In Odoo 18, the Subscriptions module has been significantly enhanced to simplify the creation and management of subscriptions for services or physical products. The primary focus has been on improving customer retention and business process automation by delivering:
- Enhanced customer experience, optimizing the entire journey from subscription setup to cancellation.
- Greater autonomy for customers, providing them with tools to manage subscriptions effortlessly.
- Reduced administrative workload, automating processes to save time for subscription managers.
This article explores the new features in Odoo 18’s Subscriptions module, highlighting how they address common challenges from previous versions and improve customer interaction.
Simplified E-Commerce Subscription Management
The subscription purchase process has become more user-friendly:
- Flexible Plan Setup: You can now configure multiple pricing options for different recurrence periods (e.g., monthly, annually) directly within the product settings;
- Improved Website Display: Subscription options are shown in an easy-to-read table, allowing customers to pick their desired plan effortlessly.
Example:
A product can offer monthly or yearly subscription options, automatically displayed on the product page. This eliminates the need to create separate product variants for each plan, simplifying inventory management.
Payment Transparency
Customers can view the exact date and amount of their next payment on their subscription portal.
- This transparency reduces support inquiries and enhances trust by giving customers clear insights into their chosen plans.
Automated Payments
Several features automate payment handling:
- Auto-Renewal After Late Payments: If a customer misses a payment, the system automatically resumes the subscription once payment is received
- Saved Payment Methods: Customers can save their preferred payment method for recurring transactions, removing the need for manual approvals each billing cycle.
Bulk Email Communication
Odoo 18 enables the creation of email templates that can be sent to multiple customers simultaneously. This streamlines communication for various purposes, such as sending subscription renewal reminders or notifying customers about changes in terms and conditions.
This functionality helps businesses manage large-scale customer interactions efficiently, ensuring timely and consistent updates to their terms.
Price Management and Flexible Billing
- New smart buttons allow admins to manage subscription prices easily, either individually or in bulk.
- Invoicing can now align with specific billing cycles, regardless of the subscription’s purchase date.
Example:
For subscriptions billed on the 1st of every month, invoices are automatically generated at the start of the next cycle, even if the customer subscribed mid-month.
Pro-Rated Subscription Usage Upon Cancellation
Canceled subscriptions remain active until the end of the paid period, ensuring fairness and transparency for customers.
Integration with Timesheets
The new functionality in Odoo 18 enables invoicing based on timesheets, allowing businesses to bill for the time worked added at the end of the accounting period. After generating an invoice, the system updates the subscription records and resets the "delivered quantity" to its original state.
Example Use Case:
You create a subscription that includes:
- A service with a set number of prepaid hours.
- A service based on actual hours worked (e.g., additional hours beyond the prepaid amount).
When setting up such a subscription:
- Initial Period: An invoice is generated for the prepaid hours.
- Subsequent Periods: The invoice will include:
- The new charge for the next batch of prepaid hours.
- Charges for any services rendered based on the actual time worked during the prior period.
This feature automates the invoicing process for hourly services, seamlessly combining prepayments with charges for actual usage.
Customer Retention Features
Now, reasons for subscription cancellations can be categorized for internal use or displayed on the client portal, making them available for customer selection.
Additionally, it is now possible to create message templates and link them to specific cancellation reasons. These templates can prompt the customer to share their reason for canceling the subscription or engage with a manager to review the terms.
This approach enhances the customer experience and supports customer retention efforts by facilitating better communication and understanding of cancellation motives.
Automatic Delivery Management
The module supports automatic delivery of products included in a subscription, making it particularly useful for businesses operating under a subscription model for physical goods.
The system automatically generates a delivery document after an invoice is issued, aligned with the specified subscription renewal period. This significantly simplifies administration, reduces manual work, and saves time in managing the order fulfillment process.
Additionally, customers can view the status of their orders and all previous orders within their subscription directly on the subscription form in the user portal. This feature enhances transparency and improves the overall customer experience.
Project and Task Integration
Subscriptions can now be linked to projects and recurring tasks.
- New projects and recurrent tasks are created automatically upon subscription activation, streamlining workflows for service-based businesses.
- Smart Buttons improve navigation between subscriptions, projects, and tasks.
Example:
For a subscription-based training service, a project is automatically generated for the client, along with recurring tasks for organizing training sessions.
Conclusion
The Subscriptions module in Odoo 18 offers a streamlined, automated approach to managing subscriptions. Its advanced features, such as payment automation, project/task integration, and flexible billing, empower businesses to operate more efficiently while delivering an enhanced customer experience. These updates not only reduce operational complexity but also help retain customers by addressing their needs effectively.