Davix vs Odoo vs SAP vs Defontana for clinics: Do you need a generic ERP or one built for healthcare?

When a clinic sets out to professionalize its commercial management, many administrators consider implementing a "serious" ERP like Odoo, SAP Business One, or Defontana. These are well-known, powerful platforms with thousands of businesses using them across Latin America.

But there's a fundamental problem: these ERPs were designed for any company, not yours. And adapting a generic ERP to the needs of a healthcare facility costs more than the software itself.

In this article, we compare real costs — license + implementation + customization — and explain why the right answer for a clinic isn't "the most powerful ERP," but "the ERP that already understands healthcare."

Who publishes their pricing?

Price comparison: the license is just the tip of the iceberg

License prices (what you see)

Implementation costs (what you DON'T see)

Healthcare customization costs (what nobody mentions)

Here's the real hidden cost. A generic ERP knows nothing about insurers, copays, settlements, or differentiated rate schedules. To make it work in a clinic, you need custom development:

Customizing a generic ERP for healthcare can cost 10-100x more than using a solution already built for the sector.

Total cost of ownership (TCO) — first year

For a clinic with 3 users issuing ~200 documents/month:

But Odoo is open source and free...

Odoo Community Edition is free to use. But "free" doesn't mean "no cost":

1. Odoo Community doesn't include SUNAT electronic billing — you need a localization module (paid)
2. Implementation is done by a partner — partners charge by the hour ($50-150 USD/hour)
3. Healthcare-specific development doesn't exist natively — you need custom development
4. Maintenance is on you — updates, hosting, security, backups

The real TCO of "free" Odoo for a clinic is $15,000–$50,000+ USD in the first year. With Davix, it's ~$720 USD.

But SAP is "the best enterprise solution"...

SAP Business One is excellent for manufacturing, distribution, and retail. But for a clinic:

1. It has no native healthcare modules — everything is customization
2. It requires a certified partner — you can't implement it yourself
3. The minimum contract is typically 12-36 months
4. Updates can break customizations
5. Maintenance costs run 15-20% annually of the initial investment

If your clinic bills S/.100,000/month (~$28,000 USD), a $112,000 USD SAP deployment in the first year doesn't make sense when Davix does the same job for $720 USD.

But Defontana is LATAM-focused and more accessible...

Defontana is the most reasonable option among generic ERPs. Published pricing, multi-country support, cloud-native. But:

1. It has no healthcare logic — it doesn't handle agreements, copays, or settlements
2. It doesn't integrate with PACS, LIS, or HIS — you'd need custom integrations
3. The base cost ($30-180/month) multiplies when you add customization
4. It's not specialized — it's a good generic ERP, but a generic ERP isn't enough for healthcare

When DOES a generic ERP make sense?

An ERP like Odoo or SAP makes sense if:

• Your organization already uses the ERP in other divisions (pharmacy chain, corporate group)
• You need integration with manufacturing or logistics systems unrelated to healthcare
• You have a budget of $50,000+ USD and a dedicated IT team
• Your operation is large-scale hospital (300+ beds)

For clinics, imaging centers, laboratories, and medical offices — a generic ERP is like using a sledgehammer to hang a picture frame.

Frequently asked questions

Is Davix an ERP?

Davix doesn't position itself as a generic ERP. It's a comprehensive management platform for healthcare with specialized modules: Commercial Management, PACS/RIS, LIS, HIS, Electronic Signature, and more. It covers the ERP functionality a clinic needs, but without the complexity or cost of a generic ERP.

Does Odoo have healthcare modules?

Odoo has third-party modules like "oeHealth" developed by partners. But they're not native, not guaranteed by Odoo, and require specialized implementation and configuration. Integration with PACS, LIS, or SUNAT electronic billing isn't included.

Can I migrate from Odoo/SAP to Davix?

Yes. Davix activation includes data migration. The Davix team helps you transfer historical data — clients, products, rate schedules, and transactions.

Does Davix scale for a network of clinics?

Yes. The Enterprise plan (S/.640/month, ~$200 USD) includes multi-location support, integration API, advanced dashboards, and 24/7 support. For clinic networks with complex requirements, Davix offers custom plans.

What if I need full accounting?

Davix Commercial Management is not an accounting software — it's a commercial management and billing system. Tax reports (sales, VAT, withholdings) can be exported to your accountant or accounting software (CONCAR, etc.). This is by design: your accountant handles accounting, Davix handles commercial management.

Conclusion

The temptation to implement a "serious" ERP like Odoo or SAP at a clinic is understandable. They're recognized brands with broad ecosystems. But the numbers speak for themselves:

You don't need to adapt a generic ERP to your clinic. You need a system that already speaks the language of healthcare. And at a fraction of the cost.

See detailed pricing at davix.ai/precios/gestion-comercial/.