Odoo 18 redefines inventory management, cutting down on manual tasks, increasing precision, and connecting seamlessly with other key business areas.
Here’s an overview of how Odoo 18’s new features can support inventory operations with improved efficiency and reliability.
1. Automated replenishment and stock reordering
Keeping inventory levels optimal is one of the main concerns for inventory managers, and Odoo 18 introduces tools to make this easier:
- Smarter Replenishment: Using historical data and demand estimates, Odoo 18 can automatically calculate optimal reorder levels and trigger purchase orders when stock levels dip. This feature supports both Make to Stock (MTS) and Make to Order (MTO) setups, allowing businesses to adopt a just-in-time approach when needed.
This automation is particularly useful for businesses with complex supply chains or multiple warehouses, helping avoid stockouts or excess inventory by adjusting to actual demand.
- Smart storage & Organised placement: Odoo 18 includes advanced storage recommendations, guiding teams on the best placement for new items based on product type and past locations, this streamlines warehouse organisation and retrieval.
Keeping storage consistent and picking times low as teams know exactly where each product belongs.
2. Multi-warehouse & Multi-location management
Managing multiple locations can create complex logistical challenges, but Odoo 18 eases this with centralised control and real-time visibility:
- Multi-warehouse support: With Odoo 18, businesses can track stock across several warehouses and even within different zones in a single facility. Each warehouse operates as a part of the larger system, keeping every stock movement visible and updated instantly.
This is especially valuable for large businesses with geographically distributed warehouses, as it provides a consolidated view of stock and orders across the network.
- Multi-company traceability: For businesses that operate multiple entities, Odoo 18’s cross-company traceability allows complete tracking for each product by lot or serial number across entities.
This reduces the risk of variations, particularly during inter-company transfers.
3. Real-time inventory updates & Mobile barcode scanning
Odoo 18’s new barcode scanning features further simplify data capture and minimise errors:
- Mobile barcode scanning: Odoo supports scanning through mobile devices or handheld scanners, making it accessible and flexible. Warehouse staff can scan barcodes to track product movements, receive goods, or prepare orders.
The mobile functionality speeds up processes, eliminates the need for manual data entry, and improves data accuracy by integrating with Odoo’s inventory module directly.
- Automated product creation: When new items arrive, scanning the barcode can auto-populate product details if they’re already in the system, reducing setup time and ensuring records are accurate from the start!
4. Advanced order fulfilment & Wave picking
Efficient order fulfilment is essential in inventory management, and Odoo 18 includes several tools to simplify this:
- Wave picking for batch fulfillment: Odoo 18 has introduced wave picking, consolidating orders with similar items for a single picking session.
This organised approach reduces back-and-forth in the warehouse, allowing employees to pick items in an efficient order and prepare multiple orders simultaneously.
- Backorder handling: In situations where items are temporarily out of stock, Odoo 18’s improved backorder creation allows teams to manage split orders and schedule deliveries across multiple dates or locations.
This maintains order accuracy without delaying the entire order when only certain items are missing.
5. Insightful inventory analytics and customisable dashboards
A modern inventory system needs to support informed decision-making, and Odoo 18’s new reporting tools are designed with this in mind:
- Customisable inventory dashboards: The redesigned dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of stock movements, turnover, and order status, letting managers focus on what matters most without digging through reports.
- Quality control & Lot tracking: Odoo 18 enables strict quality control checks for incoming and outgoing stock, with the ability to assign unique lot and serial numbers for high-value or sensitive items. Quality control rules ensure only items meeting predefined standards are accepted or shipped, improving overall customer satisfaction and compliance.
Conclusion
Odoo 18’s inventory features are designed to provide more precise control, support automated workflows, and enable better resource management. Wholesale and distribution businesses can benefit from improved stock handling and accurate order processing, ensuring operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Inventory with Odoo 18