How Media Group automated Ad Slot Sales & billing using ERP Software

How Media Group automated Ad Slot Sales & billing using ERP Software

In the fast-moving world of broadcast media, every second counts, literally.

For this regional media group with multiple TV channels and OTT platforms, ad slots were their lifeline. Yet, the operations behind those precious 30-second slots were anything but efficient.

They managed airtime sales through spreadsheets, broadcast schedules were updated manually, and more importantly their invoices were often delayed or disputed.

Sales teams juggled phone calls and emails to close deals, coordination with the programming team was reactive, and finance had little visibility into what's been aired versus what’s been billed.

Their core problem? Disconnected systems and departments.

The Challenge: Revenue Leakage, Delayed Billing & Missed Opportunities

This media group faced three critical business bottlenecks:

1. Disorganized Ad Slot Management

Sales didn’t have a real-time view of available slots across multiple channels and programs. Double bookings and underutilization were common.

2. Manual Contracting & Scheduling

Each ad booking required a manually drafted insertion order. Broadcast teams often received last-minute updates, leading to airing mismatches.

3. Delayed Invoicing & Client Disputes

Invoices were raised after broadcast, often without airing proof. Finance teams spent hours reconciling logs and sales records. Clients frequently questioned invoice accuracy.

The outcome?

  • Revenue leakage from unbilled slots
  • Wasted man-hours across sales, traffic, and accounts
  • A decline in client trust due to missed or incorrect airing

The Odoo Solution: Integrated Ad Sales to Billing Automation

Partnering with an Odoo implementation expert, the media group decided to redesign their entire ad sales and billing flow within the Odoo ecosystem. The key solution areas:

Real-Time Ad Slot Management Module

Built using Odoo Studio, a custom interface allowed sales teams to view:

  • Channel-wise slot availability
  • Program schedules and audience reach
  • Dynamic pricing based on slot time, program TRPs, and duration

Now, every sales rep had live visibility into what was available and what was booked.

Template-Based Digital Contracts

With Odoo Sales + Contracts, every new booking auto-generated an insertion order, capturing:

  • Slot details
  • Campaign dates
  • Ad creatives checklist
  • Legal terms

Approvals were built-in, and contracts were digitally signed using Odoo Sign.

Broadcast Scheduler Integration

The confirmed ad bookings were synced with programming schedules via Odoo Project workflows. Traffic teams received instant notifications, while on-air logs were tracked for validation.

Automated Billing Workflow

After the campaign aired:

  • Odoo matched confirmed bookings with actual airing logs.
  • Verified schedules triggered invoice generation via Odoo Accounting.
  • Invoices were auto-emailed to clients with airing proof and payment links.

No human follow-ups. No Excel audits.

Client Portal for Self-Service

Clients could:

  • View campaign schedule
  • Download proof-of-airing
  • Track payments and raise tickets

All via Odoo’s customer portal.

Results: Real Revenue Impact and Process Efficiency

After 90 days of go-live, the transformation was clear and measurable:

Article content

Client’s Words

"With Odoo, we don’t just manage ad slots — we manage an integrated revenue engine. Sales, traffic, and finance are now aligned in real-time." — Head of Revenue Operations, Media Group

What’s Next with Client Operations: Scaling with Programmatic & Digital Sync

With the Odoo core framework delivering value, the media group is exploring:

  • API integration with programmatic ad buying platforms
  • Predictive pricing based on viewership analytics
  • Automated campaign performance reporting
  • Integration with YouTube and OTT ad ops for unified billing

Key Takeaways for Other Broadcasters

  • You don’t need a massive media ERP to fix billing chaos — Odoo’s flexibility delivers quick wins.
  • Centralizing ad sales, scheduling, and invoicing isn’t just operational — it’s strategic.
  • Visibility drives accountability. With Odoo, no slot goes unsold or unbilled.

This is how we have assisted the client’s media organization digitize their core operations from production to monetization.

If you are looking for or in need of a tailored solution for your media workflows just drop us a line at sales@apagen.com or call us at  +91 9971800665.

 

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