Cutting the Clutter
How Roncut Replaced $15k in Disconnected Software with Odoo
After almost three decades in business, Ben Adams knew his biggest challenge wasn't selling more supplies: it was managing the disconnected software powering Roncut Builders Supplies growing wet trades supply business.
Roncut had grown into one of New South Wales' leading suppliers of bricklaying, concreting and rendering equipment, serving tradespeople and other construction professionals with everything from tile saws and cement mixers to trusted brands like Marshalltown, Stabila and Spear & Jackson. But back then, the business was relying on a collection of disconnected systems that cost over $15,000 annually and had gradually become more of a burden than a benefit.
Website updates took weeks. Inventory wasn't always reliable. Point of Sale transactions could take minutes to load. And after more than 20 years of paper-based accounting, Ben knew the business had reached a turning point.
What started as a search for accounting software soon became something much bigger: a complete rethink of how Roncut’s business software could connect operations, support growth and prepare the company for the future.
How Roncut Scaled Smarter in the Wet Trades Industry
Built on Experience, Ready for Change
Established in 1997, Roncut has built a strong reputation supplying professional tools and machinery to Australia's wet trades industry and wider construction industry. Like many long-established businesses, its systems had evolved over time rather than being designed as one connected ecosystem.
The business was running its website, ecommerce, inventory, marketing and operations across multiple platforms that simply didn't communicate with each other. Every new integration added another layer of complexity, more subscriptions and more opportunities for things to go wrong.
For Ben, the real tipping point came when the business needed proper accounting software.
"We got to a point where we expanded, and I had no accountability as to where things went because I had no accounting software."
His first thought was to add another platform.
Then he stopped.
Adding accounting software would mean yet another disconnected system that needed to communicate with everything else.
"If I'm gonna have multiple different systems that I'm using and try to get them all to speak together, it was completely stupid in my mind."
That simple realisation was a pivotal moment in changing the direction of the business.
Rather than continuing to build around separate applications, Ben started looking for an ERP platform that could bring everything together.
One Database Instead of Five Different Programs
When Ben discovered Odoo, it wasn't one particular application that stood out.
It was the idea that every part of the business could operate from the same database.
Sales, inventory, purchasing, accounting, ecommerce and customer information could all work together without relying on third-party connectors or duplicate data entry.
After years of juggling disconnected software, the concept immediately made sense.
"It should all be in one, otherwise it just makes it more difficult. Multiple subscriptions... and then you're relying on third-party software to communicate with each other."
For Roncut, this wasn't simply about replacing software.
It was about removing the friction that had become part of everyday business.
Faster Website Updates, Better Customer Service
One of the biggest frustrations with Roncut's previous setup was its website.
Adding new products, creating promotions or making changes often depended on external developers. Even relatively small updates could take weeks, making it difficult to react quickly to new stock arrivals or seasonal promotions.
Now, Ben can manage the website himself.
New products can appear online within minutes, allowing the business to advertise almost immediately through social media and digital marketing.
"Having the ability to have a new product arrive and then have it on the website within a couple of minutes of getting it is massive."
The ability to create promotions on the fly has also transformed how Roncut markets its products.
Instead of planning weeks ahead and waiting on developers, the team can respond to customer demand in real time.
As Ben explains:
"It's sort of like ticking something off a checklist and going straight to the next thing without having to worry about going back to it, which used to happen all the time."
For a growing business, that flexibility has become a significant competitive advantage.
Better Purchasing and Inventory Visibility with Odoo
The improvements didn't stop with ecommerce.
Purchasing became faster and far more organised.
Instead of relying on phone calls and email chains, Roncut now uses Requests for Quotation (RFQs) to communicate with suppliers.
"The RFQ is incredibly good. I don't need to spend time making phone calls; I can just send a request for quote."
On the customer side, quoting has become equally seamless.
Previously, staff often remained on the phone while calculating freight, confirming pricing and manually processing payments.
Today, they simply prepare a quotation, send it electronically and allow customers to review, accept and pay when they're ready.
"It's been seamless for the customers."
Behind the scenes, Roncut’s inventory management has also improved dramatically through a more connected inventory management system.
The team can now monitor backorders, track incoming stock and provide customers with accurate delivery information.
"It's just made it a lot smoother and easier to deal with customers. It's so much easier to deal with them when you can give them proper, accurate information based on what you have right in front of you."
Saying Goodbye to
Paper Accounting
For many established Australian businesses, moving away from paper-based accounting can feel daunting.
Roncut was no exception.
After more than two decades of paper records and manual processes, implementing integrated accounting represented one of the biggest cultural shifts the business had experienced.
But once the system was established, the benefits became clear.
End of Financial Year processes that previously involved printing countless inventory pages, manually recording stock counts and entering data back into the system became significantly simpler.
"It's been a hell of a lot easier."
More importantly, Ben now has financial visibility he never had before.
"It's been a massive weight off my shoulders."
Instead of waiting months to understand whether business decisions were paying off, Roncut can now see the impact much sooner.
As Ben explains:
"Whereas with the decisions you were making previously, you didn't know if they were going to be the correct ones... But at least now, you know straight away that the decisions you are making are paying off pretty much instantly."
That confidence has changed far more than reporting.
It has changed how the business plans for growth.
Learning, Adapting & Self-Implementing
Introducing an all-in-one business platform was always going to be a big change for a business that had spent years working with paper accounting and disconnected systems. For Ben and the Roncut team, there was certainly a learning curve but it was never a barrier to success.
"It was a massive learning curve for us, but it was straightforward enough that we got there in the end. Ultimately, just the fact that the system is so much quicker than the previous one is a massive deal."
Throughout the implementation, Ben credits the Odoo team with helping Roncut build confidence in the platform. Whether it was on-site support, answering questions, or simply being available when needed, having people invested in the success of the business made all the difference.
"One good thing was that the team and Liam [Field] were great… Even now, he'll just ring up and say, 'How's everything going?' and I'm just like, 'Yeah, no. Good. Actually, good… No one else does that."
That support didn't just help Roncut implement Odoo, it gave Ben the confidence to keep improving the system himself.
Today, AI has become another tool in that ongoing process. Ben uses AI to explore new ways of working, whether that's configuring pricing strategies, experimenting with new processes, or understanding different ways Odoo can achieve the outcome he's looking for.
It was this approach that helped him transform the Field Service app into a workshop management solution tailored to Roncut's repair operations, complete with custom worksheets, safety checklists and photographic records for customers and their government job sites.
Rather than standing still after implementation, Roncut continues to refine and evolve its system — demonstrating that with the right support, the real value of an ERP isn't just implementing it, but having the confidence to keep making it your own.
Customising Odoo to Fit Roncut’s Workshop and Repair Operations
One of the unexpected benefits of moving to Odoo was discovering capabilities Ben hadn't originally planned to implement.
Manufacturing became one of those surprises.
Importing products from multiple countries while assembling finished products locally had always been difficult to manage.
Once Ben discovered Odoo's Manufacturing app, he realised Bills of Materials could simplify a process that previously required significant manual tracking.
Then came another breakthrough.
Rather than using the Field Service app for technicians working on customer sites, Roncut adapted it to manage workshop repairs inside the business.
The result was a completely customised repair workflow.
Jobs can now be timed, labour recorded, parts automatically deducted from inventory and government-required service reports generated directly from digital worksheets.
Ben even created photographic inspection records to document completed repairs.
If a customer questions the condition of an item weeks later, the team can simply retrieve the photos attached to the job.
It's a workflow that didn't exist before — and one Ben largely developed himself.
Real Growth Needs Real Visibility
Perhaps the strongest endorsement of Roncut's digital transformation came not from within the business but from outside it.
Recently, Roncut successfully secured financing to purchase two factory units as part of its expansion plans.
According to Ben, the business's new financial reporting played an important role.
It's a powerful reminder that good business systems aren't just about saving time.
They can create entirely new opportunities.
With plans to significantly increase importing, manufacturing and assembly over the next 12 months, Roncut now has a platform capable of supporting that growth without needing to rebuild its technology again.
As Ben puts it:
"You can literally go from where you are now to having a hundred employees, and you can still have the same setup."
Looking Ahead with
Today, every computer throughout Roncut has Odoo open and ready to use.
The business has moved from fragmented systems and paper processes to a single platform supporting everything from
purchasing and inventory to accounting, manufacturing, ecommerce and workshop repairs.
Looking back, Ben doesn't simply see new software.
He sees a stronger foundation for the future.
His advice for other business owners considering the move is refreshingly straightforward.
"You can make it as easy or as difficult as you want."
And perhaps more importantly:
"It can scale with you as well."
For Roncut, implementing Odoo wasn't about following technology trends.
It was about removing the operational bottlenecks that were limiting the business, giving the team better visibility, greater confidence and the freedom to keep growing.
As Ben reflects on the journey, one thought captures it perfectly:
"That's the way that I've seen it and gone about it. It's broadened our horizons, which helps. That's exactly what it's done."
For a business built on nearly three decades of serving Australia's construction and wet trades industries, those broader horizons represent far more than a technology upgrade: they represent the confidence to keep growing, adapting and laying the foundations for the next stage of the business.
Roncut’s Odoo Transformation at a Glance
Lower Overhead
Replaced $15,000+ per year in disconnected software subscriptions
Single Source of Truth
Unified ecommerce, inventory, purchasing, accounting and operations in one database
Greater Self-Reliance
Reduced reliance on external developers for website updates
Smarter Operations
Improved inventory visibility and customer communication
Tailored Workflows
Built customised workflows for repairs and workshop management
Bankable Growth
Gained clearer financial reporting to support business expansion
What Other Trade Businesses Can Learn from Roncut’s Odoo Journey
Many growing businesses find themselves adding more and more tools over time. Roncut’s experience shows how moving to one connected platform can help bring sales, inventory, purchasing, accounting and operations together — reducing duplicate data entry and improving visibility across the business.
Yes. Trade businesses often manage complex product ranges, purchasing requirements, inventory movements and customer relationships. By connecting these workflows in one system, Odoo can help businesses like Roncut operate more efficiently as they grow.
For Roncut, one of the biggest benefits was having a platform that could support future expansion. From increasing imports and manufacturing to adding new workflows, the business now has a system designed to grow alongside its operations.
