Odoo is now one of the most popular ERP systems in the world. Originally launched as TinyERP and later known as OpenERP, the project has evolved significantly over the years—both technically and in terms of its business model.

 

Over the course of its various versions, Odoo SA has gradually structured its offering around two main pillars: a Community version accessible to all, and an Enterprise version available under a commercial license. This is a deliberate positioning that reflects the real challenges faced by any software publisher seeking to balance economic viability with open-source principles.

 

Nicolas Seinlet takes us through this evolution: the history of Odoo’s business model and the reasons behind the license change, what is truly open-source and what falls under the commercial offering in the current version, and how the Community version now integrates with the Odoo Enterprise ecosystem.

 

An ideal talk if you use Odoo, are considering adopting it, or are interested in hybrid models that seek to reconcile open source with sustainable commercial development.