Location/Region: Charleston, SC
Industry: Furniture manufacturing
Apps implemented: Website, CRM, Email Marketing, SMS Marketing, Social Marketing, Events, Inventory, Manufacturing, PLM, Purchase, Projects, Helpdesk, Employees, Time Off, Timesheets, Recruitment, Appraisals, Accounting, Expenses, Live Chat, Sign, Surveys, POS, Documents and E-learning.
Software
Replaced: Salesforce
Number of users: 40
Hosting type: Odoo Online
For Luonto Furniture, a leader in functional upholstered furniture, managing growing operational complexity under one system was crucial. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Luonto Furniture has grown its footprint across North America while maintaining its Finnish roots in quality and functionality.
Luonto Furniture, founded in Finland over 60 years ago, specializes in versatile upholstered furniture designed to maximize functionality in modern living spaces. As home sizes shrink by 150 to 200 square feet, Luonto responds with sofas that convert into beds, offer built-in storage, and adapt to modern lifestyles.
"We challenge our team to always ask: can this be automated? With Odoo, the answer is usually yes."
The Patchwork Problem:
Pre-Odoo Challenges
Before implementing Odoo, Luonto relied on multiple fragmented systems (Microsoft Navision for ERP, Mailchimp for marketing, and separate tools for CRM, sales, and inventory). This patchwork created inefficiencies, data silos, and limited visibility across departments.
"Our goal was to consolidate operations under one unified platform without losing the flexibility that our complex furniture business demands."
The team briefly tried Salesforce but found it lacked the customization needed for Luonto’s highly variable product lines. Odoo offered the adaptability they needed.
One Platform, Many Wins: Why Odoo Transformed the Business
Luonto first discovered Odoo through internal IT discussions in Europe. After researching open-source ERP solutions, the team identified Odoo as the best fit for their intricate operational requirements.
Luonto adopted Odoo in 2019 and now uses it across nearly every function. “Odoo is the backbone of our operations, seamlessly connecting sales, marketing, inventory, manufacturing, HR, and customer support,” says Karesto.
For Sales and Marketing, they rely on modules like: Website, CRM, Email Marketing, SMS Marketing, Social Marketing, and Events. Their Operations are supported by Inventory, Manufacturing, PLM, Purchase, Repairs, Projects, and Helpdesk. In HR and Administration, they use Employees, Time Off, Timesheets, Recruitment, Appraisals, Attendances, and Calendar. Finance and Management functions are handled through Accounting, Approvals, Expenses, and Dashboard, Karesto’s favorite app. For Customer Experience, they utilize Live Chat, Sign, Surveys, and POS, while Learning and Documentation are managed with Documents and E-learning.
At Luonto Furniture, the chat feature in Odoo is essential for internal communication. The team uses it constantly (hourly, even minute by minute) to coordinate tasks such as managing shipments from companies like DHL and FedEx or picking and processing orders. Additionally, log notes play a key role in keeping workflows organized and ensuring follow-ups with customers are never missed. Odoo automatically reminds employees of their commitments, so they don’t have to rely on memory, helping the team consistently deliver on their promises.
Odoo’s dashboards have also become an invaluable tool for Luonto Furniture, offering seamless access to real-time reporting and customizable insights tailored to the company’s specific needs. The team has created numerous custom dashboards that provide fact-based data to support smart business decisions, whether assessing current operations or planning future strategies.
"Our inventory management has also become exceptionally efficient, with real-time visibility and seamless coordination across departments."
Currently operating on Odoo 17, Luonto Furniture is preparing for the transition to Odoo 18, eager to leverage the latest features for even greater automation and insight. “I like how there's a yearly upgrade: it keeps the platform always up to date. I love Odoo personally. It’s a great program. We would need more staff without it,” says Ville.
"Odoo has boosted our efficiency by over 50%, streamlining tasks like bank reconciliation, which now takes just a few clicks."
What’s Next for Luonto Furniture?
As Luonto Furniture continues to expand in the North American market from its Charleston, South Carolina base, introducing new products and functions, the company is looking to further leverage Odoo's capabilities to enhance efficiency, optimizing operations through greater data visibility and automation across departments.
"At Luonto Furniture, we remain committed to combining innovative design, sustainable practices, and advanced technology to create furniture that enhances modern living."
Looking ahead, Luonto is excited about Odoo's upcoming AI features, which could provide even more valuable insights for their customers, ensuring operations stay efficient, and primed for growth.
For businesses in the furniture, manufacturing, or any industry dealing with complex product variants, Luonto’s experience with Odoo demonstrates how the right ERP system can transform operations. Discover how Odoo can unify your processes and unlock your growth potential today.
