In modern manufacturing, silos between engineering and operations are a high-level business risk. For companies using SOLIDWORKS and Odoo ERP, manual data transfer is a major bottleneck.
At ATR Soft, we have spent years refining the bridge between these systems. Our core product, ATR CustomTools, ensures that design data flows automatically into business processes. This article explains why this integration is a strategic necessity for related operations.
The Cost of Manual Data Transfer
Every manufactured part starts its journey in CAD. But after a design is finished, engineers must push part data, assemblies, materials and manufacturing documents into the ERP system. In many organizations, this process is still manual:
- Time Loss: Creating a complex Bill of Materials (BOM) manually can take hours.
- Data Errors: A single typo in a part number leads to incorrect orders and factory downtime.
- Revision Conflicts: a design changes in CAD is updated, but ERP remains out of sync, leading to orders based on outdated designs if processes are not implemented properly.
ATR CustomTools: The SOLIDWORKS-Odoo Connector
ATR CustomTools is a certified Partner Gold Addin to SOLIDWORKS, with various design tools and product data management features. It is not just an export tool; it is also a professional integration layer that understands the logic of both systems.
- Automated Metadata Management
All product properties are handled directly inside SOLIDWORKS. ATR CustomTools collects model data and meta data automatically and synchronizes it with Odoo so that fields such as Description, Material or Product Name always remain consistent.
- The 20-Second BOM Transfer
In technical demos, we consistently move complex assemblies to Odoo in seconds. The process:
- Reads the assembly structure.
- Generates files (PDF, DXF, STEP).
- Checks which parts already exist in Odoo.
- Creates the full BOM hierarchy in Odoo.
What previously required an afternoon is now done in under a minute. For senior developers and ERP-users, this means reduced data maintenance, fewer integration issues and a measurable improvement in ROI.
Technical Architecture: Clean and Robust
For IT architects, the “how” is critical. Our Odoo connector is built for stability and maintainability.
JSON-2
We use the JSON-2 protocol. We communicate with Odoo using its External API, actively maintaining the link with multiple available updates each year.
Bi-directional Sync
While CAD owns geometry and technical metadata, Odoo typically manages pricing, suppliers and lead times. ATR CustomTools supports twoway data flow so engineers can see ERP information directly in the SOLIDWORKS. This enables costaware design decisions without switching systems.
“As we have one of the world leading Odoo ERP integrations, we are highly committed in actively maintaining and developing it. Our development operations are top-notch, and our Quality Assurance keeps us on our toes with their very high standards. You can expect only the best from our team!”Simo ErkinheimoATR CustomTools | Product Manager
Mastering the PDM Workflow
For organizations using SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional, integration becomes a natural part of the workflow.
ATR CustomTools can execute pre-defined integration flow, including
- Bi-directional product data synchronization
- BOM synchronization
- Rule-based automatic manufacturing document generation into neutral formats (Drawing PDFs, Sheet Metal DXFs, STEPs), then upload and attach them to corresponding Odoo Products
Why CAD–ERP Integrations Can Fail and How We Avoid It
Integration often fails due to poor quality or inconsistence of legacy data, not bad code.. In reality, success depends on data governance and process design. We focus on two key areas:
Data Ownership (The Data Master)
Things like weight of a part could naturally flow from CAD to ERP. But should the weight be updated from ERP back to CAD once e.g. purchased component is weighed? There’s never just one answer that fits to all processes and especially to all linked fields, hence the integration must be configurable and the processes must be clear.
Handling “Virtual Items”
Manufacturing BOMs often include items not found in 3D models, such as glue, paint, or grease. ATR CustomTools allows users to pull these “Virtual Items” from Odoo and inject them into the CAD-driven BOM. The result is a 100% production-ready structure in Odoo.
Why ATR Soft?
Technical specs are only half the story. ATR Soft is a Turku-based software house with a 97% customer satisfaction rate. We have delivered over 700 manufacturing industry customer projects globally, from local machine shops to billion-euro corporations.
We understand that your “Way of Working” is unique. Our framework is designed to adapt to your specific processes.
Summary: Future-Proof Your Engineering Stack
Integration is about more than just saving time. By connecting SOLIDWORKS and Odoo today, you prepare your data for the next step: AI-driven analytics and advanced production automation.
Investing in ATR CustomTools means investing in your engineers. It removes manual, repetitive tasks, boosts productivity and can significantly improve data consistency. Together with well configured ERP integration, your agility, lead-times and operations will be on a completely different level.
Ready to See It in Action?
If you want to explore how ATR CustomTools can automate your SOLIDWORKS–Odoo workflow or optimize an existing PDM-driven process, our team is ready to help you design the integration with you.
Whether you are starting with Odoo or optimizing an existing PDM setup, we ensure you can focus on the design and we help you automate the rest.
