Kenda sells vehicles, services them and buys spare parts. These three activities move at different speeds, but they depend on each other every day. Al Jawad Software House shaped Odoo around how an automotive business really works, so the parts team, the sales team and the workshop follow clear processes in one system.
The business
An automotive business lives on detail. A part number can change. A specific vehicle matters to a specific customer. A car in the workshop may be waiting rather than being worked on. When those details sit in files and conversations, simple questions take too long to answer.
Where the work gets hard
Parts keep changing. Manufacturers regularly replace one part with a newer one. This is called supersession. The supplier may invoice the new part number when the order was placed for the old one, so the invoice no longer matches the order.
The right car for the right customer. Salespeople need to hold a particular vehicle for a customer. Without a clear hold, two people can promise the same car, or a car can stay reserved for someone who never returns.
Workshop time is hard to see. Knowing a car took a long time is not enough. The useful question is why: was the team working on it, or waiting for an approval or a part?
What we implemented
Parts purchasing that understands supersession
Supplier invoices are uploaded and checked against open purchase orders. Odoo knows which parts have replaced which, so a new part number is recognised against the original order rather than treated as a mistake. Lines that do not match are sent back for correction. The invoice then passes through supply chain, parts management and finance before it becomes a bill.
Vehicle reservations
A salesperson can reserve a specific vehicle for a customer. Each vehicle can have only one active reservation, and a reservation that is not taken up expires by itself. When the customer is ready, the reservation becomes a quotation.
A workshop that shows where time goes
Each job moves through clear stages, from reception and diagnosis through repair, quality check and handover. Odoo separates working time from waiting time, department by department. Labour quotes use the manufacturer's standard times.
Inspection and customer feedback
New vehicles go through a recorded pre-delivery inspection before handover. When a job is closed, the customer automatically receives a satisfaction survey.
How the work gets easier
| The usual way | With the new process |
|---|---|
| Someone compares supplier invoices with orders line by line | Odoo checks the invoice and shows only the lines that need attention |
| A replaced part looks like an error and has to be investigated | The replacement is recognised and linked to the original order |
| Finance chases people to confirm a parts bill | The invoice reaches finance after the parts teams have reviewed it |
| Vehicle holds are agreed in conversation | Every hold is visible, tied to one vehicle, and releases itself |
| Workshop delays are explained after the fact | Managers can see which stage a job is waiting in |
| Feedback depends on someone remembering to ask | The survey goes out when the job closes |
The result is less checking by hand, fewer surprises between departments, and a clearer picture of the business. People spend their time on exceptions and customers rather than on chasing information.
