Let's explore how AEON Orange Co., Ltd., a joint venture between AEON Co., Ltd. (Japan) and Creation Myanmar Group of Companies, transitioned from fragmented legacy systems to a fully integrated Odoo ERP platform. By unifying retail, HR, finance, and procurement operations, the company achieved real-time visibility, reduced manual workload, and built a scalable foundation for future growth.
- Company Name: AEON Orange Co., Ltd.
- Industry: Retail / Supermarket Chain
- Location: Yangon, Myanmar
- Company Size: 1,000+ employees
- Current Scale: Operates over 20 supermarket outlets across Myanmar
- Time of Implementation: 2019 – Present (phased go-lives)
- Systems Implemented: Sales (with ramp-up feature), CRM, Inventory, Purchase Request & Purchase Order, Point-of-Sale (POS), Accounting & Invoicing, Human Resources (Leaves, Payroll, Recruitment, Expenses), Website & eCommerce, Project, Sign, Subscriptions.
From Paperwork to a Centralised Digital Core
AEON Orange is one of Myanmar’s largest modern supermarket chains, employing over 1,000 staff and operating more than 20 outlets nationwide. Offering groceries, fresh produce, household goods, and daily essentials, the company serves thousands of customers every day.
However, behind the scenes, operations were being held back by disconnected legacy systems and heavy reliance on manual paperwork.
- Inventory tracking was inconsistent and lacked real-time visibility across stores.
- HR, payroll, and recruitment processes were spreadsheet-driven, prone to delays and errors.
- Accounting and procurement were fragmented, making financial reporting slow and labor-intensive.
- Scaling operations were difficult due to the lack of cross-department integration.
- POS resupply time consumed 4-5 hours per store, making the manual approach unsustainable for the planned expansion to 15+ locations.
As AEON Orange grew, the need for a centralized, integrated solution became critical. Management set clear goals: standardize business functions across all stores, replace manual workflows with automated processes, provide real-time operational insights, and create a system capable of supporting long-term expansion.
Why Odoo Was the Right Choice?
AEON Orange partnered with Portcities to implement Odoo ERP due to its modular flexibility, scalability, and proven success in retail environments. The project aimed to integrate every core function—from store sales to HR and finance—into one centralised platform.
Modules Implemented:
Retail Operations:
- Sales (with ramp-up feature),
- CRM,
- Inventory,
- Purchase Request & Purchase Order,
- Point-of-Sale (POS),
Back Office:
- Invoicing
- Accounting
- Human Resources
- Leaves,
- Payroll
- Recruitment
- Expenses
Digital & Support
- Commerce
- Website
- Project
- Sign
- Subscription
The implementation covered every department, from store cashiers and warehouse teams to HQ finance, HR, procurement, and operations. To ensure smooth adoption, Odoo was localized for Myanmar’s accounting, taxation, and HR compliance, allowing payroll and financial reporting to meet government requirements without manual adjustments.
Implementation Journey
The project began around 2019 and followed a phased rollout:
- Phase 1: Sales and CRM went live in early 2020.
- Phase 2: Remaining modules deployed over the following months.
- Hypercare: Completed by July–August 2020.
- Continuous Support: Ongoing enhancements, change requests, and user support from 2020 to present.
Implementation Highlights
1. Custom Workflows for Retail Efficiency
To address complex operational requirements across 20+ locations, Portcities developed custom features aligned with AEON Orange's specific workflows:
- Purchasing & Inventory: Multi-level purchase request approvals based on department, location, and amount; automatic linkage of PRs to merchandising and promotional campaigns; customized stock visibility across branches and warehouses.
- Sales & Merchandising: Ramp-up stocking for new products and campaigns, integrating merchandising plans with sales and purchasing.
- POS: Custom interface for multi-counter, multi-store environments; real-time stock sync between POS and central warehouse; promotion engine supporting discounts and loyalty schemes.
- Reporting & Dashboards: Real-time finance dashboards showing receivables, payables, and daily sales; HR reports for leave balances, overtime, and payroll trends.
- HR & Payroll: Localized payroll compliant with Myanmar labor and tax laws; automated onboarding workflows generating tasks and required documents.
- Finance: Localized tax configurations and withholding support; multi-step invoice validation linked to procurement.
Overcoming Retail-Specific Challenges
Implementing ERP across a 1,000+ employee operation with 20+ locations presented several key operational challenges:
- Non-standard Retail Flows: Merchandising, promotions, and stock transfers didn’t fit Odoo’s default structure.
- Complex Cross-Department Workflows: Tight integration between merchandising, purchasing, finance, and store operations.
- Data Migration: Large volumes of inventory, HR, and finance data from multiple legacy systems needed cleaning and mapping.
- Local Compliance: Payroll rules, tax structures, and government reporting not available out-of-the-box.
- Change Management: Staff across 20+ stores had varying levels of digital experience.
Solutions:
Portcities developed tailored workflows, ran collaborative workshops with each department, executed phased data migration, and localized HR and finance modules. Pilot testing at select stores allowed for parallel runs before full rollout. Training, SOP documentation, and an intensive hypercare phase ensured high adoption rates and minimal disruption.
Results: A Unified and Scalable Retail Platform
Within 6–9 months of the first go-live, AEON Orange saw measurable improvements:
- Centralized Data: All core functions now operate in one system, eliminating silos.
- Operational Efficiency: Process improvements reduced POS resupply time from 4-5 hours to 2.5 hours per store.
- Real-Time Visibility: Live sales and stock data accessible to HQ and store managers.
- Regulatory Compliance: Payroll and accounting processes fully aligned with Myanmar laws.
- Faster Decision-Making: Real-time dashboards enabled quicker, data-driven decisions.
The full operational impact was realised within one year, once all modules were deployed and stabilised.
A Long-Term Partnership for Growth
AEON Orange continues to work closely with Portcities under an ongoing support arrangement, which includes:
- Weekly operational review calls with stakeholders
- Continuous process optimization and system enhancements
- Structured training program for new hires and existing staff
- Proactive system monitoring and performance maintenance
- Ongoing workflow optimization based on operational needs
With Odoo ERP as its backbone, AEON Orange is ready to scale operations, enhance customer experience, and lead the modern retail sector in Myanmar.
Are you ready to transform your retail operations?
AEON Orange’s journey shows how integrated ERP can revolutionize retail operations. Whether you’re managing a single store or a nationwide chain, Portcities has the expertise to tailor Odoo to your needs — from compliance localization to multi-store inventory management.
Contact us today to learn how we can help your business achieve the same transformation.