CRM to Odoo Data Migration: Free vs Paid Approaches Using SSIS

Overview

Data migration from Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM to Odoo is a common requirement when organizations adopt Odoo for ERP or customer management needs. This article explains two practical approaches for migrating data—using a paid connector and a free/custom solution—both implemented with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).

The focus of this migration is on Contact data, but the same approach can be extended to other entities.

1. Data Import Using SSIS

SSIS is a powerful Microsoft ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tool that enables data movement, transformation, validation, and error handling. In this implementation:

• Source System: Dynamics 365 CRM
• Destination System: Odoo
• Initial Dataset: Contacts

Two different methods were used to achieve the migration.

Method 1: Using the CData Odoo Connector (Paid Connector)

Description

This approach uses the CData Odoo Connector with SSIS to enable bulk data import from Dynamics 365 CRM to Odoo.

• Dynamics 365 CRM is configured as the source.
• Odoo is configured as the destination.
• The CData connector provides built-in connectivity between SSIS and Odoo.

Key Features

• Minimal custom coding
• Easy field mapping through SSIS
• Built-in data transformation and validation
• Reliable error handling
• Faster implementation

Implementation Notes

The migration was tested using the CData Odoo Connector. Using SSIS, contact records were successfully extracted from CRM, transformed as required, and loaded into Odoo.

This method is ideal for production environments where stability, support, and reduced development effort are priorities.

Important Note

The CData Odoo Connector is a licensed component. After the trial period expires, a paid subscription is required to continue using this connector.

Method 2: Using SSIS Script Component (Free / Custom Solution)

Description

As an alternative to paid connectors, a custom SSIS Script Component was implemented for proof-of-concept purposes.

This method uses:

• SSIS built-in components
• Custom C# scripting
• Direct Odoo API integration

C# Scripting:

using System;

using System.Net.Http;

using System.Text;

using System.Windows.Forms;

using Microsoft.SqlServer.Dts.Pipeline.Wrapper;

using Microsoft.SqlServer.Dts.Runtime.Wrapper;

[Microsoft.SqlServer.Dts.Pipeline.SSISScriptComponentEntryPointAttribute]

public class ScriptMain : UserComponent

{

    private static readonly HttpClient client = new HttpClient();

    private string odooUrl = “{baseurl}/jsonrpc”;

    public override void Input0_ProcessInputRow(Input0Buffer Row)

    {

        // Construct the JSON payload

        // Using string interpolation for simplicity

        string jsonPayload = @”

        {

            “”jsonrpc””: “”2.0″”,

            “”method””: “”call””,

            “”params””: {

                “”service””: “”object””,

                “”method””: “”execute_kw””,

                “”args””: [

                    “”{database}””,

                    2,

                    “”{APIKEY}””,

                    “”res.partner””,

                    “”create””,

                    [

                        {

                            “”name””: “”” + Row.fullname + @”””,

                            “”email””: “”” + Row.emailaddress1 + @”””,

                            “”phone””: “”” + Row.mobilephone + @”””

                        }

                    ]

                ]

            },

            “”id””: 1

        }”;

        try

        {

            var content = new StringContent(jsonPayload, Encoding.UTF8, “application/json”);

            var response = client.PostAsync(odooUrl, content).Result;

            if (!response.IsSuccessStatusCode)

            {

                // Log error if needed

                bool cancel = false;

                ComponentMetaData.FireError(0, “Odoo API”, “Failed to create record: ” + response.ReasonPhrase, “”, 0, out cancel);

            }

        }

        catch (Exception ex)

        {

            bool cancel = false;

            ComponentMetaData.FireError(0, “Odoo API”, ex.Message, “”, 0, out cancel);

        }

    }

}

Note: In the scripting, we need to add a reference to System.Net.Http, as the scripting does not support NuGet package references.

Key Features

• No third-party licensing cost
• Full control over data flow logic
• Custom field mapping
• Flexible transformation rules
• Batch processing support
• Robust error handling

Considerations

While this approach avoids licensing costs, it requires:

• Manual API integration
• Custom C# development
• Ongoing maintenance
• More development and testing effort

This method is best suited for organizations with strong technical resources or for environments where licensing cost is a concern.

Comparison Summary

Aspect	CData Connector (Paid)	Script Component (Free)
Cost	Paid (Trial available)	Free
Setup Time	Fast	Longer
Coding Required	Minimal	High
Maintenance	Low	Medium to High
Scalability	High	High (with effort)
Best For	Production use	Custom or budget-driven solutions

Conclusion

Both approaches successfully migrated contact data from Dynamics 365 CRM to Odoo using SSIS:

• The CData Connector provides a fast, reliable, and low-maintenance solution suitable for production environments.
• The Script Component approach offers a cost-effective alternative with greater flexibility but requires more development effort.

The final choice depends on budget, technical expertise, and long-term maintenance considerations. Book a Free Consultation with Skysoft connections

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