Location/Region: San Diego, CA.
Industry: Emergency lighting
Apps implemented: Accounting, Sales, Website, Purchase, Manufacturing and Inventory
Number of users: 18
Hosting type: Odoo.sh
The Exit Light Company, a leader in exit and emergency lighting solutions, has found a powerful ally in Odoo’s cloud-based ERP system. With 25 years of experience in manufacturing and e-commerce, The Exit Light was facing the challenge of scaling operations efficiently as their business grew. Odoo provided the perfect solution, offering a robust and integrated platform that could handle their expanding needs while enhancing productivity.
Founded in 2000 by Paul I. Carrico and his wife Jeannette, The Exit Light Company has been at the forefront of e-commerce for life safety products. What started as a niche business has grown into an industry leader, ranking in the top three positions for over 700 keywords on Google, an achievement few of their competitors can boast. The company's unique advantage lies in its close collaboration with manufacturers in Asia, allowing them to offer a diversified and high-quality product line at competitive prices.
“There are so many factors that have contributed to our success, but one clearly stands out for me. It takes a great team of coworkers to make something successful.”
Unlike many in their industry, The Exit Light Company’s deep product knowledge and e-commerce experience set them apart in an increasingly competitive market. Paul’s passion for innovation and business growth is complemented by Jeannette’s proficiency in HR, legal, and insurance. Together, they’ve built a company grounded in strong teamwork and mutual problem-solving, which they believe has been a key factor in their continued success.
The struggles before Odoo
Before transitioning to Odoo, The Exit Light Company struggled with outdated software systems that were ill-equipped to handle their growing customer base and increasing order volume. The need for a more robust, cloud-based solution became urgent, as their previous systems began to break down under the strain.
Their previous systems lacked integration, which meant that much of the work was done manually, an inefficient and error-prone process. Additionally, the company considered other ERP options, but their experiences left them searching for a more reliable and scalable solution.
Paul recalls that they had a bad experience a few years earlier, where he pulled the plug on a large contract with a different ERP system about two months before going live. The promises upfront could not be delivered, and the problems kept them up at night. After researching Odoo and learning more about its flexibility and cost-effectiveness, Paul decided to give it a try.
"I did my research on the CEO Fabien Pinckaers and I liked what I heard and saw from YouTube about the company and product. The next hurdle was the integration with multiple sales channels, sales tax integration and multiple warehouses. These requirements were discussed and understood. We knew that Odoo would require customization for us, but felt reassured after meeting our sales technical support, Kevin Zaki, who was extremely valuable."
Odoo powered the transformation
The decision to implement Odoo proved to be a game changer for The Exit Light Company’s operations. After integrating Odoo, The Exit Light Company found their operations running more smoothly across multiple warehouses and sales channels.
Odoo's impact was immediate and measurable. The integration of sales orders with Amazon and the company’s website streamlined the order fulfillment process. Additionally, Odoo’s accounting module, connected to TaxJar, ensured that sales tax management was more accurate and less time-consuming.
One of the standout features has been the inventory management app, which has simplified stock management across three warehouses in the U.S., along with international operations in China and Vietnam. With Odoo, The Exit Light Company has gained better control over their operations, enabling them to keep up with the rapid growth in orders while reducing manual data entry.
"In the sales app, we find extremely useful the log notes. Customer service is very important to us, and so the tags feature is also a valuable way to track specific orders."
Looking ahead
The Exit Light Company is positioned for continued growth, and with Odoo, they’re equipped to handle the complexities of a scaling business.
Looking ahead, The Exit Light Company plans to further optimize their use of Odoo by tapping into the platform's CRM, and Documents management apps. With Odoo's scalability and versatility, the company feels confident that they can continue to enhance operational efficiencies as their business expands.
We have a list of to-dos, and we now feel that it’s the right time to take full advantage of Odoo's features. We are extremely pleased with the cloud-based performance of the tool.”
For businesses looking to improve their operational efficiency, The Exit Light Company’s story proves that Odoo’s powerful ERP system is the key to growth. Whether you're in e-commerce, manufacturing, or any other industry, Odoo can help streamline your operations and take your business to the next level.
