My Odoo Experience: Community Days 2024 Highlights and Takeaways.

Our travels through Gandhinagar led us to some genuinely legendary sites. We stood in awe of the majesty of Akshardham Temple, gasped at the beauty of Adalaj Stepwell's carvings, and basked in the verdure and paleo exhibits of Indroda Nature Park. As dusk fell, we returned to our rooms, memory-sated and aching, eager to prepare ourselves for the day of days—the Odoo Community Days Conference.

We reached the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar at 9 AM with my friends Arjun Shukla and Parth Wani. The center, which takes inspiration from the life and thought of Mahatma Gandhi, covers an area of 34 acres and is amongst India's biggest convention centers with a capacity for hosting up to 15,000 delegates. On arrival, we were issued with our ID cards and promptly booked seats at the front row to maximize the view of the upcoming sessions.

There was an air of excitement when the conference opened its first day. The complex boasts of having a theatre auditorium with seating capacity for 6,000, four seminar rooms, and seven modern conference rooms, all of which provide avenues for various sessions to be held simultaneously. Such an organization was handy in enabling the visitors to gain exposure to a range of subjects and deliberation to devote attention to, across varying interests and occupations.

Across from the convention center, a specific section was designated for exhibitions and food. The cuisine section had a multitude of food types to satisfy the diverse taste of the crowd, while exhibition halls displayed latest products and services of different sectors. This considerate planning allowed participants to move easily from information sessions to interactive exhibitions in one and the same place.

The Odoo Community Days 2024, organized on 23rd and 24th August at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, was a grand gathering of techies, businesspeople, and Odoo fans alike. With a participation of more than 35,000, the event had well over 150 value-added sessions conducted over five convention halls, encompassing a wide variety of themes ranging from sophisticated stock management to the newest developments in Odoo's web framework. Odoo 18 unveiling was a highlight, demonstrating future-proof features that will transform the way businesses operate.

Odoo 18 brought a set of upgrades to simplify business processes and improve the user interface. Some of the most notable updates were a refreshed user interface with better navigation and widget customization, making it easier for users to access frequently accessed modules. The recruitment module also benefited greatly, including direct job posting to job boards and simplified resume management. In production, component and production order management were streamlined, with real-time adjustment for unexpected events. The inventory module improved with multi-product scanning of RFID-chip-compatible products, making inventory management a quicker and more reliable process. Financial management was strengthened with analytical budgets in real-time, automatic computation, and over-budget alerts, giving businesses more command of their expenditures. Moreover, the new "Social Share" marketing application enhanced community involvement and content marketing, whereas easy incorporation of WhatsApp tools into multiple workflows ensured instant contact with customers and teams.

The exhibition hall was a rainbow of innovation with over 100 exhibiting companies presenting solutions built on Odoo. Biztech, TechUltra Solutions, and BONbLOC Technologies displayed their latest offerings, ranging from AI-driven analytics to e-commerce integrations with frictionless ease. Eye-opening was the experience of seeing Odoo's flexibility applied in real-life instances, further endearing it as one of the leading open-source business software.

There were also guest sessions with established content creators and entrepreneurs. Some of the popular influencers like Raj Shamani, Zeeshan Shaikh (SeeKen), Gaurav KS Thakur (Getsetfly Media), Abhi and Niyu, Jay Kapoor, Ansh Mehra, and Niharika Choudhary presented their experiences, explaining the significance of digital media in modern business. Their presentations offered insightful information on content marketing, personal branding, and utilizing social media to obtain business success.

Part of our premium pass for Odoo Community Days 2024 was experiencing the DJ night of August 23rd at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Center. This was an event that offered a spirited environment filled with music and networking. Even though we are not dancing people, we enjoyed having the opportunity to witness the lively community spirit and socializing with other attendees in a casual ambiance.

The food presented at the conference was excellent. Served by The Leela Gandhinagar, a five-star establishment, the lunch buffets were well-received by the visitors. Each meal consisted of numerous dishes that combined Indian spices with food from other parts of the world. The quality and range of dishes introduced an aspect of elegance to the conference proceedings, making each meal a welcome respite between sessions.

Apart from the sessions and exhibits, the common dining spaces acted as unofficial networking lounges. Eating together with other conference goers offered moments of spontaneous interaction and conversation. These moments usually culminated in reflective discussions regarding Odoo deployments, trends in the market, and common experiences, making our overall experience with the event all the more fulfilling.

After soaking in the energy of the conference’s first half on August 24th, we headed to the lunch area one final time to savor the delicious buffet spread by The Leela. With our return bus scheduled for 6 PM, we had to wrap things up early. The atmosphere was a mix of contentment and reluctance—excited to return home with stories, yet sad that the experience was ending. We bid goodbye to the Mahatma Mandir Convention Center and stepped out for a final stroll through Gandhinagar.

Our last stop before heading to our room was Radhe Sweets & Namkeen, a beloved local favorite known for its authentic Gujarati snacks. We stocked up on a variety of sweets and regional specialties—perfect souvenirs for our families back in Pune. After packing our bags and taking a short rest, we left for the bus station, carrying not just snacks and memories, but also the inspiration and knowledge gained from two incredible days at Odoo Community Days 2024.