What Is the Customer Portal?
The Odoo customer portal is a self-service web interface where your customers can access their business documents, track orders, pay invoices, and submit support requests without contacting your team. It reduces support workload, speeds up processes like quotation approval and payment, and gives customers the instant access they expect from modern business relationships.
Portal Features by Module
Sales
Customers view quotations and accept or reject them directly from the portal. They can sign quotations electronically, add comments, and request changes through the chatter. Confirmed sales orders are visible with line items, status, and delivery tracking. This eliminates back-and-forth emails for quotation approval and gives customers real-time order visibility.
Invoicing
All invoices are available in the portal with downloadable PDFs. Customers see open invoices, paid invoices, and credit notes. Online payment buttons let customers pay directly from the invoice page using configured payment providers. Payment status updates in real time after successful payment.
Delivery
Customers track their deliveries in the portal. Each delivery shows the items included, shipping status, tracking numbers (when integrated with carriers), and delivery confirmation. For multi-step deliveries, customers see the overall order progress without needing to understand your internal warehouse workflow.
Helpdesk
Customers submit support tickets through the portal, track ticket status, and communicate with the support team via the ticket chatter. They can attach files, view resolution notes, and rate their support experience. The portal reduces email-based support by centralizing all communication.
Project
For project-based businesses, customers view their project progress, task status, and milestones in the portal. They can approve deliverables, add comments, and track time logged against their project. This transparency builds trust and reduces status update meetings.
Portal Access Management
Inviting Customers
Grant portal access by going to the customer's contact form and clicking Action → Grant Portal Access. Odoo sends an invitation email with a link to set their password. Multiple contacts under the same company can have portal access with individual logins. Each contact sees only the documents related to them or their company.
Access Control
Portal users have strictly limited access. They can only see their own documents — not other customers' data. Access is controlled through Odoo's record rules. By default, portal users see documents where they are the customer, partner, or follower. Customize access rules if you need to share documents more broadly (e.g., all contacts in a company see company orders).
Portal Customization
| Customization | Method | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Branding | Website → Configuration | Logo, colors, favicon |
| Page layout | Website builder | Header, footer, navigation |
| Document templates | Report designer | Invoice, quotation PDFs |
| Email templates | Settings → Email | Portal invitation, notifications |
| Feature visibility | Module installation | Show/hide portal sections |
Online Payment Setup
Enable online payments so customers can pay invoices directly from the portal. Configure a payment provider (Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, Mollie, etc.) in Accounting → Configuration → Payment Providers. Once active, a Pay Now button appears on unpaid invoices in the portal. Customers select their payment method, complete the transaction, and the invoice is marked as paid automatically.
Security Considerations
- Password policy — Enforce minimum password requirements for portal users.
- Session timeout — Configure automatic logout after inactivity to protect shared computers.
- Two-factor authentication — Available for portal users who want additional security.
- Document access — Regularly audit portal access rules to ensure customers see only their own data.
- SSL — Always serve the portal over HTTPS to protect login credentials and sensitive documents.
Benefits of Self-Service
- 24/7 availability — Customers access information anytime without waiting for business hours.
- Reduced support load — Fewer calls and emails asking for order status, invoice copies, and tracking numbers.
- Faster payments — Online payment from the portal shortens the collection cycle.
- Better customer experience — Instant access to information meets modern customer expectations.
- Reduced errors — Customers review and approve documents directly, reducing miscommunication.
DeployMonkey + Customer Portal
Deploy Odoo on DeployMonkey and configure the customer portal with AI assistance. Enable self-service access for quotations, invoices, deliveries, and support from day one.