Location/Region: Georgetown, CAN
Industry: Chemicals supply
Apps implemented: Sales, Inventory, Accounting, Invoicing, Manufacturing
Company size: 25
Hosting type: Odoo.sh
How do you maintain precision in chemistry when your systems can't keep pace with the company’s evolving needs? For over half a century, Caledon Labs has supplied high-purity chemicals that power laboratory reliability across Canada and the U.S. But behind their meticulously crafted materials was an outdated ERP system struggling to keep up with the company’s growing complexity. That changed when they turned to Odoo.
Located in Georgetown, Ontario, Caledon Labs serves clients across scientific, pharmaceutical, food, and environmental industries. Their reagents are used to detect contaminants, conduct drug quality testing, and ensure food safety, products that demand the highest level of purity and traceability.
Founded in 1970 by chemist Douglas Brock and still proudly family-owned, the company is now run by his son, David Brock, who also holds a background in computer science. Under David’s leadership, Caledon Labs is evolving with modern tools that match the reliability of their products, starting with Odoo.
"Our clients use our chemicals to measure and trust the results of their tests. That precision has to be matched on our side too, not just in production, but in how we run the business."
Before Odoo: Visibility Gaps and Outdated Tools
For years, Caledon Labs operated with a locally built ERP that had grown obsolete. “It felt like a DOS-style system,” David recalls. “We were using computers to do manual work.”
Sales teams couldn’t view their own performance in real-time, relying on printed reports and spreadsheets delivered once a week, if not later. Field representatives lacked mobile access, and accounting processes were slow and repetitive, often involving paper documents and long approval chains.
Additionally, inventory management across their warehouse and production lines was manually tracked, leaving room for inefficiencies and delayed replenishment.
"We didn’t know how sales were going until we got a printed sheet on Friday. For a team that’s on the road, that’s too late to make a difference."
The Search for a Smarter Solution
"It wasn’t just about replacing our system: it was about improving how we work. Odoo gave us a platform we could actually build around."
Since implementing Odoo, Caledon Labs has seen transformative improvements across several departments. Key benefits include:
Real-Time Sales Visibility: With the Sales app, reps and managers now have up-to-the-minute dashboards accessible from anywhere. This has completely replaced the weekly spreadsheet model, empowering faster decision-making and performance tracking. “Now, at the end of every day, sales can check where they stand. It changes how they operate,” David shares.
Faster, Integrated Accounting: Using Accounting, tasks like invoice creation, vendor billing, and accounts reconciliation now take under 2 minutes, versus 10–15 minutes, or more, before. The team can send invoices directly from Odoo and even generate draft vendor bills automatically from PDF attachments in emails.
Smarter Inventory Control: Odoo’s Inventory module helps manage warehouse movement, replenishment, and fulfillment. Deliveries, receipts, and stock levels are updated automatically, and Caledon Labs is now exploring automation of inter-warehouse transfers and purchase orders.
Document Digitization & Collaboration: The built-in Chatter and Log Notes allow cross-functional teams to comment, track, and review any document, from invoices to sales orders. This has significantly reduced reliance on email and paper notes. “All the information we need is inside the transaction. No more wondering, ‘Who did this? When? What changed?’ It’s all there,” David Brock adds.
Better Task Management: Through Activities, team members can assign follow-ups, schedule tasks, and collaborate directly within each app, eliminating disjointed calendars or sticky notes.
While efficiency was the primary driver, the shift to Odoo wasn’t about reducing staff.
"We didn’t downsize; we elevated what our team can do with their time. Now they’re doing more valuable work, not just pushing paper."
What’s Next for Caledon Labs
Caledon Labs is setting its sights on continued growth and innovation with Odoo. The team plans to further automate inventory flows to enhance efficiency across the supply chain. They're also exploring new modules to strengthen customer service and maintain strict compliance standards, key in a highly regulated industry. In the next two years, a facility modernization project is on the horizon, designed to expand production capacity and support increasing demand.
As David Brock, President of Caledon Labs, explains, "We have a plan to modernize our operations, and that's got nothing to do with computers or an ERP. That's the way we make our products and the way we store our products. It's a long-awaited and much-anticipated change, and it will position us for growth and success for the next ten years."
Caledon Labs’ transformation with Odoo proves that even the most specialized manufacturers can modernize without compromising their core values. By choosing a flexible, user-friendly platform, they’ve evolved from a legacy operation into a future-ready business, while staying grounded in their mission of precision and trust.
"We’re not just in the business of chemistry: we’re in the business of accuracy. Odoo gives us the clarity we need to deliver that, every day.”
