
Hosting type: Odoo online
BD Lighting Solutions, a commercial lighting distributor based in Reno, Nevada, has leveraged Odoo to centralize its sales and inventory operations, ensuring seamless management of complex construction and custom lighting projects. The company, serving electricians and architectural firms, demonstrates how Odoo enables integrated operations in the construction materials industry and offers insights into practical ERP implementation for similar distributors.
About the Company
BD Lighting Solutions specializes in supplying commercial lighting materials for the construction industry. The company provides both standard and custom lighting solutions, working closely with contractors and architectural firms to meet precise project specifications.
"Due to our size, we’re a lot more nimble. My competitors are very large and slow to react, but we can adjust quickly to client needs. "
Founded in 2007 and acquired by Cesena in 2022, BD Lighting Solutions has grown by combining engineering expertise with a hands-on approach to lighting distribution. The company emphasizes personalized service and operational flexibility, enabling it to meet unique customer demands. BD Lighting Solutions' market presence remains regional, with ambitions to expand outside Reno through strategic sales initiatives.
Challenges in Sales and Inventory Before
Using Odoo
Before Odoo, BD Lighting Solutions experimented with multiple systems, including QuickBooks and an older software that was not a full ERP. These tools proved limited in handling complex sales orders and inventory management, leading to inefficiencies in project tracking and material delivery.
The initial software setups lacked seamless integration between sales and inventory, making project deliveries and tracking cumbersome for both the team and clients.
From Fragmented Software to a Unified Odoo Platform
BD Lighting Solutions discovered Odoo through its prior usage in the company, but only after taking ownership did Cesena and his team explore its full potential. By adapting existing apps and leveraging Odoo Studio, the company now tailors workflows to its unique requirements.
Sales Management with Odoo: The Sales app is BD Lighting Solutions’ central hub for creating and managing complex sales orders. Integrated with inventory, sales orders automatically trigger material allocation, streamlining delivery for both standard and custom projects. Cesena notes, “The tie between sales and inventory is seamless. It’s clean and intuitive.”
CRM and Project Tracking: While not fully utilized daily, the CRM module supports project-based client interactions. Odoo enables BD Lighting Solutions to track project requirements, communicate with clients, and maintain a record of specifications, enhancing transparency and reliability.
Dashboards and Executive Oversight: The dashboards introduced in Odoo 17 provide Cesena with a real-time overview of sales KPIs and inventory movements.
"It’s a quick check to see where the team is regarding sales and products. Everything is visible on one screen."
BD Lighting Solutions’ Next Steps and Growth Plans with Odoo
Cesena envisions an AI agent capable of querying the company database for project comparisons, product specifications, and documentation, reducing repetitive manual tasks.
"A lot of the time spent on submittals and spec sheets could be recovered using AI directly within Odoo."
Additionally, the company aims to expand sales beyond Reno. While construction-industry territories present challenges, BD Lighting Solutions plans to navigate them strategically by leveraging Odoo’s scalable platform to support broader market coverage.
BD Lighting Solutions’ experience shows how distributors in construction materials and lighting can leverage industrial project management, custom manufacturing workflows, integrated CRM with invoicing, and cost traceability, all within a single, unified ERP system.
Unlock the full potential of your business. Contact Odoo today to streamline operations, integrate sales and inventory, and implement a tailored ERP solution for your company.
