What Are the New Features and Key Improvements in Odoo 18 ERP?

The much awaited release of Odoo 18 has made a bold statement in the world of open-source ERP systems. Known for its modularity, user-centric design, and seamless integration capabilities, Odoo continues to push boundaries and version 18 is no exception. Odoo 18 brings ERP into the next generation with significant improvements across user experience including; AI functionality, mobile responsiveness, and cross-departmental automation.

This blog provides an overview of the exceptional features and enhancements that have made Odoo 18 a crucial tool for businesses in 2025 and beyond.

What are the differences between Odoo 17 and Odoo 18 Versions?

Odoo 18 builds on the foundation of Odoo 17, offering new features, enhanced user experience, and deeper automation across modules like Sales, CRM, Accounting, Inventory, and HR. The below table data compares Odoo 17 and 18 to improve efficiency, usability, and customization options for businesses.

Category	Odoo 17	Odoo 18
User Interface	Traditional layout with minor updates	Cleaner UI, faster navigation, company switch shortcut (Alt+Shift+U), improved search bar
Product Type	Separate types (stockable, consumable, service)	Unified as “Goods” with inventory tracking toggle
Sales/CRM	Standard templates, pricelist management	Enhanced quotation builder, combo products, stable pricing, automated lead scoring
E-commerce	Basic cart, variant filters	Click & Collect, remembered attribute filters, mega menu, redesigned site builder
Website Builder	Limited templates/snippets	60+ new snippets, color palette updates, live previews, quick translation tool
Inventory	No visual dashboard	New dashboard, empty location filter, better barcode integration
Manufacturing	Basic Gantt features	Gantt improvements: zoom, scroll, better MRP task control
Accounting	Manual bill validation, fewer layouts	Auto-validation on repeated bills, 3 new layouts, catalog view, draft invoice payments
Point of Sale	Standard UI, requires IoT for some features	Modern UI, edit/create products from POS, no-IoT customer display, table merging and more
HR/TimeOff	Draft state for time off, limited auto tracking	Auto-checkout, missing hours tracking, no “draft” stage, dashboard holiday control
Project/Discuss	Standard Kanban, chat system	Subtasks from Kanban, canned responses, push-to-talk, sub-threads
Events	Basic ticket system	Ticket sales through PoS, access visibility (public/link/logged-in)
Surveys	Classic question types	New “scale” type, QR-code support, reward system
Customization	Fewer personalization options	More headers/footers, user-level customizations, document layouts
Developer Tools	jsonrpc, older view structure	New RPC import style, <chatter/> tag, ORM enhancements, execute_query() API

Now, let’s dive deep into the new features and improvements in detail.

How Odoo 18 ERP's New Features Improve Business Efficiency?

Odoo 18 ERP offers a modernized user interface, enhanced website builder, sophisticated sales tools, and improved module integration etc. These features enhance user experience and streamlining operations. These advancements help businesses scale, maintain competitiveness, save time, reduce manual labor, and manage sales, accounting, HR, and inventories more effectively. Now, Let’s understand about these features in detail;

1. Revamped User Experience & Mobile Optimization

Odoo's 18-version user experience features a cleaner interface, simplified navigation, improved responsiveness, mobile optimization, and Progressive Web App support for seamless access to sales, inventory, and scheduling.

• Redesigned Interface & Clean URLs
  Odoo 18 comes with a simplified and more intuitive interface that reduces cognitive load for users. Streamlined menus, faster navigation, and clean URLs now allow employees to move between modules with greater ease. The feature is ideal for increasing user adoption and productivity.

• Progressive Web App (PWA) Support
  With a mobile-first design philosophy, Odoo 18 introduces full PWA capabilities. This means users can install Odoo on their smartphones like native apps, enabling faster access and performance for tasks like inventory management, POS operations, and CRM on the go.

• Multi-Company Switcher
  For businesses managing multiple subsidiaries, Odoo 18 offers a new company switcher option. This feature allows instant toggling between company profiles without logging out and makes it an efficient solution for corporate environments.

2. AI-Powered Intelligence & Workflow Automation

• Predictive Analytics Across Modules
  Odoo 18 expands its AI footprint with smarter forecasting in inventory, accounting, and procurement. Expect AI-backed alerts for stock shortages, anomaly detection in bank reconciliation, and demand predictions to reduce waste and enhance efficiency.

• Smarter CRM with AI Features
  The CRM module now offers AI-generated email suggestions, lead scoring models, and a built-in phone dialer. These tools reduce manual input, allowing sales teams to focus on building relationships and closing deals.

• Automated Marketing Campaigns
  Odoo 18’s marketing module gets a major boost with the "Social Share" app. Users can automate social media schedules, generate AI-assisted content, and launch personalized email campaigns. These features make it easier than ever to stay consistent and relevant.

3. Spreadsheet Module Transformation

• Powerful Pivot Table Enhancements
  Odoo’s Spreadsheet module is now a full-fledged data analytics engine. Advanced pivot tables support multiple measures, time-based granularity down to the hour, and complex formulas using SEQUENCE and OFFSET functions.

• Visual Collaboration Tools
  New chart types (radar, waterfall, geo maps), conditional formatting, in-line commenting, and version history make spreadsheets a collaborative powerhouse. These upgrades empower cross-functional teams to analyze and share insights effortlessly.

4. Inventory & Manufacturing Enhancements

• Warehouse Automation with AI
  Odoo 18 introduces real-time barcode scanning, guided push/pull rule logic, and on-the-spot product creation through barcode lookups. These features significantly improve picking accuracy and inventory flow.

• Enhanced BOM & Work Order Management
  Shopfloor operations benefit from upgraded Bill of Materials (BOM) views, embedded product catalogs, and customizable instructions for workers. Technicians can now make annotations or access documentation directly in their workstations.

• IoT & Quality Control Integration
  With expanded IoT connectivity, users can monitor machine data in real-time. Users can add another layer of reliability and efficiency using the predictive maintenance and instant quality control triggered during stock moves or manufacturing steps.

5. Financial & Compliance Features

• Improved Reconciliation & VAT Processing
  Bank synchronization is now smarter and more accurate. Duplicate detection, improved matching algorithms, and enhanced regional VAT support reduce reconciliation errors and streamline compliance.

• Budgeting Dashboard
  Manage operational, capital, and project-based budgets in real-time through interactive dashboards. This feature brings CFOs and finance managers a clearer view of spending and performance.

• ESG & Sustainability Reporting
  Odoo 18 enables non-financial reporting, including sustainability metrics like carbon footprint tracking. This feature makes it easier to align business practices with ESG standards and corporate social responsibility.

6. CRM & Sales Enhancements

• Mobile-Optimized Quoting
  Sales teams can now create, edit, and send professional quotes from their smartphones. The new PDF quote builder allows drag-and-drop customization, dynamic fields, and polished design templates.

• Sales Target Tracking
  Set monthly, quarterly, or annual sales targets for teams or individuals, and monitor performance directly in the CRM dashboard. Visual pipelines help sales managers coach and optimize team performance.

• Combo Product Builder
  Build product bundles with multiple variants from within both the eCommerce and Sales modules. Whether you're selling hardware kits or service packages, combo product creation has never been this intuitive.

7. Website & Ecommerce Improvements

• Upgraded Website Builder
  Designers and developers gain access to over 80 new content blocks, theme gradients, Google Fonts and custom font support, and lazy-loading for videos. These all features contribute to faster, more beautiful websites.

• Simplified Checkout & SEO Optimization
  A one-page checkout process reduces cart abandonment, while improved SEO tools and AI-powered product recommendations enhance discoverability and user retention.

• Next-Gen POS Interface
  The new POS frontend includes enhanced variant management, barcode lookups, and inline product editing options. These are ideal for busy retail and hospitality environments looking for effortless sales operations.

8. HR, Recruitment & Project Management

• Self-Service Employee Portal
  Employees can now handle payslips, timesheets, leave requests, and performance reviews via an intuitive self-service dashboard. Payroll calculations are automatically linked to attendance, minimizing errors.

• Streamlined Recruitment
  The recruitment app now includes AI-powered resume parsing and automatic candidate-job matching. Multi-application management and simpler job publishing speed up the hiring process.

• Project Management Upgrades
  Interactive Gantt charts, drag-and-drop task planning, and better dependency mapping support complex project execution. Embedded communication tools improve cross-team collaboration.

9. Advanced Security & Data Privacy

• Mandatory 2FA
  Security gets a major boost with mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA) for all sensitive access points, particularly for admin users and financial data.

• GDPR & Consent Management
  Redesigned data privacy tools support full GDPR compliance, with transparent audit trails, consent logging, and data deletion workflows to help businesses meet regulatory standards.

10. Cloud Flexibility & Modular Architecture

• Hybrid Cloud Options
  Because Odoo 18 enables hybrid deployment models, companies can use the cloud for some modules and run others on-premise. Perfect for operations that are geographically scattered or heavily dependent on legal regulations.

• Streamlined Migration & Scalability
  One-click upgrades and a modular architecture make it easier to adopt Odoo 18 regardless of your current version. Businesses can scale quickly without disrupting day-to-day operations.

Summary

In conclusion, Odoo 18 offers major module developments, mobile accessibility, smart automation, and an intuitive design, making it a revolutionary breakthrough for open-source ERP. For contemporary businesses in the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and service delivery sectors, it is the preferred option. Upgrade or install Odoo 18 for your company to meet your specific requirements. Our team of trained Odoo consultants and developers can assist you with the assessment, migration, and customisation of Odoo 18.