In this case study, we explore how TBM (Tan Boong Ming), a 60-year veteran in Malaysia’s electrical appliance retail industry, turned a failed ERP upgrade into a successful digital transformation journey. After months of wasted effort with previous vendors, TBM partnered with Portcities Malaysia to implement Odoo 17, unifying operations across sales, procurement, inventory, and accounting.
- Company Name : TBM (Tan Boong Ming)
- Industry : Retail – Electrical Appliances
- Location : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Scale : >100 employees
- Background : Operating for more than 60 years, TBM is a trusted, one-stop electrical chain store offering audio-visual products, kitchen appliances, domestic and lifestyle appliances, office equipment, and personal gadgets.
The Challenge: A Costly ERP Setback
When TBM decided to modernize their retail operations, they aimed to upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics 365 to Odoo 17. Unfortunately, their chosen Odoo partners failed to deliver the project—resulting in months of delays, financial losses, and a growing frustration within the company.
“We had already committed to Odoo, but after our first partners failed to implement it, we were forced to start over,” explains the TBM management team.
Their challenges included:
- Failed Implementation: Initial Odoo partners could not deploy a functional system.
- Lost Time & Money: Months of progress and investment were wasted.
- Fragmented Processes: Sales, inventory, procurement, and accounting were running in silos.
Objectives
TBM’s goals were clear:
- Successfully implement Odoo 17 after previous failures
- Centralize business operations under one integrated ERP
- Support long-term digitalization across multiple retail outlets
The Solution: Odoo 17 with Core Retail Modules
TBM partnered with Portcities Malaysia to turn challenges into success.
Implemented Modules:
- Sales
- Inventory
- Purchase
- Accounting
Departments Involved:
- Sales
- Merchandising
- Warehouse
- Operations
- Accounting
Hosting: On-premise, managed by TBM’s internal IT team.
Processes Supported by Odoo
- Sales: Order management, POS operations, and customer transactions
- Inventory: Stock control, movement tracking, and warehouse operations
- Purchase: Supplier management and procurement workflows
- Accounting: Invoicing, journal entries, and financial reporting
Key Improvements
- Unified, real-time inventory visibility across retail outlets and warehouses
- Streamlined procurement and sales workflows with reduced manual steps
- Faster and more accurate financial reporting through integrated accounting
Implementation Journey
Timeline: November 2023 – December 2024
Go-Live Date: January 1, 2025
Challenges during the implementation included:
- Understanding TBM’s complex business workflows
- Overcoming communication gaps between teams
Resolutions:
- Multiple intensive discovery sessions
- Project Manager acting as a middle-man and interpreter for both sides
Results & Current Status
While TBM is still in the early post-Go-Live phase, the foundation for long-term operational improvements is now in place.
Immediate outcomes:
- Successful deployment after previous failed attempts
- Centralized operations in one ERP
- Functional alignment across departments
Expected results (in coming months):
- Reduced operational inefficiencies
- Improved decision-making from real-time data
Ongoing Partnership & Future Outlook
Following the successful go-live on January 1, 2025, TBM signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) package with Portcities Malaysia to ensure continued system optimization and dedicated support.
While the initial phase faced teething issues that affected early feedback, TBM remained committed to the project, participating in an Odoo APAC video testimonial and benefiting from license fee incentives.
With Odoo 17 now fully deployed, TBM is well-positioned to further refine workflows, optimize operations, and continue its digital transformation journey, turning a once-challenged ERP project into a long-term growth enabler.
“After the challenges we faced, going live on January 1, 2025, was a huge milestone. Odoo has given us the unified system we needed to modernize our operations.”
TBM Management Team
Is your ERP project stuck or underperforming? Contact Portcities today to learn how our proven Odoo rescue implementations can turn setbacks into success stories.