Following the approval of your ERP Business Case, the next critical step is defining exactly what the system must do. The ERP Requirements Document (also known as a Business Requirements Document or BRD) translates your TO-BE process maps into functional line items.
Vague requirements lead to inaccurate quotes. Accurate quotes require granular, testable requirements.
The Need for Granularity
A requirement like "System must manage inventory" is useless. A testable requirement is: "System must support multi-warehouse inventory valuation using the FIFO method, updated in real-time upon delivery order validation."
When you provide a detailed BRD to potential Odoo partners, you force them to evaluate if native Odoo can handle it, or if they need to build customizations. This protects you from the dreaded "Oh, you didn't mention you needed that feature, that will cost extra" scenario.
The MoSCoW Method
Not all requirements are created equal. You must categorize them to protect your budget and timeline. The industry standard is the MoSCoW method:
- Must Have (M): Non-negotiable. If the system cannot do this, we cannot go live. (e.g., Bangladesh VAT compliance).
- Should Have (S): Important, but a workaround exists if it is too expensive to build right now.
- Could Have (C): Nice to have, but entirely optional for Phase 1.
- Won't Have (W): Explicitly stating what is OUT of scope for this phase.
Sample Requirements Template (Manufacturing)
Below is a snippet of a typical requirement matrix for a manufacturing SME in Bangladesh.
| ID | Module | Requirement Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| INV-01 | Inventory | System must support tracking items by Serial Number and/or Lot/Batch Number from receipt to final delivery. | Must |
| INV-02 | Inventory | System must support automated Landed Cost calculation apportioning freight and customs duties over received quantities. | Must |
| MRP-01 | Manufacturing | System must allow multi-level Bill of Materials (BOM) with phantom BOMs for sub-assemblies. | Must |
| MRP-02 | Manufacturing | System should calculate equipment OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) based on downtime logs. | Should |
| ACC-01 | Accounting | System must generate Mushak 6.3 automatically upon invoice validation in the NBR-approved format. | Must |
Using this for Vendor Scoring
When you send this to vendors, add three columns for them to fill out:
- Native (Standard): The feature exists out-of-the-box in Odoo Enterprise.
- Workaround / 3rd Party App: Requires a downloaded app or a process change.
- Customization Required: The vendor must write custom Python/XML code.
If Vendor A says ACC-01 is "Native" but Vendor B says "Customization Required", you instantly know someone is wrong, and you can probe deeper during demonstrations.
I have compiled a comprehensive 100+ line item Excel template specifically tailored for Bangladesh manufacturers using Odoo. Contact me to request the full BRD template →
Frequently asked questions
What is an ERP Requirements Document?
An ERP Requirements Document (also known as a Business Requirements Document or BRD) is a comprehensive list of all the features, functions, and workflows a business needs from a new ERP system. It serves as the foundation for vendor evaluation and project scoping.
How do you prioritize ERP requirements?
Requirements should be prioritized using the MoSCoW method: Must Have (critical for go-live), Should Have (important but not critical), Could Have (nice to have if budget permits), and Won't Have (out of scope for the current phase).