Traditional manufacturing is the backbone of Taiwan’s economy, yet many business owners today encounter growing hurdles in scaling and modernizing. As the digital era arrives, companies relying on legacy operational models are facing fiercer competition and an urgent need for digital transformation.
Where Digital Transformation Started:
Operational Struggles of a SME Second-Generation Successor
Located in Taichung, Taiwan King Lung Chin (KLC) PTC Co., Ltd. is a specialized manufacturer of industrial and automotive PTC heaters. While KLC holds a leadership position in the industry with certified patents, it recently hit a growth bottleneck.
"When I took over Taiwan KLC in 2023, I found that most of the processes were still on hard copies. Orders and design drafts required physical signatures across multiple layers, and documents often went missing during the process."
For 40 years, the company relied on paper, Excel, and employees’ experience. This led to difficulties in inventory control, unclear production SOPs, and unpredictable sales cycles.
"At that time, our on-time delivery rate was only 60%," Joanna recalls.
"I decided we had to kick-start digital transformation immediately to systematically integrate data across sales, management, and the factory".
The Dream System for Manufacturing:
a one-stop seamless integration between office and factory
Joanna then started to look for a system that could eliminate data silos and the inefficiencies caused by traditional documentation. Her requirements were clear:
The Dream System
ERP + MRP
For a cloud-based ERP, security was non-negotiable. The provider’s background and hosting locations were critical factors for the company’s long-term development.
Odoo: More than ERP + MPR,
A Solution to Realize Smart Manufacturing
After evaluating a variety of ERP systems on the market, Taiwan KLC decided to invest in Odoo for its ability to meet all three of KLC’s key requirements.
Joanna was particularly impressed by Odoo's high flexibility, excellent cost-effectiveness, and the commitment to information security, which gave the management team the confidence to migrate the company's core assets to the cloud.
Cloud Solution with Accessibility
Odoo allows companies to choose freely between SaaS, Odoo.sh, and On-Premise hosting according to their needs.
Users can access the database through different devices like PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
All-in-One Integration
With over 70 native modules - from CRM, Accounting to Manufacturing - data is automatically synchronized across different functions within the same database, closing the information gap.
Enterprise can mix and match the modules like connecting puzzles, creating a system that is tailored for the organization and scales together with the business.
Reliable Security
Odoo works with reliable cloud service providers such as Google Cloud, offering a secure data hosting center in Singapore for East Asia users (and Taiwan Odoo.sh users).
Odoo is also a member of the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and holds a CSA STAR Level 1 certification.
View our Security Policy and Privacy Policy
For businesses that are looking for an ERP system, Taiwan KLC’s experience in digital transformation can serve as a clear reference.
Joanna categorizes the advantages of migrating to Odoo into three areas:
Front-line Operation:
No more “Gut Feelings”
Sales teams can now see the real-time inventory forecast when placing orders, eliminating the need to manually check with the factory. It not only speeds up the sales process but also significantly reduces the errors caused by information gaps or miscommunication.
On the shop floor, Taiwan KLC now uses Odoo Manufacturing and Documents to streamline the production process. Each worker can access their own Odoo user account on individual tablets to record hours and view the digital SOP guide, removing the confusion of blueprint versions and SOPs from the factory and increasing the delivery precision to international standards.
Centralize Data in One Place: Precise decisions backed by real-time information
“Now managers do not have to visit or call the factory to check the manufacturing progress, and no more reporting from front-line sales teams,” Joanna shared.
Through custom Dashboards, management can track sales progress and production schedules at a glance from their phones in the Odoo App.
It allows front-line staff to save their time from creating manual reports and focus on actual productivity. Moreover, the transparency further empowers the managers to monitor the real-time performance of each department and resolve potential issues effortlessly.
"Our on-time rate for all orders has improved significantly from 60% to 97% after using Odoo."
Back-end Support: A “Think Tank” to empower your business
Using Odoo’s Knowledge, Documents, and eLearning modules, Taiwan KLC is now building a corporate "think tank" in stages.
Digitalizing internal training helps new joiners to acquire industry knowledge and skills faster and onboard to their role more efficiently, allowing middle management to focus on higher-value decisions.
In addition, Joanna also plans to expand this “think tank” for external vendors and customers in the ecosystem.
“I want to build a partnership center,” says Joanna, “With a library for external parties to access important information by themselves, we can save a lot of time and manpower on manual communication or educating our vendors.”
A Digital Transformation Guide for SME Owners:
Data Empowerment and Sustainability
"My goal from the start was smart operations," Joanna says.
She advises fellow SME management to choose a system capable of growing alongside the company rather than attempting to build a "perfect" foundation all at once.
Joanna points out that digital transformation in traditional industries often involves complex, multi-layered pain points, alongside the inevitable "growing pains" of collective learning and organizational change. Rather than attempting a "big bang" approach to create a perfect digital base in one go, she suggests that implementing gradual changes and expanding the system over time is a far more sustainable solution.
Looking ahead, KLC’s vision is to transform Odoo into the company’s "brain". By accumulating a legacy of data and operational experience, Joanna aims to build a comprehensive database that fuels future development. With the integration of Odoo’s evolving AI capabilities, Joanna foresees KLC achieving even higher levels of intelligent management and operational excellence.
Taiwan KLC
Region: Taiwan
Key Market: Global (90% overseas earnings)
Industry: Manufacturing
Company Size: 40-50 employees
Odoo Modules: Manufacturing, CRM, Sales, Purchase, Accounting, Invoicing, Expenses, Dashboard, PLM, Shop Floor, Quality, and more
Hosting: Odoo.sh
