Odoo 8, released in 2014, is the version where OpenERP became Odoo: the rebrand came with a rebuilt interface, a modular app structure, an integrated website builder and eCommerce, and better multi-currency accounting. Neither release is supported today: Odoo gives each major version three years of standard support, and its current support table shows everything older than Odoo 14 as unsupported on Odoo Online and Odoo.sh, with paid extended support only on-premise. The live question for anyone still on OpenERP 7 or Odoo 8 is therefore how to reach a supported release — Odoo 17, 18 or Odoo 19.
Comparing OpenERP 7 and Odoo 8
Introduction: OpenERP 7 was an important milestone for the platform, offering several core features for businesses. However, with Odoo 8, significant improvements were made, pushing the software into new territory with an enhanced user experience and modularity. Let's dive into the major differences between OpenERP 7 and Odoo 8.
1. New Brand, New Interface: OpenERP Becomes Odoo
The most notable change in Odoo 8 was the rebranding from OpenERP to Odoo. This change wasn't just cosmetic; it reflected a shift in the platform's positioning as an all-in-one business solution, offering not only ERP features but also CRM, e-commerce, and other business functions.
Key Differences
- User Interface: Odoo 8 introduced a significantly improved, more user-friendly interface compared to OpenERP 7.
- Customization: Odoo 8 made it easier to customize the user interface with better modularization and widget-based design.
2. Improved Usability and Dashboard
In Odoo 8, the dashboard was revamped, allowing for a more comprehensive overview of key metrics and business operations at a glance.
Key Differences
- Interactive Dashboards: Odoo 8 featured dynamic dashboards, which were a significant upgrade over the static ones in OpenERP 7.
- User Experience: Navigating through the system was smoother, with faster load times and cleaner menus.
3. The Module Architecture
Odoo 8 enhanced the modularity of the software, enabling businesses to choose only the modules they needed while making it easier to scale the platform as needed.
Key Differences
- New Features in Modules: Several modules were upgraded with new features, such as the Sales, Accounting, and Project modules.
- Customization & Extensibility: Odoo 8 included better tools for developers to create and customize their own modules.
4. Accounting and Invoicing Improvements
Odoo 8 brought a host of accounting features that made financial management more efficient for businesses.
Key Differences
- Multi-currency Accounting: Odoo 8 introduced better multi-currency accounting tools.
- Automated Invoicing: In Odoo 8, businesses could automate invoicing processes and integrate more seamlessly with payment gateways.
5. Odoo 8's Integration with eCommerce
One of the standout features of Odoo 8 was the improved eCommerce module. It allowed businesses to create and manage online stores with ease.
Key Differences
- eCommerce Features: The eCommerce functionality in Odoo 8 was more integrated with other business operations, offering real-time data syncing.
- SEO Tools: Odoo 8 included SEO optimization features that were lacking in OpenERP 7.
Conclusion
Odoo 8 marked a significant leap forward from OpenERP 7 in terms of user interface, modularity, accounting capabilities, and eCommerce integration. The rebranding was just the beginning of a broader transformation that would continue in future versions of Odoo.
Comparison Table
| Feature | OpenERP 7 | Odoo 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Branding | OpenERP | Odoo |
| User Interface | Basic, functional | Modern, user-friendly, customizable |
| Dashboards | Static | Interactive, dynamic |
| Modularity | Limited | Enhanced, better modularization |
| Accounting | Basic features | Improved multi-currency and invoicing automation |
| eCommerce Integration | Limited | Fully integrated, real-time syncing, SEO tools |
Questions we get asked
Is OpenERP 7 or Odoo 8 still supported?
No. Odoo provides three years of standard support per major version, covering helpdesk, bug fixing and security updates, and both releases passed that more than a decade ago. Odoo's support table puts everything older than Odoo 14 outside support on Odoo Online and Odoo.sh, leaving only paid extended support on-premise — and extended support covers helpdesk and bug fixes, not security updates.
Can I upgrade straight from Odoo 8 to Odoo 19?
Yes. Odoo's rule is that you can upgrade from any version, but only onto a supported target, and its upgrade platform currently offers 17.0, 18.0 and 19.0 as targets. You do not step through every release in between; the upgrade scripts handle the chain in one request. What takes the time is the custom modules, reports and integrations an Odoo 8 system has accumulated.
What actually breaks when you move off Odoo 8?
Custom code first. Odoo's scripts convert standard data, but nothing written for Odoo 8 loads on a current release: the ORM API, the web client and the reporting engine have all been replaced, and invoices now live on the shared account.move model rather than a separate invoice table. Odoo 8 also runs on Python 2; Odoo 11 was the first release on Python 3.
Should I upgrade the old database or start fresh?
Both are reasonable at this age. An upgrade keeps customers, invoices and stock history, and that is what Odoo's upgrade service exists for. A fresh install drops a decade of configuration that no longer matches how you work and imports only master data and open balances. The deciding factor is usually the custom modules: if most of them now exist as standard apps, starting clean is faster.
Where do I start if I am still on Odoo 8?
Take a copy of the database, request an upgraded test copy against a supported version, and let it fail — the errors tell you which custom modules still matter. Then have the people who use each app test the upgraded copy before production is touched. Our upgrade guide sets out the order of work, and upgrade.hadoopt.com can run the first assessment.