Business-management software provider Odoo, a Silver Partner, attracted more than 800 entrepreneurs, executives and students to Kigali on Thursday at the Odoo Business Show, which was organized in partnership with GlobX, also a Silver Partner, highlighting growing demand among Rwandan companies seeking to digitize operations as the country’s economy becomes increasingly technology-driven.
The turnout, significantly larger than previous editions of the event, reflects a broader shift among businesses looking to consolidate finance, sales, inventory, human resources and customer management functions onto a single platform rather than relying on multiple disconnected applications.
“We’re seeing companies become much more intentional about digitization,” said Laura Mbitiru, Business Advisor-Direct at Odoo. “Business owners want visibility over their operations in real time, whether it’s sales, inventory, customer relationships or accounting. The demand is no longer just for software, but for solutions that help them make better decisions.”
The workshop showcased how businesses can manage entire operations through a unified system, from building websites and managing customer interactions to processing invoices and monitoring staff performance.
For many attendees, the demonstration highlighted how advances in artificial intelligence are reducing barriers to digital adoption, allowing companies with limited technical expertise to deploy tools that were once available only to large corporations.
Mbitiru said the shift is particularly pronounced among small and medium-sized enterprises, which form the backbone of Rwanda’s economy and are increasingly looking for ways to scale efficiently while maintaining operational control.
“Companies are realizing that growth becomes difficult when information is scattered across different systems,” she said. “The ability to access everything from one platform creates efficiency and gives management a clearer picture of the business.”
The trend comes as Rwanda continues investing in digital infrastructure and positioning itself as a regional technology hub, encouraging businesses to modernize operations and embrace data-driven decision-making.
During the partner session, GlobX, a Silver Partner and Odoo implementation partner, highlighted how it supports businesses seeking to move away from manual processes and disconnected applications. Ines Dushime, Country Lead of GlobX, said technology alone is not enough. A company must first understand its processes, configure the right system, train its people, and ensure the solution fits the way the business actually operates.
This is where GlobX’s role becomes important. The company does not simply sell software licences. It works with businesses to understand their operations, identify gaps, set up Odoo properly, and support users through the change.
The event also featured a testimonial from AC Group, one of Rwanda’s leading smart transport solution providers and the company behind Tap&Go. Safiya Ibn Garba DTRF, Chief of Staff and Change Management Lead Consultant, shared how Odoo helped improve visibility, efficiency and coordination within their operations. She also spoke openly about the challenges of ERP implementation and appreciated GlobX for its patience, practical support and understanding during the process.
For business owners, this was one of the most useful points of the evening. Buying software is easy. Making it work inside a real business is the difficult part. That requires the right implementation partner.
The Odoo Business Show gave entrepreneurs and decision-makers a clear takeaway: if a business is struggling with delayed reports, scattered data, manual work, weak accountability or poor visibility, adding another standalone app may not solve the problem. What the business needs is one connected system and a partner who understands both operations and technology.
As Rwanda continues to push digital transformation, solutions like Odoo are becoming more relevant for companies that want to grow with discipline, efficiency and better decision-making.
The event ended with a networking session among business leaders, Odoo experts and implementation partners. But the main message of the evening was clear: businesses that want to scale must first get organised.
For growing companies, Odoo provides the system. GlobX helps turn that system into practical business results.
According to Sem Rwema, Customer Success Manager-Indirect at Odoo, one of the biggest challenges facing growing companies is maintaining operational efficiency as they expand.
“As businesses grow, complexity grows with them,” Rwema said. “Many organizations start with spreadsheets or separate applications, but eventually they need systems that allow departments to work together and share information seamlessly.”
The company demonstrated how organizations can automate routine processes, generate business insights from real-time data and improve coordination between sales, finance, human resources and customer-service teams.
Rwema said successful digital transformation increasingly depends on adoption by employees and management rather than technology alone.
“Technology creates value when people use it effectively,” he said. “The focus today is helping businesses understand how digital tools can simplify processes, improve productivity and support long-term growth.”
The strong turnout in Kigali suggests growing awareness among Rwandan businesses that digital transformation is becoming a competitive necessity rather than a future aspiration.
Participants ranged from startup founders and small-business owners to representatives of larger corporations seeking ways to streamline operations and improve customer engagement.
For Odoo, the event underscored Rwanda’s emergence as one of East Africa’s most promising markets for enterprise software adoption, driven by a rapidly expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem and increasing demand for integrated digital solutions.
The packed venue also reflected how conversations around business technology in Rwanda have evolved beyond basic digitization toward the use of platforms capable of supporting companies throughout their growth journey.
As businesses face mounting pressure to improve efficiency, manage costs and respond faster to customers, integrated software providers are positioning themselves at the center of Rwanda’s next phase of digital transformation.
The event brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs and technology experts under the leadership of Silver Partners Odoo and GlobX, underscoring the growing role of strategic partnerships in accelerating digital transformation across Rwanda’s private sector.
Please contact us, info@globx.rw / www.theglobx.com / +250783796003
