Standard-first: the five-rung fit-gap ladder

Assessing every requirement against standard Odoo, configuration, process change, minor extension and custom development, in that order.

In this lesson

The five rungs
Why standard-first
Documenting and presenting fit-gap

Key points

1 Standard → 2 Configuration → 3 Process change → 4 Minor extension → 5 Custom development
Climb only when the lower rung truly can't serve the approved requirement
Custom code adds cost, risk and upgrade burden every year
Record rung, solution, effort, risk, upgrade impact and owner

Real-world example

A Lagos retailer listed 120 requirements. The fit-gap showed 71 standard, 32 configuration, 9 process changes (for example, using Odoo's return flow instead of their paper returns book), 5 minor extensions and 3 custom developments (two integrations and a loyalty rule). The client approved the plan because each custom item had a clear reason and cost.

Questions and answers

Classify: 'Invoices must show our bank details and RC number.'

Usually configuration (company details, document layout); a minor QWeb extension only if the layout can't show it.

Classify: 'Sync orders from our Shopify store.'

Custom development or a third-party connector (integration), unless an existing connector fits.

Read the full lesson, worked example and quiz