Inventory Management in Odoo 18
Odoo 18 Inventory provides comprehensive warehouse management with multi-warehouse support, configurable routes, lot and serial tracking, reorder rules, and real-time stock visibility. This guide covers the essential configuration steps to get your inventory system running.
Step 1: Install the Inventory Module
Go to Apps and install Inventory. This also installs the core stock module and its dependencies. Related modules like purchase_stock and sale_stock install automatically when you combine Inventory with Purchase and Sales.
Step 2: Configure Warehouse Settings
Navigate to Inventory > Configuration > Settings. Key settings to configure:
- Storage Locations — Enable to create sub-locations within your warehouse
- Multi-Step Routes — Enable for 2-step or 3-step reception and delivery flows
- Lots & Serial Numbers — Enable product tracking by lot or serial number
- Packages — Enable package management for grouped products
- Consignment — Enable vendor-owned stock management
Step 3: Set Up Warehouse Structure
Go to Inventory > Configuration > Warehouses:
- Configure the warehouse name and short code
- Set Reception Steps: 1-step (direct), 2-step (input then stock), or 3-step (input, QC, stock)
- Set Delivery Steps: Ship only, Pick + Ship, or Pick + Pack + Ship
- Configure resupply from other warehouses if applicable
Step 4: Create Locations
Navigate to Inventory > Configuration > Locations. Create a location hierarchy:
- Internal locations for your storage areas (zones, racks, shelves, bins)
- Each location has a type: Internal, View, Customer, Supplier, Transit, or Production
- Parent-child relationships define the hierarchy
Step 5: Configure Operation Types
Go to Inventory > Configuration > Operation Types. Each warehouse has default operation types:
- Receipts — Incoming from suppliers
- Delivery Orders — Outgoing to customers
- Internal Transfers — Between locations within the warehouse
Configure reservation methods (at confirmation, manual, or by date), lot creation settings, and default source/destination locations on each type.
Step 6: Set Up Product Tracking
On each product's Inventory tab, set the Tracking method:
- No Tracking — Default, no traceability
- By Lots — Multiple units per lot number
- By Unique Serial Number — One unit per serial number
Step 7: Create Reorder Rules
Go to Inventory > Operations > Replenishment:
- Create rules with Min/Max quantities per product per location
- Set the route (Buy, Manufacture, or custom) for automatic procurement
- Configure quantity multiples for ordering in case packs
Step 8: Configure Routes
For advanced flows, go to Inventory > Configuration > Routes:
- Enable multi-step routes in settings first
- Default routes include Buy, Manufacture, and MTO
- Create custom routes with push and pull rules for specific workflows
Key Differences from Odoo 19
- Odoo 19 introduced the stock relocation wizard for easier quant movement between locations
- Storage categories and capacity rules are the same in both versions
- Core inventory functionality — warehouses, locations, routes, tracking — works identically across v18 and v19
- Some UI refinements and batch processing improvements are v19-specific