Crafting Success: Holzkern's Evolution with Odoo's Integrated Solutions

HOLZKERN’s journey began in 2016, emerging from a deep appreciation for nature and a commitment to mindful timekeeping. Founded by Elias Ferihumer in Austria, the company quickly gained traction, supported by Elias's siblings, and has since grown into a thriving team of over 150 employees. Initially focusing on wooden watches, HOLZKERN embarked on an exploratory path of design evolution. Through persistent experimentation, creative innovation and unique designs, the product line has expanded significantly.

Today, HOLZKERN proudly presents a diverse range of meticulously crafted items, including state-of-the-art watches, distinguished men's and women's jewelry, sunglasses embellished with natural wood elements, and handbags featuring unique wood and stone textures. Each product is a testament to HOLZKERN’s distinct ethos and brand promise: high quality products with history, innovation and unique designs.

HOLZKERN is known for its very special kind of jewelry, watches and accessories, in which natural materials such as wood and stone are processed into unique design products. The name "HOLZKERN" symbolizes the company's commitment to integrating wood and natural elements into their unique designs. With an unwavering dedication to quality and integrity, HOLZKERN  embraces a Direct-to-Consumer model and sells products to customers around the world (online and offline via 11 Stores in Austria and Germany), meticulously overseeing every aspect of their business, from design to distribution and customer service. This allows the company to offer high-quality products, unique designs and excellent customer service while maintaining transparency and efficiency throughout the supply chain.

The implementation of Odoo has played a pivotal role in HOLZKERN’s journey, enabling the streamlining of operations, optimization of inventory management, and enhancement of overall efficiency. This integration has facilitated sustainable growth and enriched the customer experience, further solidifying HOLZKERN’s leading position in the market. 

“In our quest for a robust ERP system, we found Odoo to be a game-changer. Its extensive functionality, user-friendly interface, and customizable workflows have significantly optimized our operations. With Odoo, we've streamlined our processes, gained real-time insights, and improved overall efficiency. It's been instrumental in driving our business forward.” Bogdan Muntean, Operations Manager at HOLZKERN​

Before implementing Odoo, HOLZKERN faced significant challenges with their warehousing processes. Managing inventory across multiple locations was difficult and prone to errors, leading to discrepancies and inefficiencies. Order management was fragmented, resulting in delays and errors in order processing and fulfillment. Additionally, manual data entry and reconciliation processes made it challenging to match inventory movements with financial records. They lacked real-time insights into warehouse operations, which hindered their ability to make informed decisions and effectively optimize processes.

As HOLZKERN expanded, the need for a robust ERP system became evident to manage operations more efficiently. The search for a comprehensive solution led them to Odoo, an integrated system that met their diverse needs. 

The primary goal of implementing Odoo was to streamline inventory and order management, enhance financial oversight, and provide real-time operational insights. Key reasons for choosing Odoo included its extensive functionality, affordability, and the ability to customize workflows. 

Implementing Odoo at HOLZKERN required significant effort and collaboration. They partnered with Datenpol, an Odoo partner, to guide the process. The implementation started with core modules and gradually expanded to include Inventory, Sales, Purchase, Accounting, Knowledge, Documents, Dashboard, and Quality. Training sessions were conducted to ensure employees were well-prepared for the transition. Despite challenges in aligning existing processes with Odoo’s framework and securing organizational buy-in, regular communication and feedback helped address issues promptly, leading to successful deployment.

Overall, Odoo has proven to be a valuable asset in our journey towards operational excellence. 

The Sales application in Odoo simplifies the entire sales process, from quotation to order fulfillment, while the Inventory module offers advanced features such as barcode scanning, automated replenishments, and route configurations like drop shipping and cross-docking. These functionalities have been instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency at HOLZKERN.

One year into their collaboration with Odoo, HOLZKERN expresses immense satisfaction with the transformative impact of the ERP system on their operations. 

Since implementing Odoo, HOLZKERN has observed significant improvements in the accuracy and scalability of their supply chain flow. There has been a noticeable increase in the precision and efficiency of their operations. This enhanced accuracy has enabled HOLZKERN to manage their supply chain more effectively, leading to smoother processes and better overall performance. While recognizing Odoo as a tool rather than a savior, HOLZKERN has leveraged its capabilities to streamline workflows and enhance operational efficiency. 

HOLZKERN states that Odoo has positively impacted areas and operations that were within their initial expectations and has proven to be a valuable asset in HOLZKERN journey towards success. 

The team eagerly anticipates the promising future prospects that Odoo brings. With streamlined processes such as inventory management and sales tracking, HOLZKERN can now dedicate more energy to their core mission – celebrating nature's beauty through meticulously crafted timepieces, jewelry, accessories, handbags and sunglasses. 

​​​​​“Odoo has empowered us to optimize our operations more effectively, driving efficiency and continuous improvement throughout our organization."

Georg Holzer • CEO at HOLZKERN

HOLZKERN values Odoo's versatility, customizable workflows and robust reporting capabilities. They consider these features instrumental in streamlining operations and driving efficiency within their business. 

Additionally, HOLZKERN appreciates Odoo's ability to provide insights that inform strategic decision-making, which they deem essential for achieving operational excellence. Overall, HOLZKERN views Odoo as an indispensable asset for optimizing their business management processes and achieving their goals. 

Lean more at: https://www.holzkern.com/de/ 

Implementation Partner: