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Accounting Without DATEV in Odoo? Absolutely.

3 min read

// Key Points at a Glance

What You'll Take Away from This Article

  • Yes, Odoo can be used for accounting without DATEV.
  • Standard Odoo covers around 80% of accounting requirements. With the syscoon extensions, you reach 100%.
  • Adapting Odoo to DATEV for a one-off export takes a lot of effort – even the smallest deviations can produce incorrect tax entries.

Many companies face the question:


"Can we really use Odoo for our accounting – or do we also need DATEV or another system?"

The answer: Yes, Odoo can be used for accounting without DATEV. And not just somehow, but efficiently, completely and future-proof – especially with the syscoon extensions.

// DATEV AND ODOO IN PRACTICE

Why Combine Odoo and DATEV?

In practice, Odoo is often used in combination with DATEV or comparable accounting software. The reasons vary – and depend heavily on the individual setup.


Here is an overview of the most common scenarios:

A

Scenario A: Preparing the accounting in Odoo

Use: Customer invoices, inventory processes and preparatory entries are handled in Odoo.
Closing: The tax advisor takes care of the final accounting, including the annual financial statements.
B

Scenario B: Part of the accounting in Odoo, part with the tax advisor

Use: Most of the accounting (vendor bills, customer invoices, bank reconciliation) is done in Odoo.
Data handover: Data is passed to the tax advisor every month, who then handles the VAT return, for example.
Annual financial statements: As in scenario A – prepared by the tax advisor.
C

Scenario C: Complete accounting in Odoo

Use: The entire accounting – from A to Z – runs in Odoo.
Data handover: Data is sent to the tax advisor only for the annual financial statements.

Adjusting entries: If needed, these are made via a manual list of entries or an import.

Important note

Our focus is clearly on scenario C. With the syscoon extensions, we get the most out of Odoo for complete, legally compliant and efficient accounting directly in the system.

// COMPARISON

Our Solutions at a Glance


Option A

Integration with DATEV (or similar systems)

For companies that want to keep working with DATEV or similar systems, we offer mature interfaces and automations:

  • Transfer of entries: with or without document images
  • Master data transfer: cost centres 1 and 2 and much more
  • Bidirectional synchronisation: DATEV entries back to Odoo and bank reconciliations from DATEV


  • More details in our blog post on the DATEV integration


Option B

One-off data exchange: balance export instead of full DATEV integration

If it's only about the annual financial statements or an audit period, we recommend:
  • Doing without DATEV apps
  • Using a simplified balance export
Why?

  • Adapting Odoo to DATEV for a one-off export takes a lot of effort
  • Even the smallest deviations can produce incorrect tax entries
  • Figuratively speaking: it's like putting a two-stroke engine in a Porsche

The simplified DATEV balance import can be read into DATEV without any problems – no configuration and no master data exports required.

// FEATURES

The Extensive Accounting Features of Odoo and syscoon

Standard Odoo covers around 80% of accounting requirements. With the syscoon extensions, you reach 100%.


Option 1

Core processes

  • Accounts receivable and payable, including invoicing and order processes
  • General ledger with customisable SKR03/SKR04
Option 2

Payments and banking

  • Payment terms including cash discounts
  • Bank import and reconciliation (CAMT, CSV)
  • Payment proposals, direct debits


Option 3

Assets, inventory and manufacturing

  • Fixed asset accounting
  • Inventory valuation (FIFO, average, standard price)
  • Production costs with overheads and manufacturing integration
Option 4

Tax and reporting

  • Tax determination and tax reporting
  • ELSTER interface incl. EC Sales List
  • Intrastat and reports


Option 5

Organisation and group processes

  • Multi-company, tax groups
  • Intercompany automation
  • Statutory and management consolidation
  • Parallel accounting (e.g. IFRS, tax law)
Option 6

Automations and recurring entries

  • Recurring entries, accruals and deferrals
  • Transaction types for schedules
  • Tax-compliant down payments


Option 7

Digital tools and additional features

  • OCR recognition
  • Cost centres and dimensions
  • Document management
  • GoBD compliance (IDW PS 880)
  • Dunning, expense management
  • eInvoicing
  • Odoo Spreadsheet integration with syscoon functions
Option ...

And that's just a selection. We develop our solutions from practice – for practice.

// Conclusion

Conclusion

Anyone who thinks accounting in Odoo is "only half possible" is wrong. With the right tools, Odoo becomes the central hub of your financial processes.

  •  Flexible
  •  Complete
  •  Legally compliant
  •  And above all: efficient and user-friendly

Whether as an addition to DATEV or as a standalone solution – we show how accounting with Odoo can really work.

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