Odoo 18 marks a new stage in the development of one of the most popular ERP systems, featuring a variety of improvements and innovations. Compared to the previous version, Odoo 17, document management has received significant upgrades, making it easier to manage and process documents, automate routine tasks, and improve collaboration with teams and clients. In this blog, we'll explore what's new in Odoo 18 documents and how these innovations enhance efficiency and convenience for users.
Improved Interface of the "Documents" Module
The interface in the new version has become more responsive, making it easy for users to navigate the system even if they are not ERP experts. Here are a few important changes worth noting:
- Dashboard: On the main page, users can find all their documents, easy access to recent files, and filters for quick search and sorting by document type, category, or date.
- The design has been updated using "Material Design" principles, focusing on user-friendliness and simplicity.
- New "My Documents" Panel: This panel allows users to quickly view and organize their own documents.
- Quick access to recent files and documents that require attention is now available.
- New "Shared with me" Panel: This section displays documents that you have access to but do not own.
Enhanced Document Creation Automation
One of the main changes in Odoo 18 is the improved document creation automation system. Compared to Odoo 17, Odoo 18 introduces new capabilities for configuring document templates with advanced features. This allows not only the generation of standard documents such as invoices, contracts, or proposals but also the automatic inclusion of additional information, such as data from reports or integrated modules like inventory or warehouse.
In Odoo 17, such automation was limited and often required additional configurations and plugins. In Odoo 18, this process has become much simpler and more flexible.
Improved OCR and Document Search
Odoo 18 has enhanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools. In Odoo 17, OCR was quite limited and didn't always provide accurate results, especially when working with low-quality images. In Odoo 18, OCR is significantly more accurate (if you have enough credits), allowing text to be recognized in images and scanned documents, even with low quality.
This improvement makes it easy to find the files you need, even if they only contain images or scanned copies.
Collaboration and Document Commenting
Odoo 18 has improved collaboration features for document work. Compared to Odoo 17, users can now leave comments directly within documents, highlight important points, add notes, and request changes. This allows teams to agree on changes and resolve issues faster, all without leaving the system.
New version tracking tools have also been introduced. In Odoo 17, version tracking features were less flexible, often creating issues when tracking changes in large documents. Now, thanks to the updated version system, this has become much more convenient and easier to manage.
Electronic Signature Support
Odoo 18 integrates with the Sign module, greatly simplifying the process of signing legal and commercial documents. Compared to Odoo 17, this integration has become more reliable and supports new security and certification standards.
This allows contracts and other documents to be securely signed without the need for third-party platforms or physical document copies, saving time and reducing costs.
More Flexible Access and Security Management
Odoo 18 expands document access management capabilities. In the new version, additional settings allow for more granular control over who can view, edit, or sign specific documents.
This version offers a higher level of security than the previous one and helps organize work with confidential information more effectively.
Conclusion
Odoo 18 brings significant improvements to document management compared to version 17. With new automation features, cloud service integrations, enhanced OCR, improved electronic signature support, and simplified access to documents, businesses can greatly increase the efficiency of their processes. These innovations make Odoo 18 an even more powerful tool for managing documentation, enabling users to work faster, more securely, and with greater convenience.