ERP software is not a static entity. It must grow as your business expands and processes change. This is especially true for Australian SMEs facing a fast-changing landscape: new regulations, rising competition and evolving customer expectations demand agility. In practice, that means your ERP implementation isn’t a one-time project but an ongoing journey. Even flexible systems like Odoo need regular fine-tuning as companies scale.
The OODA Loop: A Framework for Adaptation
The OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) is a simple four-step decision cycle originally developed by U.S. Air Force strategist John Boyd, now widely used in businesst. It focuses on filtering available information into context and making fast, informed decisions. The key is iteration: if a decision doesn’t pan out, you loop back around and try again with the new insights. In short, OODA turns feedback into action.
- Observe: Monitor your ERP and operations. Use dashboards, reports and user feedback to spot issues (for example, delayed quotes or inventory mismatches). Continuously compare the current state to your target state to identify gaps.
- Orient: Analyze the root causes. Investigate workflows, check data and consult your team to make sense of what you observe. Understanding the broader context (staffing, market pressures, etc.) helps pinpoint why a problem exists.
- Decide: Plan a solution. Weigh options – such as automating a task, adding a new feature, or changing a process – and prioritize by impact and feasibility. Choose the action that best aligns with your business goals and resources.
- Act: Implement the change and measure the results. For instance, you might configure an Odoo module, update a workflow or train staff. After taking action, collect new data so the loop can begin again with fresh information.
This disciplined cycle applies agile thinking to ERP improvement. Each loop delivers real value and guides the next iteration. As ArcherPoint notes, this means “continuously comparing current state to future state, observing mismatches…synthesizing solutions…and then placing solutions into action” By repeating Observe–Orient–Decide–Act, you capture quick wins, reduce risk, and keep the system aligned with changing needs.
OODA in Action
For example, imagine your sales quotes are taking too long. You Observe through analytics that quote turnaround is slower than your target. You Orient by reviewing the quote process and discover that manual formatting and approvals are causing delays. You Decide to automate the process by using Odoo’s quotation templates and an e-signature module. You Act by implementing those features and training the sales team to use them. After the rollout, you measure the new quote metrics: if the process is still slow, you start another loop. Over time, each pass speeds up workflows and improves accuracy.
Ooda Consulting: Embodying the OODA Mindset
At Ooda Consulting, the OODA cycle is our mantra. We help clients schedule quarterly reviews of their ERP data and processes, ensuring new bottlenecks or goals are spotted regularly. We proactively roll out new features and automations (like custom modules) on a schedule instead of waiting for problems to arise. And we establish data-driven feedback loops, using KPIs and user input to verify that changes are working as intended. This disciplined approach reflects the very nature of our name (OODA), and keeps client systems continuously improving.
- Quarterly Reviews: Every few months we analyze performance data and user feedback to pinpoint fresh opportunities for improvement.
- Proactive Rollouts: We introduce new Odoo modules or workflow tweaks regularly, keeping systems up-to-date and preventing issues.
- Feedback Loops: After each change, we track results (e.g. user adoption, efficiency gains) and feed those insights into the next planning cycle.
This iterative mindset is central to Ooda Consulting’s philosophy. We believe that small, regular adjustments build stronger systems. As one industry guide emphasizes, the technology landscape is dynamic, so “regular system updates and upgrades” are integral to keeping your ERP aligned with new requirements. By embedding the OODA Loop into everyday practice, our clients adapt and thrive in Australia’s fast-moving economy. It’s not about getting ERP perfect on day one, but about learning and improving continuously.
In a nutshell: observe what’s happening, orient around the causes, decide on a fix, act on it – and then repeat. With each loop, your ERP improves. For an Australian SME, running this cycle continuously means your ERP grows with you, helping you stay ahead of change and ensuring long-term success