Key challenges

• Production module workflow was rigid and did not reflect real operational steps — causing manual workarounds and delays.
• Intermittent module errors and inconsistent UI themes caused user confusion and reduced adoption.
• Custom functionality gaps — required modules and API integrations were missing or under-designed.
• Database performance and query bottlenecks impacted responsiveness during peak usage.
• Lack of monitoring, backups and formal testing led to risk of downtime and slow issue detection.

CnEL India’s approach

CnEL India executed a structured, phased engagement focused on rapid stabilization followed by scoped enhancements. Our approach combined deep Dolibarr expertise, production-grade engineering practices and close collaboration with the client’s operations team.

Phase 1 — Discovery & stabilization

• Rapid audit of the Dolibarr environment (code, modules, theme and DB) to list errors, performance hotspots and customization needs.
• Priority fix sweep: resolve high-impact module errors and security/configuration issues that affected production users.
• Baseline backup & disaster recovery plan created and tested on a staging instance.

Phase 2 — Production module redesign (priority)

• Workshoped the target production workflow with stakeholders to capture actual operational steps and approval gates.
• Designed and implemented new workflow stages inside the production module — including custom states, automated transitions and role-based actions.
• Built UI enhancements so operators can view and act on the full production lifecycle with minimal clicks.

Phase 3 — Custom modules & integrations

• Developed tailor-made Dolibarr modules for missing business capabilities (e.g., production work orders, quality checkpoints, custom BOM handling).
• Integrated third-party APIs (inventory scanners, shipping, vendor portals) via secure connectors and documented webhooks/events.

Phase 4 — Performance, monitoring & QA

• Database optimization: query analysis, indexing, cache tuning and schema clean-ups to improve throughput and reduce latency.
• Implemented performance monitoring (APM + logs) and operational dashboards for the production module to detect slowdowns and errors in real time.
• Introduced automated and manual testing cycles — unit tests for modules, integration tests for APIs, and acceptance tests for workflow scenarios.
• Finalized backup strategy and disaster recovery runbooks; scheduled and automated backups with periodic restore drills.

Technical highlights

• Custom Dolibarr modules built with best-practice modular architecture for easy maintenance and upgrades.
• Workflow engine enhancements allowing multi-step approvals, conditional transitions and audit trails.
• Secure RESTful API integrations and webhook handlers for third-party services.
• Database performance tuning including slow query elimination, proper indexing and optimized transactions.
• Monitoring stack (logs + metrics + alerts) for proactive incident detection and SLA management.
• Automated CI pipeline for deployments to staging and production with pre-deployment test runs.

Why CnEL India was the right partner

• Domain expertise: Proven, hands-on Dolibarr customization experience — from theme work to deep module development and production workflows.
• Operational mindset: We don’t just build features — we adapt systems to actual operations so the tool matches how people work, reducing manual effort and errors.
• End-to-end delivery: From discovery and fixes to monitoring, backups and rigorous testing — we cover the full lifecycle for safe, reliable releases.
• Security & reliability focus: Every integration and customization follows secure patterns and is accompanied by backup and rollback plans.
• Transparent collaboration: Regular sprint demos, documentation and knowledge transfer so your team owns the solution after delivery.

Outcomes & benefits

• Production workflow aligned to real operational steps — reduced manual handoffs and faster throughput for production orders.
• Recurring module errors eliminated and system stability improved, increasing user confidence and adoption.
• New tailored modules addressed critical capability gaps without compromising upgradability.
• Improved database responsiveness and predictable performance under load.
• Monitoring and backup processes in place, reducing mean time to detection and improving recovery readiness.
• Clear test coverage and CI process reduced deployment risk for future enhancements.

Client testimonial

“CnEL India transformed our Dolibarr system from a fragile, hard-to-use tool into a reliable, workflow-driven platform. They quickly fixed long-standing module issues, redesigned the production workflow to match how our teams actually work, and delivered custom modules and integrations that removed several manual steps. Their attention to performance, backups and testing gave us confidence to run critical operations on Dolibarr. The team was responsive, transparent, and clearly expert — we couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”

Recommended next steps

1. Complete knowledge transfer and admin training for your operations and IT staff.
2. Define a roadmap for incremental feature additions with measurable business outcomes.
3. Schedule periodic performance reviews and DR drills to maintain reliability as usage grows.
4. Adopt a short-cycle maintenance plan (patching, backups, monitoring reviews) to prevent regression.