How to Choose an Odoo Partner in Egypt and Saudi Arabia: 10 Questions Before You Sign
Short answer: Choose an Odoo partner on evidence, not on the size of the offer. Ask who exactly will work on your project, ask to speak with a client in your industry, ask how they handle data migration, training and support after go-live, and make sure the contract gives you your source code and database. The ten questions below will separate a capable partner from a risky one in a single meeting.
Your Odoo partner matters more than the software. The same Odoo can produce a reliable system or a failed project depending on who sets it up. I chair an Odoo implementation company, so read this with that in mind, but these are the same questions I would ask if I were the buyer.
The 10 questions
1. Who exactly will work on my project?
Ask for the names and roles of the project manager, functional consultant and developer. Ask how many other projects they are running at the same time. A strong sales team followed by a junior who changes every month is a common pattern.
2. Can I speak with a client in my industry?
A reference in your industry and country tells you more than any presentation. Ask what went wrong in their project and how the partner handled it.
3. What will you change in standard Odoo, and why?
A good partner can explain which of your requirements are covered by standard Odoo, which need configuration, and which need custom development. If everything is "custom", upgrades will be expensive. If nothing is, they may not have understood your business.
4. How do you handle data migration?
Who cleans the data, who imports it, and how are opening balances and stock reconciled? Migration is often excluded from cheaper offers and then charged later.
5. How will my team be trained?
Look for training per department, on your own data and scenarios, plus written guides. One generic demo is not training.
6. What happens after go-live?
Ask about the hyper-care period, response times, and the cost and scope of ongoing support. The first month-end close on a new system always raises questions.
7. Will I own the source code and database?
For Odoo Community, the custom modules built for you should be delivered to you, with access to the code repository and server. This protects you if you ever change partner.
8. How do you handle changes during the project?
New requests always come up. A professional partner has a clear process: each change is described, estimated and approved before it is built. Without one, scope and cost grow without control.
9. Community or Enterprise, and why for us?
A good partner explains the trade-offs for your case instead of pushing one edition. The answer depends on the features you need, your budget and how much customisation you expect.
10. How will you handle tax and e-invoicing in my country?
In Egypt, ETA e-invoice and e-receipt. In Saudi Arabia, ZATCA Phase 2. In the UAE, the e-invoicing mandate from 2027. Ask exactly how the partner will deliver the integration and who maintains it when rules change.
| Question | A good answer includes |
|---|---|
| 1. Who exactly will work on my project? | Names and roles of the project manager, consultant and developer, and their other workload |
| 2. Can I speak with a client in my industry? | A reference in your industry and country, including what went wrong |
| 3. What will you change in standard Odoo, and why? | Which requirements are standard, configuration or custom development |
| 4. How do you handle data migration? | Who cleans and imports the data, and how opening balances and stock are reconciled |
| 5. How will my team be trained? | Training per department on your own data, plus written guides |
| 6. What happens after go-live? | The hyper-care period, response times, and the cost and scope of support |
| 7. Will I own the source code and database? | Custom modules delivered to you, with access to the repository and server |
| 8. How do you handle changes during the project? | Each change described, estimated and approved before it is built |
| 9. Community or Enterprise, and why for us? | The trade-offs for your features, budget and expected customisation |
| 10. How will you handle tax and e-invoicing in my country? | How the ETA, ZATCA Phase 2 or UAE integration is delivered and maintained |
Warning signs
- A price given before anyone has understood your processes.
- No written scope, only a list of Odoo app names.
- Reluctance to give references.
- No mention of data migration or training in the offer.
- Vague answers about who owns the code.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose an official Odoo partner?
Official partnership shows a relationship with Odoo S.A. and is relevant for Enterprise licences. For Community projects, experience in your industry and references matter more. Ask about both.
Is a local partner better than an international one?
A local partner understands local tax, e-invoicing, Arabic documents and business practice, and can be on site. That usually matters more than size.
How long should the selection take?
Two to four weeks is reasonable: one discovery meeting, a demo using your scenarios, reference calls and a written proposal.
Put us to the test
Ask ExtraMile these ten questions. We have delivered more than 50 Odoo projects in Egypt and the Gulf, and we will introduce you to the people who would work on your project.
Book a discovery meeting or message us on WhatsApp: Egypt · Gulf
This article was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed and edited by Mohamed El-Baddaly, Chairman of ExtraMile Business Solutions.
