It’s 8:30 a.m. and your accountant realizes that no bank statements have been synchronized for the past ten days. The PSD2 connection expired yet again over the weekend. Result: two hours of manual catch-up and urgent reconciliations to complete before the board meeting at 11 a.m.

This scenario repeats itself in far too many Belgian companies every single week. Yet, the technology already exists to avoid it altogether.

Belgian businesses now have two options for automating their banking flows in Odoo: solutions based on the European PSD2 standard (such as Ponto or Odoo’s native synchronization) and Isabel Connect, which relies on the Isabel 6 platform and the Belgian CODA format. The choice directly impacts your accounting team’s efficiency, the reliability of your financial data, and the security of your payment processes. 
So, how do you decide?

PSD2 vs Isabel Connect: Two Different Philosophies

PSD2 Standard: European Openness and Uniformity

The PSD2 directive requires European banks to open their APIs to third-party providers, encouraging a competitive ecosystem. This enables solutions like Ponto or Odoo’s native synchronization to retrieve banking transactions directly from your accounts.

Isabel Connect: Belgian Expertise Serving Odoo

Isabel Connect leverages the Isabel 6 ecosystem, the benchmark platform used by over 50,000 Belgian companies. It relies on the CODA format, a standard developed by Febelfin for more than 20 years. Unlike pan-European PSD2 APIs, Isabel Connect is built on Belgium’s existing banking infrastructure to deliver an optimized experience.

PSD2 Pain Points: When Automation Stops Working

Reauthentication: A Productivity Killer

With PSD2, you must revalidate your connection every 90 days for each bank. While this rule enhances security, it creates recurring maintenance and a constant risk of synchronization breakdown. For multi-bank businesses, this could mean a half-day of lost productivity each quarter, not counting interruptions at random times.

Partial Data: Missing Information Comes at a Cost

PSD2 only transmits isolated transactions, not the full official bank statement structure. This leads to tangible problems:

No control over opening/closing balances, making it impossible to automatically detect anomalies. 
Statement numbers in Odoo don’t match those of the bank, complicating cross-verification with official documents.
Attachments and supporting documents are not transmitted, requiring manual checks. Communication details are often truncated or poorly structured, reducing reconciliation efficiency.

Manual Payment Handling: A Security Risk

With PSD2, Odoo generates SEPA files but cannot send them to the bank. Your process remains exposed: download the file, log in manually to the banking portal, then upload and sign. At each stage, the file can be accessed, altered, or hijacked—leaving room for fraud that PSD2-based solutions cannot address.

According to EBA (European Banking Authority) data, non-SCA-authenticated transactions have fraud rates up to five times higher, underlining how critical security truly is.

Isabel Connect: Full Automation and CODA Reliability

Annual Authentication: Peace of Mind Restored

With Isabel Connect, a single authentication per year is enough. This technical stability ensures uninterrupted synchronization of your bank statements all year long. No more Monday morning surprises, no more races to catch up missed imports.

The CODA Format: A Benchmark in Accounting Quality

The CODA format, developed and maintained by Febelfin, provides every element of an official Belgian bank statement:

Opening and closing balances for automatic consistency checks. 
Official statement numbers matching your bank, ensuring flawless traceability. 
Fully structured communications, according to Belgian standards, for optimal reconciliation. 
Attachments and metadata for complex justifications, reducing back-and-forth requests.

This complete dataset transforms Odoo into a true financial dashboard with reliable, auditable information.

End-to-End Payment Automation: From Generation to Signing

Isabel Connect turns Odoo into an integrated payment hub. With a single click, SEPA files are sent directly from Odoo to Isabel 6 for electronic signing, without external handling. This native integration eliminates fraudulent alteration risks while guaranteeing end-to-end payment security.

Signatories are automatically notified via their smartphone or Isabel token, streamlining approvals without compromising security.

A Real Customer Testimonial

“Isabel Connect saves us between 45 minutes and one hour each day, but most importantly, it greatly reduces the risk of errors. Our accounting teams can focus on analysis instead of data entry.” — Corinne Estiévenart, Deputy General Director, Invest.BW

Enhanced Security by Design

Isabel Connect leverages Isabel 6’s existing security infrastructure, requiring no additional bank credentials to be shared. Staff members do not need direct access to banking interfaces: the solution handles all flows transparently and securely, drastically reducing access-related risks.

Comparison Table: Isabel Connect vs PSD2 Solutions

Criterion	Isabel Connect	PSD2 / Ponto / Native Odoo
Connection stability	1 authentication per year	Reauthentication every 90 days
Transaction detail	Full CODA (balances, references, attachments)	Isolated transactions only
Payment automation	Direct transfer to Isabel 6 in 1 click	Manual SEPA download/upload
Security	Isabel 6 infrastructure	API access management required
Quality control	Balance + sequence checks	No automatic validation
Maintenance	Managed by Isabel/Idealis	Dependent on APIs and regulations
Time savings	45 min–1h/day (based on testimonials)	Partial savings, recurring effort
Total cost of ownership	ROI-driven investment	Hidden maintenance costs

This comparison shows that while PSD2 solutions may appear more accessible initially, their hidden maintenance costs and functional limitations often reverse the economic equation.

Compatibility and Support: Your Technology Assurance

Broad and Evolving Compatibility

Isabel Connect is fully compatible with the current Odoo ecosystem, covering versions 14 to 18, Enterprise environments, Odoo.sh, and On-Premise. This comprehensive coverage guarantees your investment remains viable, regardless of your current Odoo infrastructure or future migration plans.

The solution is continuously evolving to adapt to new Odoo versions, even before their official release, protecting you against technological obsolescence.

Integrated High-Quality Technical Support

Technical and functional support is provided directly by Idealis Consulting, an Odoo Gold Partner for over 15 years and a recognized expert in Belgian banking integrations. With this combined expertise in both Odoo and banking, you benefit from a single point of contact who can quickly resolve any technical issues without redirecting you from one support team to another.

Proactive and Transparent Maintenance

Isabel Connect benefits from regular updates and continuous maintenance, anticipating developments in both Odoo and Isabel 6. The Idealis team monitors regulatory changes, new versions, and developments in banking to ensure ongoing compatibility without any intervention required on your part.

ROI and Strategic Positioning: Why Isabel Connect Proves Itself

The Economic Equation That Convinces Financial Management

​

Isabel Connect requires a monthly investment, but its return becomes evident within the first few weeks of use. Quantifiable time savings of 45 minutes to one hour per day represent 15 to 20 business days recovered annually, which is the equivalent of an entire month of accounting work. Error reduction is another advantage, as CODA controls automation drastically diminishes the need for accounting corrections and manual adjustments. Continuous productivity is ensured, with the elimination of PSD2 interruptions maintaining your teams in an optimal workflow. Securing risks is just as crucial, with fewer manual file manipulations reducing exposure to both internal and external fraud.

For Whom Does Isabel Connect Become Essential?

Companies operating multiple banks and handling large volumes of transactions find Isabel Connect to be a solution that transforms their day-to-day operations. Organizations focused on maximum security and complete traceability experience peace of mind that cannot be achieved with standard PSD2 solutions. Structures seeking the most advanced automation in Odoo benefit from native integration that respects their existing processes.

The Argument That Makes the Difference

For a price equivalent to half a consultant day per month, you save 15 to 20 days of accounting work per year while securing your financial flows. The calculation of return on investment becomes obvious when considering the hidden costs of PSD2 solutions—maintenance, error corrections, operational stress, and security risks.

With 50,000 Belgian companies and over 70,000 daily users already relying on Isabel 6, the ecosystem’s maturity and reliability are undeniable.

Your Choice Depends on Your Priorities

Isabel Connect stands out as the benchmark solution for Belgian companies demanding maximum automation and reliability within Odoo. If your priority is solely ease of implementation with a very limited budget, PSD2 solutions may temporarily suffice for basic needs. However, if you seek operational robustness, enhanced security, and optimal efficiency, Isabel Connect justifies its investment with measurable returns from the very first months of use.

The real question is no longer “Why Isabel Connect?” but “Why wait any longer?”

Each day of delay means lost working hours and avoidable risks.

Discover Isabel Connect in action with our tailored demo or reach out to our team of experts for a custom assessment. Your Odoo accounting deserves a banking connection that matches your ambitions.