Location/Region: San Andres de Giles, ARG
Industry: Energy distribution and solutions
Apps implemented: Sales, CRM, Inventory, Purchase, Accounting, Timesheet, Field Service.
Software
Replaced: Legacy software
Size of the company: 150
Hosting type: Odoo Online
Lider Energy, an Argentine company dedicated to the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas and renewable energy solutions, found in Odoo a key platform to structure and scale its operations. In a context of growth and diversification, driven by the incorporation of solar energy, the company needed to centralize its commercial, financial, and operational processes. This case shows how Odoo enabled the transition from fragmented management to a more organized, traceable operation ready for growth.
About the Company
Lider Energy is a company based in San Andrés de Giles, in the province of Buenos Aires, employing around 150 people. Its main activity has historically been the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas, both in bottled form for households and in bulk for industrial and commercial customers.
With more than 20 years of experience in the gas market, the company has evolved from a focus on residential gas cylinders to more complex solutions for industrial clients. In the past year, it took a strategic step by incorporating a new business unit focused on renewable energy, particularly solar generation solutions, battery storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
"We added the solar energy unit, through which we are being disruptive in the market, providing distributed generation and storage solutions at different scales."
This hybrid approach (traditional gas and renewable energy) positions Lider Energy as a transitioning player within Argentina’s energy sector.
Fragmented Operations before implementing Odoo
Before adopting Odoo, the company faced typical challenges of growing organizations transitioning from an entrepreneurial model to a more formal structure.
The main system in use was internally developed software designed specifically for the gas business. While it allowed the management of orders, dispatches, and certain accounting records, its capabilities were limited and did not cover the needs of a more complex operation or a new business unit.
Additionally, key processes (such as customer management, accounts payable, and sales tracking) lacked integration, making coordination and visibility difficult. This context highlighted the need for a more robust solution, one that could centralize information and support the company’s growth.
"These are common challenges for a fast-growing company: organizing accounting, customer management, accounts payable… it’s not easy."
From Isolated Tools to an Integrated Operation with Odoo
Contact with Odoo came directly with the hiring of Oscar Odón in March of last year, initially with the goal of implementing a CRM for the new solar unit. However, the vision quickly expanded.
Instead of adopting a single tool, Lider Energy chose an integrated platform that covers multiple areas of the business.
"Odoo has the advantage of offering many integrated applications: sales, purchase, accounting, inventory… everything we needed for this new stage."
Implementation began between May and June, with the Go Live completed at the end of June, starting with CRM and progressively expanding to other applications.
One of the clearest impacts was the use of CRM to manage leads and opportunities. Initially focused on capturing contacts for the solar unit, the system significantly scaled the commercial team’s capacity. Previously, customer follow-up was manual and limited. Today, the team can manage a much higher volume of opportunities in an organized way, with task assignment, tracking, and real-time visibility. “The tool enabled us to handle volumes of leads that were previously unmanageable manually,” says Odón.
At the same time, implementing inventory management for solar equipment represented a major shift. Unlike the gas business (where inventory is defined differently), managing physical equipment requires traceability. The use of mobile device scanning to register products simplified the goods intake process, enabling more agile management from day one.
Another key aspect was the implementation of integrated sales and invoicing, including a connection with Argentina’s tax authority. According to Odón, this process was notably simpler than in other ERP systems he has extensive experience with.“
"I issued my first invoice validated by the tax authority very quickly and easily."
The use of reporting and commercial analysis also increased visibility. The company can now access consolidated information on team activities, sales pipelines, and revenue projections, something that previously required considerable effort. For example, tracking commercial activities enables understanding of the actions taken, while opportunity reports provide a clear view of the forecast.
Finally, features such as task assignment, automated notifications, and internal communication within the platform improved team coordination without the constant need for emails or calls.
Together, these improvements have enabled the new business unit to structure its commercial and operational sides, with a significant improvement compared to the starting point.
Lider Energy’s next steps with Odoo
At a strategic level, Lider Energy is in a phase of growth and investment, aiming to expand both its gas and renewable energy businesses. The company plans to extend its geographic coverage and develop more advanced solutions that integrate solar generation, storage, and electric mobility.
"In the coming years, the balance of the business will look very different, with new opportunities in electric vehicle infrastructure and energy services."
As for Odoo, the focus is on continuing to expand its use to support the company’s maturation. Next steps include implementing applications such as Field Service and timesheet tracking, as well as a more comprehensive adoption of the ecosystem.
Is your company growing and in need of moving away from manual processes or disconnected systems? With Odoo, you can centralize the management of sales, inventory, finance, and operations in a single platform, tailored for expanding businesses like Lider Energy. Talk to an Odoo expert and discover how to transform your operations.
