Odoo vs Sage: Which ERP Should Belgian Businesses Choose?

Sage has been a fixture in Belgian business software for decades. Many Belgian companies started with Sage BOB, grew into Sage 100, or adopted Sage X3 for larger operations. It is familiar, it works, and accountants across Belgium know how to use it.

So why are so many businesses now evaluating Odoo as an alternative? The short answer is that the market has shifted. What businesses need from their software has changed, and the competitive landscape looks very different than it did five or even three years ago. Here is an honest comparison to help you decide.

The Sage landscape in Belgium

First, some clarity on what we mean by Sage, because the product portfolio is broad. In the Belgian market, the most relevant products are Sage BOB 50 (now part of Sage 50), Sage 100 (mid-market accounting and ERP), and Sage X3 (enterprise ERP). Each targets a different business size.

Sage BOB has been the default accounting software for thousands of Belgian small businesses and accounting firms. Sage 100 adds more ERP functionality for mid-size companies. Sage X3 is a full enterprise ERP that competes at a higher level.

For this comparison, we will primarily compare Odoo against Sage 50/100, since those overlap most with Odoo's typical customer base. We will touch on Sage X3 where relevant.

Features and scope

Sage's strength in Belgium has always been accounting. Sage BOB and Sage 100 are primarily accounting and financial management tools. They handle bookkeeping, invoicing, VAT declarations, and financial reporting with the depth you would expect from 30-plus years of Belgian market presence.

Beyond accounting, Sage 100 offers basic modules for purchasing, sales, and stock management. But it does not extend into CRM, project management, e-commerce, HR, or marketing. For those functions, you need separate software.

Odoo covers all the same accounting ground while extending into virtually every business function. CRM, sales pipeline, purchasing, inventory, manufacturing, project management, HR, recruitment, website, e-commerce, helpdesk, and email marketing are all part of one platform. Everything shares the same database, so data flows naturally between departments.

• Accounting: Sage has deeper accounting features in some niche areas due to decades of specialization. Odoo covers all standard Belgian accounting needs, including CODA import and VAT returns.
• Inventory and purchasing: Odoo offers significantly more functionality, including multi-warehouse management, automated replenishment, and drop-shipping.
• CRM and sales: Odoo includes full CRM with pipeline management. Sage does not offer native CRM.
• Manufacturing: Odoo has complete MRP capabilities. Sage 100 does not cover manufacturing; Sage X3 does.
• E-commerce and website: Odoo includes a complete e-commerce and website platform. Sage offers nothing comparable.
• HR: Odoo covers the full employee lifecycle. Not available in Sage 50 or 100.

User experience and technology

This is where the generational difference shows. Sage products, particularly Sage BOB and Sage 100, feel dated. The interfaces were designed in a different era of software. They work, but they are not intuitive for people accustomed to modern web applications. Training new employees takes longer, and resistance to using the system is more common.

Odoo has a modern web interface that looks and feels like the SaaS tools people use in their personal lives. It runs in a browser, works on any device, and is updated regularly with usability improvements. For employee adoption and training, this matters more than most businesses realize.

On the technology side, Sage's older products are Windows-based desktop applications. Sage has been moving toward cloud offerings, but the transition is ongoing. Odoo is cloud-native and offers full on-premise deployment as well, giving you flexibility in how you host your system.

Pricing

Sage pricing in Belgium varies by product. Sage 50 (BOB) subscriptions start around 40 to 80 euros per month. Sage 100 is more expensive, typically several hundred euros per month depending on modules and users. Sage X3 is an enterprise product with pricing to match.

Odoo Enterprise starts at approximately 25 euros per user per month. For a comparable scope of functionality, Odoo is typically cheaper, and significantly so when you factor in that Odoo replaces not just Sage but also the CRM, project management, and other tools you use alongside Sage.

Implementation costs depend on complexity, but Odoo implementations generally cost less than Sage 100 or X3 migrations because the platform is faster to configure and customize.

Belgian localization and support

Sage has deep roots in Belgium. Belgian accountants have used Sage BOB for decades, and many are genuinely expert in it. This familiarity is a real advantage. Your accountant can log into Sage, understand the setup, and do their work without a learning curve.

Odoo, however, is also a Belgian company. Headquartered in Ramillies, Wallonia, Odoo SA maintains the Belgian localization directly. The Belgian chart of accounts, CODA file handling, structured communications, and VAT reporting are first-party features, not third-party add-ons. The Belgian Odoo community is large and active, and the platform continues to gain market share locally.

When you switch from Sage to Odoo, your accountant will need to adapt. But modern accountants increasingly work across multiple platforms, and Odoo's accounting interface is straightforward for anyone with accounting knowledge.

When to stay with Sage

• You are a small business using Sage BOB purely for accounting, your accountant prefers it, and you have no need for additional business functions.
• You are using Sage X3 for complex enterprise operations and it is working well for your needs.
• A system change is not feasible right now due to other business priorities, and your current setup is adequate.
• You are close to a business transition like a sale or merger where system stability is more important than optimization.

When to switch to Odoo

• You are using Sage alongside multiple other tools and want to consolidate into one platform.
• You need CRM, e-commerce, project management, or HR capabilities that Sage does not provide.
• Your team finds Sage's interface frustrating and adoption is a problem.
• You are growing and need a platform that can scale with you without major re-implementation.
• You want lower total cost of ownership when you account for all your business software subscriptions.
• You need modern e-commerce or website capabilities connected to your back office.

Making the transition

Migrating from Sage to Odoo is a common project in the Belgian market. The key data to transfer includes your chart of accounts, open balances, customer and supplier data, product catalog, and historical data if needed. A structured migration typically takes three to six weeks depending on complexity.

The most important factor is having a consultant who knows both platforms. They can map your Sage workflows to Odoo equivalents and identify where processes need to adapt. Through odoone, you can find vetted senior consultants experienced in Sage-to-Odoo migrations, starting at 80 euros per hour, with a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.

Many Belgian businesses make this switch when they realize they are paying for five or six separate tools that Odoo can replace with one integrated platform. The immediate cost savings on subscriptions, combined with the efficiency gains from integrated data, typically make the return on investment clear within the first year.