Enabling the Purchase App
To get started:
Go to Apps → Install "Purchase"
Once installed, the Purchase module appears in your sidebar. This app connects directly with Inventory, Accounting, and Vendor Contacts.
Adding and Managing Vendors
You can manage supplier data in:
Purchase → Vendors → Create
Each vendor profile can include:
- Company name and contact info
- Tax ID and payment terms
- Default currency and pricelist
- Preferred delivery methods and lead times
You can also link vendor documents like contracts or agreements using the Documents module.
Creating Requests for Quotation (RFQs)
To request pricing from vendors:
Purchase → Requests for Quotation → Create
Add the vendor, select the products, set delivery dates, and submit. Odoo supports:
- Multi-line product RFQs
- Terms and conditions on each order
- Batch RFQs for multiple vendors at once
Vendors can respond by email or through a shared portal (if integrated).
Converting RFQs to Purchase Orders
Once a quote is accepted, click "Confirm Order" to convert it into a purchase order (PO). This will:
- Trigger a receipt/delivery in Inventory
- Generate a draft vendor bill in Accounting (optional)
- Log the purchase in product movement and cost records
You can split or cancel lines, backorder undelivered items, and track vendor fulfillment performance.
Using Vendor Pricelists and Lead Times
Odoo supports dynamic purchasing based on vendor-specific data:
- 📈 Purchase pricelists per product, quantity, or season
- 📆 Lead time tracking to schedule stock arrivals properly
- 📦 Multiple vendors per product with priority ranking
When reordering, Odoo picks the best vendor based on cost, availability, and past performance.
Automating Purchases with Reordering Rules
Odoo allows full automation of the purchasing workflow using:
- Minimum stock rules – trigger purchase orders automatically when stock drops below threshold
- Make to Order (MTO) – automatically generate a PO when a sales order is placed
- Dropshipping – send PO directly to vendor who ships to the customer
This ensures you maintain healthy stock levels without overordering.
Conclusion
With Odoo 17, managing procurement and vendors becomes an efficient, paperless, and data-driven process. You can go from RFQ to PO in a few clicks — while maintaining total visibility into costs, timing, and supplier relationships.
Need help configuring purchasing workflows or integrating vendors into Odoo? Let our team simplify your procurement process.
