Looking at rapid digitization, it is true that companies should be resilient and flexible in the face of change. Odoo has always managed to stay in sync with the times, and innovations were added to the Odoo 18 release. When the customers upgraded to this new release, it was evident that most of the features introduced in the Odoo 17 release had been upgraded.
This blog will Highlights the differences between the Odoo 17 and Odoo 18 modules so that you can see what’s changed, what’s improved, and how it can change your business.
Sales & Quotation Management: More Freedom In Utilizing The Software.
- Odoo 17
The module has an embedded competent sales quote builder, enabling it to quickly create and forward quotes. However.
- Odoo 18:
Odoo 18 has a lot many and stronger features. It has a better quotation builder with custom zones and dynamic fields to customize quotes for specific purposes easily. Odoo 18 also has sales, rentals, e-commerce modules, and bundle combo products, broadening its product line. Apart from that, custom commission schemes can be created by salespeople in an attempt to increase their compensation and, therefore, encourage them even more.
Website & eCommerce: Enhancing the Shopping Experience.
- Odoo 17
Odoo 17 had a good ECommerce platform with a drag-and-drop site builder, amongst other features. It lacked some premium features to improve the customer shopping experience further.
- Odoo 18:
Odoo 18 adds some new features to enhance the online shopping experience. One is the Click & Collect feature, in which customers buy online and collect in-store, which is perfect for companies that are obliged to provide both online and offline shopping. The website builder has also been enhanced with an improved design interface and a new quick translation tool to easily handle multilingual content. Odoo 18 also provides omnichannel integration, enabling businesses to manage sales via numerous channels like social media, Point of Sale, and eCommerce in one location.
Inventory & Manufacturing: Simplifying Operations.
- Odoo 17:
Inventory management in Odoo 17 was adequate, with basic warehouse management and barcode scanning features. However, businesses that required sophisticated manufacturing and production capabilities had to work within the confines of the existing system.
- Odoo 18:
Odoo 18 improves manufacturing and inventory management. The Master Production Schedule (MPS) module revolutionizes production planning with automatic replenishment and variable routing options. Barcode scanning is improved with a multifunctional mode for bulk scanning and automatic recording, saving time on manual entry and preventing manual entry errors. Supply chain management capabilities are greatly improved, with less effort in managing suppliers and logistics.
Accounting & Finance: Greater Control and Automation.
- Odoo 17:
While the Odoo 17 accounting module offered fundamentals like reporting and invoice management, it did not have some level of financial automation and control capabilities.
- Odoo 18:
Odoo 18 sets a higher standard with enhanced invoice management, including editing of invoices, detection of duplicates, and a redesigned lock dates wizard to help companies handle financial periods more efficiently. The new PEPPOL integration simplifies the storage and processing of documents, especially for companies operating in nations that have rigorous taxation regulations. Odoo 18 has also enhanced global payroll management, including configurable pay slips and better integration for global companies.
Human Resources: Enhancing Employee Management.
- Odoo 17: Odoo 17 brought basic HR management features like time-off management, attendance management, and payroll features. Yet, it lacked some of the advanced features of multinational companies. – Odoo 18: Odoo 18 introduces some enhancements in HR management. For instance, it now supports overtime management and fingerprint integration for accurate attendance tracking. Payroll management has also been enhanced further with the introduction of global payroll features, allowing companies to manage pay slips more efficiently on a global scale. All these enhancements make Odoo 18 a much-improved choice for companies with a global workforce.
Marketing Automation: Smarter Campaigns.
- Odoo 17:
Odoo 17 also included core marketing automation capabilities like email marketing campaigns, sales lead management, and social media marketing. The system lacked deeper insights and advanced features for tailored marketing.
- Odoo 18:
Odoo 18 introduces the Social Share app, which allows businesses to publish content directly on social media to maximize marketing efforts. WhatsApp integration in workflows like Inventory and Marketing Automation is another key feature, allowing businesses to interact better with customers. Marketing campaigns in Odoo 18 are also supplemented with AI-powered insights, allowing businesses to conduct more intelligent, targeted campaigns.
Project Management: Next-generation Collaboration Tools.
- Odoo 17:
Odoo 17 project management could handle collaboration, timelines, and task tracking, but it was extremely basic compared to more recent project management software.
- Odoo 18
Project management is greatly improved in Odoo 18 with embedded actions on tasks to facilitate more streamlined workflows. There are also additional features on project sharing where companies can assign roles and permissions per project for easier collaboration.
Point of Sale (POS): Enhanced Retail Experience.
- Odoo 17:
Odoo 17’s POS interface was functional but lacked the extent of customization options and high-end features that newer retail software offers.
- Odoo 18:
Odoo 18 also has a better POS UI that is more intuitive and customizable. The new barcode search feature also makes it easier for salespeople to search for products quickly during transactions, thus speeding up the checkout process.
Documents & Signatures: Enhanced Document Management.
- Odoo 17:
Odoo 17 Document Management module could handle file upload and basic document storage but lacked sophisticated features for efficient document management and signing.
- Odoo 18: Odoo 18 enhances document handling with batch uploading, document splitting functionality, and portal direct access, which makes document handling simpler. Even the Sign app is enhanced with functionality like radio buttons and strikethrough functionalities to simplify document handling.
User Interface & Experience: Cleaner and More Intuitive.
- Odoo 17:
Odoo 17 had an easy-to-use UI, but some of its features were somewhat rigid and difficult for some users to personalize.
- Odoo 18:
Odoo 18 has a simpler, more intuitive look and feel between modules, making it easier for users to navigate intuitively. Odoo 18 also provides more customization options, making it possible for companies to tailor their Odoo deployment to their needs.
Conclusion: Which Version Should You Choose?
- Although Odoo 17 is a decent ERP system that will be sufficient for most businesses, Odoo 18 builds upon it with some serious enhancements and additions that enhance automation, AI-based insights, user experience, and cross-module connectivity. If your business relies on advanced automation, better inventory management, and global HR payroll functionalities, a move to Odoo 18 will be worth it. Also, the advanced eCommerce and project management functionalities make it a greater choice for growing businesses. If you’re on Odoo 17, Odoo 18’s new features can make you work smarter, improve your customer experience, and automate your internal workflows. If you’re considering migrating to Odoo or upgrading, Odoo 18 is a solid, future-proof solution that can meet the evolving needs of today’s business.
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