Odoo 18: Expected Features & Roadmap Sneak Peak

There are whispers in the market that Odoo is about to release its new version Odoo 18 that will assist you better with your business management. While official details remain under wraps, whispers and insights have begun to circulate. Before we delve into these anticipated functionalities, let's take a moment to understand the foundation upon which Odoo is built.

A few years ago, the ERP market was dominated by costly, sophisticated solutions that felt unsustainable for many companies. Odoo, with its easy-to-use interface, adaptable design, and economical methodology, has made robust ERP features accessible to a wider audience.

• Odoo Ranks fifth among ERP providers by market share. 
• As of 2024, over 8,966 companies worldwide are using Odoo as their ERP tool. 
• Regular updates and releases ensure Odoo remains at the leading edge of the era, adapting to evolving business needs.
• Odoo boasts over a million users worldwide. Additionally, with the “On-premise” offer, Odoo stands as the most installed business software globally, serving more than 5,000,000 users. 

Odoo, though, isn't resting now. The much awaited release of Odoo 18 is scheduled for October 2024, which means the platform will advance even further. And a lot of businesses are already considering Odoo migration for their business's better growth. This blog explores the fascinating new features and functionalities that are potentially coming with Odoo 18, providing an insight into the direction open-source ERP is taking and how it might help your company grow to new heights. Let's first examine what Odoo is and why it's making such a big impact in the ERP market.

Odoo: What is it?

Odoo is a unique and comprehensive suite of business applications, entirely open-source and built on a user-friendly platform. It empowers businesses of all sizes, from fledgling startups to established enterprises, to streamline their operations, boost efficiency, and gain a competitive edge.

Unlike traditional, often-costly ERP systems, Odoo offers a modular approach. As a result, companies may select the precise apps they require, removing the need for extra functionality and controlling expenses. With an emphasis on user experience, Odoo has a user-friendly interface that reduces the need for training and allows staff to utilize its robust functions.

Now that Odoo 18's surprisingly awaited release is near, the excitement is undeniable. Let's explore the anticipated features of Odoo 18, revealing any potential breakthroughs and advances that it might offer!

Also Check Out: Why does your business require Odoo Migration Service

10+ Most expected features from sneak peak of Odoo 18 

Get ready for a wave of exciting features in Odoo 18! Here's a quick look at some key functionalities designed to streamline workflows, boost productivity, and empower users across various business functions.

1. Better Marketing Workflows

                                                                     Source: Odoo 18 R&D Seek Peak

• Seamless Integration with Contact Management: Expect tighter integration between Odoo's marketing and CRM modules, allowing for smoother data flow, targeted email campaigns, and better whatsapp tools. Imagine segmenting your audience and creating personalized marketing blasts with greater ease. 
• Upgraded Email Server: Sending bulk emails without landing in spam folders might become a reality with an improved outgoing email server. This could significantly enhance campaign reach and engagement. Also find out who clicked in your mails. 
• Better Incorporation of Social Media: For easy content sharing and social media marketing efforts, use Odoo 18's built-in social media capabilities, such as Facebook and Instagram.

2. Streamlined E-commerce & Website Navigation

                                                                    Source: Odoo 18 R&D Seek Peak

• Intuitive Location Selector Widget: Selecting pick-up points during online purchases could become a breeze with a new location selector widget within the e-commerce module. This feature can improve customer experience and expedite order fulfillment 
• One-Click Checkout Integration: Streamline the checkout process with a potential one-click checkout option i.e. one page checkout, encouraging faster purchases and reducing cart abandonment rates. Added Sign in button in checkout form for better navigation.
• Revamped Product & Shop Pages: Expect a potential redesign of product and shop pages within the e-commerce module, enhancing visual appeal and user engagement. 
• Odoo has done various SEO improvements in the Odoo 18 version. 
• Generate a mega menu based on ecommerce categories
• Allow multiple warehouses management on a website and display the exact stock quantity on the product page
• Improved Click & Collect Flow
• Order confirmation option before payment 

3. Improved Sales Features, customer focus & Performance Tracking

                                                                      Source: Odoo 18 R&D Seek Peak

• Salesperson Commissions: This likely allows you to set up commission structures for your sales team, incentivizing them to perform better.
• Loyalty in Portal: This could be a loyalty program for your loyal customers, rewarding them for repeat purchases and building stronger relationships.
• Combo Products “everywhere”: This might allow you to easily create and promote bundled products, which will increase sales value. Like PoS+ sales, Ecommerce, Rental, Subscriptions.
• PDF Quote Builder 2.0: This suggests an improved tool for generating customized and professional quotes for your customers. 
• Request a signature from any document: This feature streamlines the process of getting customer sign-off on important documents.
• Enhanced Appointment Booking System: Improved appointment booking functionalities could minimize scheduling conflicts and provide a more professional experience for both customers and sales teams.
• Sales Target vs Achievement Reports: Gain valuable insights into sales performance by tracking actual sales against set targets, allowing for data-driven decision making and improved sales forecasting.
• Enhanced Lead Management: Nurture leads more effectively with improved lead scoring and qualification tools to identify high-potential leads and convert them into paying customers.

4. More Powerful Inventory & MRP (Material Requirements Planning) Capabilities

• Native GS1 Barcode Generation: Generating and managing GS1 barcodes directly within Odoo could simplify inventory management and product tracking, particularly for businesses dealing with international logistics Barcode app can be installed as a PWA on mobile devices
• Improved Warehouse Management: Optimize warehouse operations with enhanced functionalities for picking, packing, and inventory adjustments, minimizing errors and streamlining fulfillment processes.
• Gantt view improvements: Added zoom in/out, scroll, view on task per line and much more!
• Better putaways: Can send products where they already are/were
• Other Changes: 
• • Hide reserved Iots/Serials
  • Hide theoretical quantity in inventory adjustments
  • Forbid users to add products not in the picking
  • Aggregate lines of same products in batches
  • Sign deliveries 
  • Sound when scan was OK

5. Optimized Mobile CRM & Quoting

• Improved Mobile Usability: CRM functionalities and quote creation might become more user-friendly on mobile devices, empowering sales teams to manage customer interactions and generate quotes on the go.
• Barcode Scanning for Mobile Inventory Management: Streamline inventory checks and data entry with potential barcode scanning capabilities within the mobile Odoo app.
• Streamlined Quote Generation: Create professional and customized quotes quickly and easily from your mobile device, improving sales responsiveness and customer satisfaction.

6. Simplified Accounting

                                                                Source: Odoo 18 R&D Seek Peak

• Enhanced User Interface: The accounting module might receive a UI refresh, making it more intuitive and user-friendly for managing invoices, bank transactions, and financial reports.
• About Invoice: Simplify invoicing with the ability to automatically generate invoices based on sales orders or project completion, saving valuable time and reducing errors. Product and description will be in one column. You can preview the layout of the invoice before finalizing it. Also you get the complete guide for tax selection which makes it an error free invoice. 
• Improved Payment Integration: Integrate seamlessly with popular payment gateways to offer convenient online payment options and streamline the collection process.

7. Spreadsheets, Documents & Dashboards

• Advanced Reporting Features: Expect the introduction of new data analysis capabilities within spreadsheets and dashboards, empowering businesses to gain deeper insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) and make data-driven decisions.
• Advanced Data Visualization Tools: Create interactive and insightful dashboards with powerful data visualization tools to gain deeper insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) across all business departments.
• Improved Spreadsheet Integration: Enjoy a seamless user experience when working with data in spreadsheets like Google Sheets, allowing for further analysis and data manipulation. New functions like INDIRECT, INT, CELL, & Odoo.RESIDUAL are added to spreadsheets. 
• Documents:
• • Access shared documents from portal
  • Attachments from deleted records are directly sent to the document’s trash
  • Reach attached documents from accounting (as from a task for instance)
  • Preview XML File if a PDF embedded
  • Use SHIFT+S in the split tool to spot white pages and present the scissors
  • Batch upload improvement

8. Non-financial Reporting

Odoo 18 allows you to gain a more holistic view of your business performance by generating non-financial reports that track metrics like customer satisfaction, employee performance, and project progress alongside traditional financial data.

9. Improved User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX):

Expect a visually appealing and intuitive user interface across all Odoo modules, making navigation and data management easier and more efficient for all users.

10. Enhanced Security & Compliance:

Odoo 18 prioritizes data security with ongoing updates and enhancements to security features, ensuring your business data remains safe and compliant with industry regulations.

11. Other Noteworthy New Features

The Odoo community is abuzz with speculation about additional features, including:

• Improved project management functionalities
• Enhanced manufacturing functionalities
• Advanced security protocols
• Framework changes
• • Nice URLs format
  • New Mobile UI
  • Multi-company switcher
  • Print CSS
  • New unit testing framework: HOOT
  • Bootstrap updated to 5.3

A Note on Continuous Development

It's important to remember that this list is based on expectations and leaks. The official feature set of Odoo 18 will be confirmed closer to the release date. However, one thing remains certain: Odoo's commitment to continuous development ensures a future-proof platform that empowers businesses of all sizes to thrive.

Stay tuned for further updates as we approach the exciting launch of Odoo 18!

If you are considering Odoo migration for your business or want consultation of your Odoo System. We are here for you!! Feel Free to book a free consultation.