Steps to Configure Picking Policies in Odoo Inventory (Odoo 18)
Introduction
Efficient inventory management is crucial for ensuring smooth warehouse operations. One of the key features in Odoo 18 Inventory is the ability to configure Picking Policies, which determine how products are delivered or received — either all at once (complete) or as partial shipments. Understanding and properly setting up these policies helps reduce delays, improve customer satisfaction, and streamline stock movements.
In this blog, we'll walk you through how to configure picking policies in Odoo 18, step by step.
Step-by-Step: Configuring Picking Policies in Odoo 18
Step 1: Enable the Delivery and Receipt Options
* Navigate to Inventory → Configuration → Settings.
* Under the Operations section, ensure the following options are enabled:
1. Picking Policies
2. Select either Ship products as soon as available, with back orders or Ship all products at once.
Step 2: Ship Products as Soon as Possible, with Backorders
* On the Settings screen, under the Operations section, you will find the Picking Policy option. Select the Ship Products as Soon as Possible, with Backorders.
* For example, if an order is placed for 25 units, but only 20 units are in stock, the available 20 units will be shipped immediately, while the remaining 5 units will be placed on backorder.
* Go to Inventory > Configuration > Operation Types, open the desired operation type, enable the Create Backorder option, and click Save to apply the changes.
* Ask: Prompts users to confirm if they want to create a backorder for items that are out of stock.
* Always: Automatically creates a backorder for any items that exceed current stock levels.
* Never: Disables backorders entirely—unavailable items are removed from the order.
* When the Ask option is enabled and a sales order is placed for 25 units of 'Cabinet with Doors' with limited stock, the system will prompt the user to decide whether to generate a backorder for the unfulfilled quantity. The shipping method for the order can be chosen from the 'Other Info' tab in the sales order form.
* Now confirm the sale order.
* Only 20 units of the product Cabinet with Doors are currently available.
* During the delivery process, the transfer status updates to 'READY' when the available items are ready for shipment. Upon validating the delivery, a pop-up prompts the user to choose whether to create a backorder for the remaining items.
* The 'Other Info' tab in the sales order displays the delivery status as 'Partially Delivered' when only a portion of the order has been shipped.
* When the product is restocked, the backorder will be fulfilled, and the remaining items will be delivered.
* When the backorder policy is set to 'Always', the system automatically creates a backorder if the ordered quantity exceeds available stock.
* The sales order is for 25 units, but with only 20 units available in stock, a backorder will be automatically created for the remaining 5 units.
* Once the product is replenished, the delivery process can proceed.
* In the 'Never' scenario, backorders are not created — any unfulfilled quantity is automatically cancelled.
Step 3. Ship all products at once
* Go to the Inventory > Configuration > Settings
* On the Settings screen, under the Operations section, you will find the Picking Policy option. Select the Ship all products at once and save the settings.
* Create a sales order for 10 units of 'Cabinet with doors' in Odoo
* Available stock for 'Corner Desk Left Sit' is 5 units.
* You can select the shipping policy within the 'Other Info' tab of the Sales Order.
* After confirming the Sale Order, go to the 'Delivery' smart tab.
* The Delivery status remains 'Waiting' until the products are restocked, then changes to 'Ready'.
* On the Delivery page, the status will be 'Waiting', and it will only change to 'Ready' once the products are restocked.
* When the picking policy is set to 'Ship all products at once,' Odoo will hold the sales order until all ordered quantities are available. If the stock isn't sufficient, the order remains pending. Once restocked, the system updates the delivery status to 'Ready', and you can proceed with shipping the complete order.
Conclusion
Picking policies in Odoo 18 give you the flexibility to manage how and when products are delivered or received. By configuring these policies correctly, you can align your inventory operations with your sales strategy. Whether that means making partial shipments to keep customers happy or waiting until full orders are ready to minimize shipping costs. With the steps outlined above, you can easily configure picking policies that suit your warehouse operations and ensure a seamless flow from order to delivery.