With nearly five decades of experience, Imprenta Salesiana Don Bosco from Quito and Centro Gráfico Salesiano from Cuenca have been key players in Ecuador's graphic industry. Their growth has been extraordinary: from billing under one million dollars in 2006 to having a robust 18-million-dollar annual operation in 2025, serving some of the country's largest and most important clients.
For an organization of this size, with two plants, more than 100 employees, and strategic contracts with government institutions and international publishing houses, the need for integrated and precise management was no longer optional. In 2024, the Salesians made a corporate decision: take a digital leap and migrate the entire operation to Odoo.
An Expanding Industry That Demands Total Control
"We are one of Ecuador's largest printing houses," explains Johnny Guerra, general manager. Currently, the company is preparing to open a new two-hectare plant in Cuenca in 2026, which will allow expansion into business lines such as food packaging, one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. That level of operation requires more than isolated systems and manual processes.
The Problem: Scattered Information and Slow Decision-Making
For years, the printing house used independent systems for production, inventory, and accounting. This generated delays in updating information, forced them to use manual processes to add information to their systems, caused difficulty in controlling cash flow and portfolio recovery, and provided little visibility for strategic decision-making. Johnny also commented that "A balance sheet delivered two or three months later is no longer useful."
In an industry where hundreds of delivery notes can be issued daily, from $200 invoices to $3 million contracts, the lack of integration becomes a serious financial risk.
The Decision: A Comprehensive and Adaptable System
The Salesian corporation, present in more than 130 countries, sought a robust, scalable solution capable of adapting to complex industries, and that's what led them to find Odoo.
"I believe the choice was made because it's a complete, comprehensive system that adapts to any industry. The graphic industry is very technical, and even so, Odoo covers absolutely everything."
Additionally, Odoo isn't just used for the printing houses: they also use it in their schools, bookstores, hotels, retreat houses, and even their poultry farm.
The Immediate Impact: Productivity and Real-Time Decisions
The 2024 implementation marked a turning point, as they now have their information up to date and can make strategic decisions. Today they can review their billing, inventory turnover, machine productivity, accounts payable and receivable, and cash flow behavior on a daily basis.
Johnny comments, "I love watching how billing grows every day," and that visibility allowed them to improve their results by 30% in the first year.
The direct connection between invoices, delivery notes, credit days, and payments prevents portfolio accumulation and facilitates its management. For the first time, they could identify non-rotating products, obsolete inventory, and improvement opportunities in warehouses and bookstores. The complete flow, from inventory to balance sheets, is connected. There are no longer manual processes or duplicate information. Furthermore, with the opening of the new plant and its expansion, Odoo will be the technological foundation that will support that growth.
2024: The Best Year in Their History
The printing house finished 2024 with the best results since its founding, and for 2025 they already project exceeding those numbers.
But beyond the figures, there's an even greater achievement: the organization can now guarantee that its surplus will continue financing social projects for those who need it most.
Advice for Other Companies
After decades working with complex systems and failed experiences, Johnny shares a recommendation:
"Go little by little. Start with the essential modules and grow according to the company's needs. Odoo is an excellent tool, but you have to learn it and get the most out of it."
The Conclusion: Productivity, Clarity, and Growth
Imprenta Salesiana Don Bosco went from a fragmented system to a platform that integrates, controls, and provides clarity to the entire operation.
Today they make decisions based on immediate information, optimize resources, control their cash flow, and maximize productivity and, most importantly, they are prepared to grow, innovate, and maintain their leadership in Ecuador and beyond.
Learn more at imprentadonbosco.com
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