How 50five Scales as a leading charge point operator

From Startup to Market Leader

50five began as a small startup under the ENGIE umbrella. Through rapid growth, mergers, and acquisitions, the company expanded both in Belgium and the Netherlands. In 2022, with JP Morgan joining the story, growth accelerated even further. The recent acquisition of Shell Recharge operations in France and Germany only reinforced 50five’s European ambition.

Their core mission? Delivering end-to-end charging infrastructure solutions—from installation and charge cards, to a management platform and beyond.

One System, One Source of Truth

With such rapid expansion came growing pains. Belgium and the Netherlands were working with different ERP systems, creating fragmentation and inefficiency. The Dutch branch had already adopted Odoo ERP, and the decision was made to roll it out in Belgium too.

“Our customers have very high expectations,” Sophie explains. “We want to serve them in the best possible way, while also working as efficiently as we can. That’s why we chose Odoo—one fully integrated system to replace fragmented tools that simply didn’t talk to each other.”

Why Dynapps? Stability, Growth, and Trust

For this large-scale ERP project in 2023, 50five looked for a partner with proven expertise. Dynapps had already been working with the Dutch branch, but the decision to collaborate again was a conscious one.

“We needed stability and a partner that could grow with us,” Sophie says. “Instead of building everything in-house, we trusted Dynapps to bring the expertise.”

Geert outlines the three-phase approach Dynapps applies:

1. Analysis – Mapping needs, understanding the changing situation, and listening to key users.
2. Implementation – Creating the project scope and building solutions, much like drafting a house with an architect before involving a contractor.
3. Go-Live & Support – Being physically present to support users and answer questions on the spot.
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The Power of Challenging Each Other

One recurring theme in the conversation is the value of being challenged.

“The best results come when Dynapps colleagues actively challenge us and think along,” Sophie shares. “It’s great to see that our partner genuinely has our best interests in mind.”

Geert adds: “Customers often want a lot—our role is also to help them focus on what’s most relevant. Challenging is part of that.”

Clear communication, proactive problem-solving, and short communication lines proved to be other key success factors.

Cross-Border Challenges

Operating in two countries brought its own set of challenges. Meeting the expectations of key users and colleagues wasn’t always easy.

“Sometimes you have to dare to disappoint people,” Sophie admits. “Not everything is possible at once.”

Geert emphasizes the importance of a Single Point of Contact (SPOC):

“The larger the organization, the more critical it becomes to have a SPOC. Serving multiple countries requires more coordination.”

The Odoo Suite in Action at 50five

Today, nearly all of 50five’s core processes run on Odoo:

• CRM for leads and sales follow-up
• Survey module for pre-installation assessments at customer homes
• Quotations, invoicing, and subscriptions
• Purchasing, logistics, and warehouse integration via API
• Field Service app for on-site installers
• Project module for large-scale projects
• Helpdesk for ticketing and customer support

“Odoo grew along with our company,” Sophie says. “It’s so accessible—thanks to the wide range of apps, you can build step by step.”

Flexibility for Every Business

Both Sophie and Geert highlight Odoo’s low-threshold and scalable nature.

Geert: “Even without customizations, Odoo offers immense value. Its license model lets you use the full suite at a fair price—even as a small company with just one user.”

Sophie adds: “In very specific businesses like ours, we sometimes look at customizations. But we always make a business case first to ensure the time and cost are worth it.”

Conclusion

The 50five story shows how technology, the right partner, and a strong vision can power exponential growth. With Odoo as their integrated backbone and Dynapps as a trusted partner, 50five is well on its way to achieving its ambition of becoming Europe’s leading charge point operator.