Location/Region: Pasadena, CA
Industry: Space-based robotic systems
Apps implemented: Studio, Quality, Project, Inventory, Purchase, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Employee, Timesheets, Documents
Software
Replaced: QuickBooks and a quality management system
Size of the company: >45
Hosting type: On-premise
Reaching Mars requires more than rocket fuel: it demands precision, traceability, and flawless execution. For Motiv Space Systems, the Pasadena-based pioneers behind robotic arms for NASA missions, Odoo became the mission-control system that unifies operations, streamlines manufacturing, and powers innovation beyond Earth.
Founded in 2014 by robotics engineers Chris Thayer, Brett Lindenfeld, and Tom McCarthy, Motiv Space Systems was created to design and deliver space-based robotic systems with greater quality, efficiency, and capability than their competitors. That vision quickly became reality.
Motiv has delivered on multiple high-profile NASA contracts, from building the robotic arm for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover to advancing the Fly Foundational Robots initiative under a NASA SBIR Phase III contract. The project aims to showcase dexterous manipulation and autonomous tool use in space, paving the way for robotic servicing, inspection, and assembly in orbit.
"A number of our team members came from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the group behind many of the agency’s Mars missions. That experience helps us design with the precision required for space exploration."
The Challenge: Making Do with Workarounds
Like many startups turned scale-ups, Motiv initially relied on a mix of tools to manage its growing operations. The team used a quality management system as the central platform, gradually expanding its role to cover broader business needs.
“We had been using our quality software to sort of perform a dual function of being a quality system and kind of a quasi-ERP system,” Vikram explained. “It really wasn’t designed for that.” QuickBooks was also in place for accounting, but the rest of the company’s operations, from manufacturing traceability to traveler tracking, were handled through the same quality platform.
The limitations quickly became apparent. Without a proper ERP, traceability was difficult, project managers lacked real-time visibility into parts and assemblies, and processes often depended on manual updates.
"When I joined, I was surprised that’s how they were doing it. There was a lot of room for improvement in tracking hardware, improving the quality system, and setting up a whole ERP that was tailored to our needs."
Turning the Page: A New Era with Odoo
Motiv first introduced Odoo a few years ago in a limited way, but according to Vikram, the real transformation began about three years ago:
"When I was hired, my first big project was to get the Traveler system online. Since then, we’ve probably doubled or tripled our Odoo usage, added several modules, and done a ton of customization."
Today, Odoo is the company’s operational backbone and runs the business through a suite of customized Odoo modules, including:
Traveler module (custom-built): Tracks parts through every stage of manufacturing, from procurement to machining to quality inspection, until final inventory release.
Purchase & Inventory: Integrates costs and labor directly into traveler workflows for full cost visibility.
Project & Task Management: Enables employees to charge time and project managers to track status in real time.
Quality module: Designed in-house, integrating lessons from Vikram’s prior experience at other companies.
Employee Training & Timesheets: Centralizes workforce data.
BOM for Electronic Components: Fully customized for Motiv’s needs.
Document Management: Simplified to make updates, releases, and historical tracking easier.
Calibration & Maintenance: Migrated into Odoo for unified equipment oversight.
Odoo in Action: Efficiency Gains Across the Board
Traveler Module Transformation
"Prior to Odoo, manufacturing was tracked through our quality system, which was not designed for it. The traveler module was a huge game-changer. It allowed management and manufacturing to see exactly where parts and assemblies were in the process, in real time, and to integrate costs like labor and purchases directly into the traveler.”
A Quality System Built for Motiv:
“The quality module is my baby,” Vikram shared. “I took what I liked from several systems I’d used before and built it into a single module. It ties directly into travelers and everything else, so if something happens in quality, it automatically affects production.”
Simplified Document Management:
By moving away from a bloated standalone tool, Motiv simplified processes for releasing and updating documents. “A lot of off-the-shelf software is too complex for us. Odoo lets us strip it down to just what we need, which makes it easier for our team.”
Integration That Stops Errors Before They Spread
In the past, non-conformances had to be logged in a different software, separately from production. “Now, if you open a non-conformance in Odoo, it stops the traveler. You can’t move forward until it’s resolved. That integration is a huge benefit for efficiency and quality.”
20–30% Efficiency Gains
Vikram estimates operations are 20–30% more efficient thanks to Odoo. “Project managers no longer rely on weekly updates or Excel spreadsheets. They can see statuses in real time, problems included.”
Other favorite features include log notes and tagging, which reduce the need for lengthy email chains, and built-in visualizations that give teams an instant overview of progress.
"For us, Odoo is basically our lifeblood at this point. Everything ties together in one place, and that has significant benefits for how efficiently we run."
Looking Ahead: Next Missions in Space and Odoo
Motiv continues to advance its robotics portfolio, driven by new NASA contracts and the race to make autonomous in-space servicing a reality. The company is refining its product line, from motion control electronics to next-generation robotic arms, to stay at the forefront of space innovation.
On the Odoo side, the next step is completing the migration of Corrective Actions, Preventive Actions, and Auditing into Odoo’s quality system. Motiv’s ERP journey is a constant evolution of bug fixes, improvements, and enhancements to meet new challenges.
"From when we first implemented the traveler system to where it is now, it’s vastly different. And that’s just from us realizing what we need to improve, add, or incorporate. The fact that we can do that ourselves is fantastic."
Motiv Space Systems shows how even in one of the most complex industries in the world, the right tools can streamline operations and unlock innovation. Whether your company builds spacecraft hardware or manages everyday manufacturing, Odoo can help you gain visibility, cut inefficiencies, and accelerate growth.
