Configure Odoo

A Beginner’s Guide on How to Configure Odoo ERP

So, you’ve taken the plunge and invested in Odoo ERP. Congratulations! You’re on your way to streamlining your business operations and boosting efficiency. This blog post is your comprehensive guide on How to Configure Odoo, even if you’re a complete beginner. We’ll walk you through the core setup and essential modules, step-by-step. Let’s get started!

Getting Started with Odoo: The Basics

First things first, you’ll receive your Odoo license details. This will include your database URL, login credentials, and possibly a setup wizard. Access your Odoo instance using the provided URL. You’ll be greeted with the Odoo login screen. Enter your credentials.

1. Database Setup:

• If you’re setting up a new database, Odoo might guide you through a wizard. Choose your preferred language, country, and demo data option. Demo data is helpful for learning, but you’ll likely want to create a clean database for your live business.
• Once logged in, you’ll see the Odoo dashboard. This is your central hub.

2. Installing Apps:

• Odoo’s strength lies in its modularity. You install only the apps (modules) you need.
• Click on the “Apps” icon. You’ll see a list of available apps. Use the search bar to find specific modules.
• Click “Install” for the modules you require.

Essential Odoo Modules and Configuration

Here are some core Odoo modules you’ll likely need:

1. Sales:

• Manage your sales process, from quotations to invoices.
• Configure your sales teams, pricelists, and payment methods.
• Customize your sales order forms.

2. Inventory:

• Track your inventory levels, manage warehouses, and automate stock movements.
• Define your product categories and attributes.
• Set up replenishment rules.

3. Purchasing:

• Manage your purchase orders, vendor relationships, and incoming shipments.
• Configure your purchase agreements and RFQs (Requests for Quotation).

4. Accounting:

• Handle your financial transactions, generate reports, and manage your chart of accounts.
• Configure your fiscal year, taxes, and accounting methods.

5. CRM (Customer Relationship Management):

• Manage your leads, opportunities, and customer interactions.
• Track your sales pipeline and analyze customer behavior.

6. Manufacturing (if applicable):

• Plan and manage your manufacturing operations, including Bills of Materials (BOMs), work centers, and production schedules.

7. Project Management:

• Organize your projects, assign tasks, and track progress.
• Collaborate with your team and manage deadlines.

Essential Odoo Modules and Configuration (Detailed Steps)

Here are detailed configuration steps for each core Odoo module:

1. Sales:

• Install the App: Go to “Apps” and install the “Sales” app.
• Configure Sales Teams: Go to “Sales” -> “Configuration” -> “Sales Teams.” Create new teams, assign members, and define their targets.
• Configure Pricelists: Go to “Sales” -> “Configuration” -> “Pricelists.” Define different price lists for various customer segments or product categories.
• Configure Quotation Layout: Go to “Sales” -> “Configuration” -> “Settings.” Customize the appearance of your quotations, including logos, headers, and footers.
• Configure Payment Methods: Go to “Sales” -> “Configuration” -> “Payment Acquirers.” Set up your preferred payment gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe).
• Create Products: Go to “Sales” -> “Products” -> “Products.” Add your products, define their prices, and assign them to categories.

2. Inventory:

• Install the App: Go to “Apps” and install the “Inventory” app.
• Configure Warehouses: Go to “Inventory” -> “Configuration” -> “Warehouses.” Define your warehouse locations.
• Configure Product Categories: Go to “Inventory” -> “Configuration” -> “Product Categories.” Organize your products into categories for better management.
• Configure Units of Measure: Go to “Inventory” -> “Configuration” -> “Units of Measure.” Define the units you use for your products (e.g., pieces, kilograms, liters).
• Configure Replenishment Rules: Go to “Inventory” -> “Operations” -> “Replenishment.” Set up rules for automatic stock replenishment.
• Create Products (Inventory Details): Go to “Inventory” -> “Products” -> “Products.” Add products with detailed inventory information, like tracking methods and routes.

3. Purchasing:

• Install the App: Go to “Apps” and install the “Purchase” app.
• Configure Vendors: Go to “Purchases” -> “Vendors.” Add your vendors and their contact information.
• Configure Purchase Agreements: Go to “Purchases” -> “Agreements.” Define long-term agreements with vendors.
• Configure RFQs (Requests for Quotation): Go to “Purchases” -> “Requests for Quotation.” Create and send RFQs to vendors.
• Create Products (Purchase Details): Go to “Purchases” -> “Products” -> “Products.” Add products with vendor-specific information and purchase prices.

4. Accounting:

• Install the App: Go to “Apps” and install the “Accounting” app.
• Configure Chart of Accounts: Go to “Accounting” -> “Configuration” -> “Chart of Accounts.” Define your chart of accounts according to your country’s regulations.
• Configure Fiscal Year: Go to “Accounting” -> “Configuration” -> “Settings.” Set your fiscal year start and end dates.
• Configure Taxes: Go to “Accounting” -> “Configuration” -> “Taxes.” Define your sales and purchase taxes.
• Configure Payment Methods: Go to “Accounting” -> “Configuration” -> “Payment Methods.” Set up your payment methods (e.g., bank transfers, checks).

5. CRM (Customer Relationship Management):

• Install the App: Go to “Apps” and install the “CRM” app.
• Configure Sales Stages: Go to “CRM” -> “Configuration” -> “Sales Stages.” Define the stages of your sales pipeline (e.g., Lead, Opportunity, Quotation, Won).
• Configure Lead Sources: Go to “CRM” -> “Configuration” -> “Lead Sources.” Track the sources of your leads (e.g., website, referrals, events).
• Create Sales Teams (CRM Integration): Go to “CRM” -> “Configuration” -> “Sales Teams.” Link CRM teams to your sales teams.
• Create Opportunities: Go to “CRM” -> “Opportunities.” Start managing your leads and opportunities.

6. Manufacturing (if applicable):

• Install the App: Go to “Apps” and install the “Manufacturing” app.
• Configure Bills of Materials (BOMs): Go to “Manufacturing” -> “Master Data” -> “Bills of Materials.” Define the components required to manufacture your products.
• Configure Work Centers: Go to “Manufacturing” -> “Master Data” -> “Work Centers.” Define the locations where manufacturing operations take place.
• Create Manufacturing Orders: Go to “Manufacturing” -> “Operations” -> “Manufacturing Orders.” Plan and execute your manufacturing processes.

7. Project Management:

• Install the App: Go to “Apps” and install the “Project” app.
• Configure Project Stages: Go to “Projects” -> “Configuration” -> “Project Stages.” Define the stages of your projects (e.g., New, In Progress, Completed).
• Create Projects: Go to “Projects” -> “Projects.” Create new projects and assign tasks.
• Assign Tasks: Go to “Projects” -> “Tasks.” Assign tasks to team members and set deadlines.

Configure Odoo – Automating Your Workflow

Odoo excels at automation. Here’s how to automate a simple workflow:

1. Define your workflow: For example, “When a sales order is confirmed, automatically create a delivery order.”
2. Use Odoo’s automation features: Odoo offers tools like automated actions and server actions.
3. Create an automated action: Go to “Settings” -> “Technical” -> “Automation” -> “Automated Actions.”
4. Set the trigger: In our example, the trigger is “On Confirmation” of a “Sales Order.”
5. Define the action: The action is “Create a record” of type “Delivery Order.”
6. Map the fields: Connect the fields from the Sales Order to the Delivery Order (e.g., customer, products, quantities).

Configure Odoo – Integrating WhatsApp with Odoo

Enhance your customer communication by integrating WhatsApp:

1. Install a WhatsApp integration app: Search for a WhatsApp connector app in the Odoo Apps store. Several options are available.
2. Configure the app: Follow the app’s instructions to connect your WhatsApp Business account. This usually involves scanning a QR code or entering your phone number.
3. Use WhatsApp in Odoo: Once integrated, you can send and receive WhatsApp messages directly from Odoo. This is particularly useful for sales, customer support, and marketing.

Configure Odoo- Customizing Reports and Forms

Tailor Odoo to your specific needs:

1. Customize reports: Odoo uses QWeb reports. You can edit existing reports or create new ones using the QWeb language. This requires some technical knowledge. Odoo Studio can simplify report customization for basic changes.
2. Customize forms: Odoo Studio is a powerful tool for customizing forms. You can add new fields, remove existing fields, change field labels, and rearrange form layouts. This is a user-friendly way to adapt Odoo to your business processes.

 

Configure Odoo -Customizing Reports and Forms with Odoo Studio

Odoo Studio provides a user-friendly way to customize reports and forms without needing to write code. Here’s how to use it:

1. Accessing Odoo Studio:

• For Forms: Open the form you want to customize (e.g., a Sales Order form, a Customer form). Click the “Developer Tools” menu (if it’s not visible, activate developer mode in your user preferences). Then, click “Edit View” or the “Studio” icon (it looks like a palette).
• For Reports: Open the report you want to customize (e.g., a Sales Report, an Invoice). Similar to forms, click the “Developer Tools” menu and then “Edit View” or the “Studio” icon. Sometimes, directly from the report view, you can see a “Customize” or “Studio” button.

2. Customizing Forms with Odoo Studio:

• Adding Fields: Drag and drop fields from the left sidebar onto your form. You can add various field types: Text, Number, Date, Selection, Many2one (for relationships to other records), etc.
• Modifying Fields: Click on an existing field to edit its properties. You can change the label, make it required, add help text, and even change the field type.
• Removing Fields: Click on a field and then click the “trash can” icon to remove it.
• Rearranging Fields: Drag and drop fields to change their position on the form.
• Adding Groups and Tabs: Use groups and tabs to organize fields logically on your form. This improves readability and user experience.
• Adding Computed Fields: Create fields whose values are calculated based on other fields. For example, a total field that sums up the values of other line item fields. You can use formulas or Python code (for more complex calculations).
• Adding Related Fields: Display information from related records. For example, on a Sales Order, you could display the customer’s phone number from the related Customer record.
• Saving Your Changes: Click the “Save” button in Odoo Studio to apply your customizations.

3. Customizing Reports with Odoo Studio (Basic):

Odoo Studio’s report customization for basic changes is similar to form customization. You can:

• Add fields: Drag and drop fields onto the report.
• Modify existing fields: Change labels, formatting (bold, italics, etc.).
• Remove fields: Remove unwanted data from the report.
• Rearrange elements: Move elements around in the report layout.
• Add images: Include your company logo or other images.

Important Note for Reports: Odoo Studio’s direct report editing is limited for more complex changes. For advanced report customization, you’ll need to work with QWeb, Odoo’s reporting engine. This usually involves editing the XML and HTML structure of the report.

Example: Adding a “Customer Type” field to the Customer form:

1. Open the “Customers” form in Odoo.
2. Click “Developer Tools” and then “Edit View” or the “Studio” icon.
3. In the Studio sidebar, find the “Selection” field type.
4. Drag and drop the “Selection” field onto the form.
5. Click on the newly added field to edit its properties.
6. Change the “Label” to “Customer Type.”
7. In the “Selection Options” section, add the different customer types (e.g., “Retail,” “Wholesale,” “Online”).
8. Click “Save” to apply your changes.

Example: Adding a computed “Total Amount” field to the Sales Order form:

1. Open the “Sales Order” form.
2. Click “Developer Tools” and then “Edit View” or the “Studio” icon.
3. Drag and drop a “Float” or “Monetary” field onto the form.
4. Click on the new field. Change the label to “Total Amount.”
5. In the field properties, find the “Computed” option.
6. Select the “Computed” option. You’ll likely use a formula (or potentially Python code if needed) to calculate the sum of the order line amounts. A simple example formula might be something like sum(order_line.mapped(‘price_subtotal’)).
7. Click “Save.”

By following these steps, you can use Odoo Studio to easily customize your forms and make basic changes to your reports, tailoring Odoo to your specific business needs. Remember to save your changes after each modification. For more advanced report customization, consider working with Odoo’s QWeb reporting engine or contacting TekkPak Technologies for expert assistance.

Configure Odoo – FAQs about How to configure

1. What is Odoo? Odoo is an all-in-one open-source ERP software.
2. Do I need programming skills to configure Odoo? Basic configuration can be done without programming. Advanced customization may require some technical knowledge.
3. What are Odoo apps? Odoo apps are modules that extend Odoo’s functionality.
4. How do I install Odoo apps? You can install apps from the Odoo Apps store.
5. What is Odoo Studio? Odoo Studio is a visual tool for customizing forms and reports.
6. How can I automate workflows in Odoo? Odoo provides automated actions and server actions for workflow automation.
7. Can I integrate WhatsApp with Odoo? Yes, several WhatsApp connector apps are available for Odoo.
8. How do I customize Odoo reports? You can customize reports using QWeb.
9. What is Odoo’s accounting module? Odoo’s accounting module handles financial transactions and reporting.
10. Can I manage inventory with Odoo? Yes, Odoo has a robust inventory management module.
11. What is Odoo CRM? Odoo CRM helps manage customer relationships and sales pipelines.
12. Does Odoo support manufacturing? Yes, Odoo has a manufacturing module for production planning and management.
13. How do I get support for Odoo? You can get support from Odoo’s community, partners like TekkPak Technologies, or directly from Odoo.
14. What is the difference between Odoo Community and Enterprise? Odoo Community is the free version, while Enterprise offers additional features and support.
15. How do I choose the right Odoo modules for my business? Analyze your business needs and select the modules that best address those needs. Consult with an Odoo partner for expert guidance.

TekkPak Technologies: Your Odoo Partner in Lahore, Pakistan

TekkPak Technologies, based in Lahore, Pakistan, specializes in providing and implementing software solutions like Odoo ERP, CRM, Call Center Software, Collaboration Software, IP phones, and AI Chatbots. We help businesses automate their workflows and improve customer experience. We offer comprehensive Odoo implementation services, from initial consultation and configuration to training and ongoing support. Contact us today to learn how we can help you leverage the power of Odoo. Reach us on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/13344599328 or visit our website: www.tekkpak.com.