Location/Region: Indianapolis, IN
Industry: Environmental monitoring
Apps implemented: Accounting, Purchase, Inventory, Studio, Manufacturing, Subscriptions, Invoicing
Software
Replaced: QuickBooks and spreadsheets.
Number of users: 50
Hosting type: Odoo Online
Chris Smith's journey to founding Sonicu began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where his premature child was receiving care. Observing how even minor noises caused visible distress to the newborns, Smith realized the the need for an automated monitoring solution to help staff address undesirable noise
This led him to develop Sonicu’s first sound monitor, designed to create quieter, safer environments for fragile infants. What started as a single monitoring product soon evolved into a comprehensive suite of environmental monitoring solutions, now widely used in healthcare, life sciences, food safety, and manufacturing.
Sonicu’s cloud-based sensors track temperature, humidity, pressure, and other critical environmental factors, allowing staff to be notified ensuring regulatory compliance and increasing operational efficiency across industries. Precision is non-negotiable in these fields, and Sonicu’s technology provides real-time intelligence and insights that help businesses maintain safety and quality standards.
As the company grew, it faced significant operational challenges. Managing inventory, tracking thousands of subscriptions, and coordinating manufacturing workflows became increasingly complex. By implementing Odoo, Sonicu transformed its operations, optimizing efficiency and setting the stage for scalability.
"Sonicu has evolved by listening to our customer’s needs and concerns. That’s exactly why we started."
The challenges before Odoo
Before adopting Odoo, Sonicu relied on QuickBooks with an additional bolt-on tool for inventory management. However, as the company scaled, these solutions proved inadequate. Inventory tracking was highly inaccurate, and managing customer subscriptions required cumbersome spreadsheets.
In 2017, as Sonicu expanded its subscription-based revenue model, the need for a robust system became evident. The company sought a platform that could handle deferred revenue tracking, subscription management, and inventory control, all essential to its growth..
"We needed a system that could inherently track inventory and subscriptions, and do it well."
Odoo: The Catalist
Sonicu discovered Odoo while researching ERP solutions and quickly realized its potential. After comparing various options, including Oracle’s NetSuite, Odoo stood out for its flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
The platform's ability to handle deferred revenue, automate subscriptions, and manage inventory in a single system was a game-changer.
Subscription Management & Revenue Tracking: Before Odoo, Sonicu tracked deferred revenue manually through spreadsheets, an unsustainable process as subscriptions scaled beyond 1,000. Odoo automated revenue recognition, allowing seamless subscription tracking and reducing errors.
Inventory & Manufacturing Automation: Sonicu's previous inventory management system was unreliable, leading to costly discrepancies. With Odoo, the company gained real-time inventory visibility, automated manufacturing workflows, and facilitated accurate order fulfillment.
Purchasing process: Odoo’s purchasing module enabled Sonicu to issue and track POs effortlessly. Previously, the company lacked a clear process for purchase orders, leading to inefficiencies. Odoo now provides end-to-end traceability.
Customization with Odoo Studio: One of Odoo’s standout modules for Sonicu is Odoo Studio, which allows the company to customize workflows. Small adjustments can be implemented instantly, ensuring that the system evolves with business needs.
Integration across departments: HubSpot remains Sonicu’s CRM, but once a customer signs an order, everything moves into Odoo, which manages orders, inventory, production, and invoicing. This integration has created a single source of truth for the company.
"We've been on Odoo from our first million to today; From our first 100 customers to now over a thousand. Odoo has scaled with us every step of the way."
What’s next?
Sonicu continues to expand into new industries. Recent innovations include a CO2 sensor for incubators and heat index monitoring solutions to comply with evolving OSHA regulations. The company is also growing its footprint in K-12 schools, where demand for its monitoring solutions is rising.
Regarding Odoo, Sonicu is bringing in its first dedicated accounting hire. This will allow for deeper optimization of financial workflows, including automation of month-close entries and reconciliations. The goal is to further enhance efficiency and eliminate manual processes.
For companies seeking a scalable, all-in-one ERP solution, Sonicu’s journey with Odoo demonstrates the platform’s power. From small startups to scaling enterprises, Odoo provides the flexibility and automation necessary to streamline operations, drive efficiency, and support long-term growth. If your business faces challenges in inventory management, subscription tracking, or operational workflows, Odoo might be the perfect solution to help you scale, just as it did for Sonicu.
