Odoo vs MKG.
Metal ERP, or business platform?
MKG (Metaal Kennis Groep) is a serious industry-focused ERP specialist for Dutch metalworking companies between 5 and 150 employees - clear focus on engineer-to-order production, cloud options, a REST API and an active add-on ecosystem. In metal production MKG wins fair: quoting, work prep, work orders, hours, post-calculation and shop floor sit in its DNA. But it stays primarily a specialised production ERP. Odoo gets stronger the moment you want more than metalworking: CRM, eCommerce, customer portal, service, finance and international growth on one modern browser-first platform. My rule: MKG organises metal production. Odoo connects metal production with the rest of the business. Shorter: MKG is metal ERP. Odoo is business platform with production as one part of the whole.
- 01 Industry focus: here MKG wins fair For pure metal production with deep work prep, do not underestimate MKG. The question is whether metal production is the only thing you want to modernise.
- 02 CRM and commercial: supporting or orchestrating? Once sales becomes a serious department alongside work prep, the gap appears between what MKG supports and what a modern commercial business needs.
- 03 eCommerce, customer portal and service: core or edge? For a metalworking business that wants a customer portal, B2B order environment, configure-to-order or a professional service flow, Odoo is platform-wise better positioned.
- 04 Cloud is present, browser-first is something else The right question is not "do you run in the cloud" but "do you work fully in a browser, or via a client and remote session?". That is where the difference shows up on the shop floor.
- 05 API and integrations: controlled ecosystem or open platform MKG is controlled-extensible inside the metal ecosystem. Odoo is open-extensible as a business platform - matters when speed, openness and innovation weigh in.
At a glance
| Criterion | Odoo | MKG |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open all-in-one business platform | Industry-specific ERP for metalworking companies (Metaal Kennis Groep) |
| Sweet spot | SMB to mid-market, broad | Suppliers, machine/equipment builders, surface treatment, 5-150 employees |
| Strongest point | One process from CRM to production and ledger | Quoting, work prep, work orders and post-calculation in industry DNA |
| Cloud model | Browser-first (Odoo Online, Odoo.sh, self-host) | Cloud, on-premise, and MKG Terminal Server environments for the client software |
| CRM + sales | Native, pipeline, marketing and eCommerce on one data model | Relationship management present, supporting quote and calculation |
| Production / MRP | Multi-level BoM, work centres, routings, quality | Strong positioning for engineer-to-order metal production |
| eCommerce + portal | Native webshop + portal on the same data model | Not the natural core |
| Service / aftersales | Helpdesk + contracts + field service native | Among others via Service Module with McMain as add-on |
| Accounting | Native module | Integrated bookkeeping in MKG3 |
| API + integrations | Open source, broad API/custom dev, your own modules in Python | REST API; in the cloud environment, integrations via add-on partners |
| Release cadence | Annual major release + continuous community updates | Industry roadmap; cloud-based ERP under the proALPHA portfolio for metalworking |
Five questions that matter
Industry focus: here MKG wins fair
Odoo has Manufacturing (MRP), Inventory, Purchase, Quality and Maintenance on one data model. Strong for engineer-to-order production, but you pay for breadth - not for industry-specific quoting and work-prep rituals that a metalworking company is used to.
MKG is built for metalworking companies: machining, sheet metal, surface treatment, welding and structural work, machine building, assembly and tooling. Quick calculation, materials and operations, work orders, hours, work in progress, post-calculation, shop floor. MKG speaks the language of these businesses.
For pure metal production with deep work prep, do not underestimate MKG. The question is whether metal production is the only thing you want to modernise.
CRM and commercial: supporting or orchestrating?
CRM, Sales, Website, Marketing, eCommerce and ERP sit in the same stack. Lead scoring, pipeline, marketing campaigns, web forms, email automation, account planning, lost-deal analysis and sales dashboards come together with production and inventory data.
Relationship management and CRM exist in MKG and support sales and production. For metal companies with relationship-driven sales and repeat orders that is often enough. For commercial growth with marketing automation, B2B acquisition and pipeline discipline, it is less the natural engine.
Once sales becomes a serious department alongside work prep, the gap appears between what MKG supports and what a modern commercial business needs.
eCommerce, customer portal and service: core or edge?
Native webshop, B2B portal, customer login, order status, documents and certificates, online quote requests, configure-to-order, spare parts portal, service tickets, returns - all on the same data model as sales, inventory, production and accounting. Helpdesk, Field Service, Repair and Subscriptions native.
eCommerce is not the natural core of MKG. The Service Module is offered among other things via McMain as add-on. Much can be solved via partners or integrations, but the core question is: does it sit in the platform or hang off it?
For a metalworking business that wants a customer portal, B2B order environment, configure-to-order or a professional service flow, Odoo is platform-wise better positioned.
Cloud is present, browser-first is something else
Browser-first. Odoo Online, Odoo.sh or self-host have different trade-offs, but the UI is natively web. No terminal server, no RDS session, no Mac incompatibility. Accessible from app or browser on mobile.
MKG offers cloud hosting and managed cloud options including backups and version updates. At the same time, documentation describes MKG Client software in a terminal-server environment connecting to the MKG cloud or on-premise server. Cloud accessibility is arranged; browser-first work experience is a separate question.
The right question is not "do you run in the cloud" but "do you work fully in a browser, or via a client and remote session?". That is where the difference shows up on the shop floor.
API and integrations: controlled ecosystem or open platform
Open source. As a partner you can build your own Python modules, use APIs, write controllers, extend portals, change workflows, extend the data model and add AI layers. At Fanatics we use our own <a href="https://www.updoo.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Updoo</a> building blocks for configurators, lead capture and integrations.
MKG has a REST API. In the MKG cloud environment, third-party integrations are - per the system requirements - available via add-on partners. There are visible API integrations with third-party software (Arkoni, McMain, SOLIDWORKS, logistic scanning systems). Strong in metal context, but controlled through MKG/add-on partners rather than as an open dev platform.
MKG is controlled-extensible inside the metal ecosystem. Odoo is open-extensible as a business platform - matters when speed, openness and innovation weigh in.
Which fits?
Pick Odoo if…
- Sales and production are not well connected yet, and CRM needs to become a serious department alongside work prep.
- You want a B2B order portal, customer login, online order status, configure-to-order or webshop next to production.
- Service and aftersales is growing: helpdesk, field service, contracts, spare parts and returns in one platform.
- You want to work browser-first on laptop, Mac, tablet and mobile - without terminal server or remote session.
- Integrations need to be more open, faster and cheaper - without depending on a single partner ecosystem.
- You want to connect AI and automation to production and sales without asking add-on partners for permission.
- You want to connect the whole business, not just control metal production.
Pick MKG if…
- Your business is pure metalworking: machining, sheet metal, surface treatment, welding or structural work, machine building or tooling.
- Quoting, work prep, work orders, hours and post-calculation are the core of your daily work.
- You have no or limited modern CRM, eCommerce or customer-portal ambitions.
- You sit between 5 and 150 employees and value industry know-how over platform breadth.
- You accept client software in a terminal-server environment, or an MKG cloud with integrations via add-on partners.
- There is existing MKG know-how in the organisation and you want little custom dev outside production.
The best MKG alternatives
Upfront and honest: as an Odoo partner we are biased. But honestly: for pure depth in metal production a specialist tool can be stronger. The difference is whether you want to connect production to the whole business.
| Alternative | Breadth (beyond production) | Metal/manufacturing depth | Cloud & modern | CRM / eCommerce / portal | Open & extensible | Short verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OdooTop pick | Broad platform | Strong via Updoo building blocks | Yes, browser-first | Native | Open source | Best if you want to connect production to the whole business |
| Ridder iQ | Production-focused | Strong (metal/manufacturing) | Cloud available | Limited | Closed | Strong metal specialist if you want to stay in a specialist tool |
| Bemet (Plan-de-CAMpagne) | Production & planning | Strong (planning) | On-premise heritage | Limited | Closed | Strong at production planning; narrower beyond it |
| Isah | Project/make-to-order | Strong (machine building, ETO) | Cloud available | Limited | Closed | Strong for engineer-to-order and machine building |
| Infor LN | Broad, enterprise | Strong (discrete manufacturing) | Cloud available | Via apps | Heavy, partner-dependent | Enterprise manufacturing; often too heavy for SMBs |
Which choice fits you?
A short take per candidate, to narrow your choice:
Odoo
Strongest if you want to connect your metal production to the rest of the business: CRM, sales, eCommerce, customer portal, service and finance on one modern, browser-first platform. For the metal-specific parts (configurator, shop floor, post-calculation) we build Updoo blocks on top of standard Odoo - without locking you into a closed add-on ecosystem.
Ridder iQ
A strong Dutch metal/manufacturing specialist with deep production and calculation functionality. Logical if you want to stay in a specialist tool and your need is mostly on the shop floor; beyond production (CRM, eCommerce, portal) it is narrower and more closed.
Bemet (Plan-de-CAMpagne)
Strong at production planning and scheduling for manufacturers. A good choice if planning is your biggest pain; beyond that thinner, with on-premise heritage and integrations that get harder on software that no longer develops.
Isah
An ERP for project and order-driven production, strong in machine building and engineer-to-order. Logical if your work is mostly complex one-off projects; broader business use leans on integrations sooner.
Infor LN
An enterprise manufacturing ERP for larger, international discrete production. Powerful and deep, but heavy to implement, pricey and partner-dependent - often too much for the Dutch SMB manufacturer.
Why manufacturers look for an MKG alternative
MKG earned its place with deep metal production: quoting, work preparation, work orders and post-calculation. The pain is usually beyond the shop floor: CRM, sales, eCommerce, a customer portal and service are thin or missing, so a second system often runs alongside. On top of that the ecosystem is closed - integrations go through add-on partners - and the client-server, on-premise heritage feels dated next to modern, browser-first software.
Specialist or platform? The honest trade-off
This is the heart of it, and we are honest about it. MKG, Ridder iQ, Bemet and Isah are deep metal and manufacturing specialists. If you want to optimise your production further - the quoting, work-prep and planning rituals a specialist tool has refined over years - a specialist can be stronger than a broad platform. Odoo wins the moment you want to connect production to the rest of the business: one data model from quote to work order to invoice, with CRM, webshop, portal and service native alongside. So the question is not "which is better", but: do you want to deepen production, or integrate the whole business?
Where Odoo matches the specialist: Updoo
The misconception is that a broad platform misses the metal depth. For the parts where standard Odoo stops, we build Updoo blocks: a product configurator for quoting, a glove-friendly Shopfloor layer for the floor, and post-calculation that books hours and material back to the order. The difference with a closed add-on ecosystem: it is open source, you can read the code, extend it deliberately, and switch partners without switching platform.
How to choose
Three rules of thumb. One: if your pain is purely deepening metal production and you want to stay in a specialist tool, Ridder iQ, Bemet or Isah are the logical candidates. Two: if you want to connect production to CRM, sales, eCommerce, portal and finance on one modern platform, Odoo is usually the strongest choice, with Updoo for the metal-specific parts. Three: if you are a large, international discrete manufacturer, an enterprise ERP like Infor comes into play. Start from where your biggest pain is, not from the feature list.
Odoo vs MKG, frequently asked.
What is the main difference between MKG and Odoo?
Is MKG bad software?
Does MKG really run in the cloud, or via terminal server?
What does Fanatics do differently from an MKG partner?
How do integrations work if I use Odoo instead of MKG?
When is MKG the better choice?
Does Odoo always fit better, then?
Is Odoo a good alternative to MKG?
What are the best MKG alternatives for a metal company?
Can Odoo handle MKG-level metal production?
What if I want to stay in a metal specialist?
How long does switching from MKG take?
Metal production strong - and the rest of your business?
MKG is a logical pick for engineer-to-order metalworking companies that want to control their production process. The question is whether your future needs are broader than production. Book a fit-gap call where we put your quoting, work prep, production, CRM, customer portal and finance side by side along MKG and Odoo. No sales pitch to pull you off MKG; an honest conversation about whether a broader business platform pays for itself within three years.
The most expensive software is the software that 'just works'.
Because the work around it - double entry, Excel checks, waiting time, errors - never shows up on your software invoice. It does land on your P&L, as labour cost and lost hours; you just never add it to the software bill. And the frustration your team feels every day stays completely invisible. Work out what it costs you per year: you can't capture work satisfaction in a spreadsheet. 60 seconds, no sales pitch - just a number that sticks.
Curious about realistic hours, cost and timelines? See the Odoo implementation benchmark →
Which ERP fits your metal company? Read our ERP comparison for metal companies →