Your Ultimate Guide to the Top 10 Odoo FAQs

Are you a beginner trying to navigate the great platform of Odoo, or are you someone interested in exploring Odoo but looking to understand how it works? Don't worry; we've compiled the most asked questions about Odoo and provided quick answers to help you get started. Let's dive into these queries to give you a clearer picture of what Odoo can do for you and your business.

1. Can Odoo Work Offline?

Yes! Odoo enhances business continuity in environments with varying internet connectivity by providing essential offline functionality. This feature is thoughtfully integrated into three key areas, ensuring that businesses can maintain operations and access critical data even when internet access is intermittent or unavailable.

​ ​ ​Point of Sale (POS)

• • • • Offline Mode: Odoo's POS app can operate offline, allowing businesses to continue sales transactions without an internet connection. Once connectivity is restored, the app syncs offline transactions with the Odoo database, updating sales data and inventory levels.

​ ​ ​Mobile App

• • • • Offline Access: The Odoo mobile app provides offline access to certain features, enabling users to view records and update tasks while offline. Changes made are synchronised with the main database once the device reconnects to the internet.

​ ​ ​Customisation

• • • • Tailored Offline Features: Businesses can customise Odoo to extend offline capabilities to other modules beyond POS and the mobile app. This involves developing specific offline functionalities tailored to the business's needs, ensuring critical operations can continue without internet access.

​ ​ ​Key Considerations

• • • • Data Synchronisation: Effective synchronisation mechanisms are crucial to prevent data loss and ensure consistency across the platform.
      • Functionality Limitations: Offline mode may have limitations, with certain features unavailable until reconnection.
      • Development and Maintenance: Customising Odoo for enhanced offline capabilities requires technical expertise and ongoing maintenance.

​2. Can Odoo Be Customised?

Absolutely! Odoo prides itself on its high customisability. Users can tailor the platform through Odoo Studio to automate actions, design custom screens, reports, or even develop specific modules to meet their unique business requirements. The open-source nature of Odoo also means there's a vast community of developers continuously contributing to its customisation and extension.

​ ​ ​Odoo Studio: A User-Friendly Customisation Tool

• • • • Odoo Studio allows users to easily customise their ERP system without extensive programming knowledge. It enables the automation of actions, customisation of screens, creation of custom reports, and development of specific modules directly within the Odoo interface.

​ ​ ​Open-Source Framework: Community-Driven Enhancements

• • • • Being open-source, Odoo offers access to its source code, allowing for deep customisation and integration. The vibrant Odoo community contributes a wealth of custom modules, extensions, and plugins, expanding the platform's capabilities and offering solutions for virtually any business requirement.

​ ​ ​Custom Development and Integration

• • • • For more specific needs, businesses can engage in custom development, creating bespoke solutions or integrating Odoo with other systems to streamline operations and enhance functionality.

​ ​ ​Professional Support

• • • • Businesses not wanting to dive into customisation themselves can leverage professional services from Odoo partners for tailored implementation, support, and training.​
        

3. What Is Odoo Used For?

Odoo is a comprehensive suite of business applications covering all company needs, from CRM and eCommerce to accounting, inventory, project management, and more. Its unique value proposition lies in its ease of use coupled with full integration across all these functions, streamlining business processes and enhancing efficiency.

4. What Does an Odoo Developer Do?

An Odoo developer focuses on customising and developing new modules for the Odoo platform to fit specific business needs. This includes programming, module development, system configuration, and ensuring seamless integration of custom modules with existing Odoo applications.

5. Which Database Does Odoo Use?

Odoo uses PostgreSQL, an open-source object-relational database system, for data storage. This choice supports Odoo's commitment to open-source technology and ensures users have full ownership and control over their data without vendor lock-in.

6. Where Are Attachments Stored in Odoo?

Attachments in Odoo are primarily stored in the server's file system where Odoo is installed. This method is preferred for its efficiency and ease of management. However, Odoo also offers the flexibility to store attachments directly in the PostgreSQL database. This alternative method is less frequently used due to concerns about database size and potential performance degradation. Users can choose the storage method that best suits their operational needs and system capabilities.

7. Can Odoo Be Used Without Demo Data?

Absolutely, Odoo can be deployed without demo data. During the initial setup of a new database, users are presented with the choice to include or exclude demo data. Opting out of demo data is commonly preferred in production environments, allowing businesses to start with a clean database, free from any pre-populated information. This approach facilitates a more streamlined setup tailored to the specific needs of the business.

8. Is Odoo Suitable for Small Businesses?

Definitely. Odoo is designed to scale with businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. The modular nature of Odoo allows small businesses to start with the basics and add more applications as they grow. Additionally, the community edition of Odoo is free, making it an attractive option for small businesses looking to leverage ERP solutions without significant investment - although that being said, you need to have the required technical and development skills to install and manage the Community version (or otherwise engage an Odoo Partner).

9. Who Owns Odoo?

Odoo S.A., the company behind Odoo, is headquartered in Belgium. It was founded by Fabien Pinckaers, who remains a key figure in the company's direction and development. Odoo S.A. continues to lead the development and expansion of the Odoo platform.

10. Is Odoo Free?

Odoo is a versatile business management software that comes in two distinct editions: the Community edition and the Enterprise edition. 

The Community edition of Odoo is an open-source platform that is entirely free to use. It offers a robust foundation of applications designed to manage various aspects of business operations efficiently. This edition is particularly appealing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or startups looking for a cost-effective solution to streamline their business processes without incurring additional expenses.

On the other side of the spectrum lies the Enterprise edition of Odoo. This edition is tailored for businesses seeking more advanced features, services, and support to further enhance their operational efficiency. The Enterprise edition encompasses additional premium applications that are not available in the Community edition. These applications are designed to cater to more complex business needs, offering functionalities that extend beyond the basic management of operations. Moreover, subscribers to the Enterprise edition benefit from dedicated customer support, ensuring any issues or queries are promptly addressed. However, access to these enhanced capabilities and services comes at a cost, requiring businesses to pay a subscription fee.

The inherent flexibility and scalability of Odoo make it an exceptionally powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. Whether you are a burgeoning startup, a growing SME, or a large multinational corporation, Odoo's comprehensive suite of applications provides the necessary tools to customise the platform according to your specific business requirements. This level of customisation ensures that businesses can effectively manage their operations, adapt to changing market dynamics, and pursue growth opportunities without being hindered by software limitations.