Odoo releases a major version every year, and each update focuses on solving everyday business problems. Based on the previews available so far, Odoo 20 appears to be less about adding dozens of new modules and more about making existing workflows smarter. AI, mobile usability, industry-specific applications, and better coordination between departments seem to be the main priorities.
AI Becomes Part of Everyday Work
Rather than treating AI as a separate tool, Odoo 20 is expected to build it into daily tasks.
Some of the expected additions include:
- AI that updates records using natural language commands
- Helpdesk suggestions based on previous support tickets
- AI-generated replies for customer conversations
- Website editing through simple prompts
- Automatic image generation for website pages Instead of opening multiple screens, users may simply describe what they want, and the system handles much of the work in the background.
Better Tools for Sales and Service Teams
Sales and service departments could see several workflow improvements.
One of the most practical additions is an AI-assisted timesheet system. Rather than expecting employees to remember every hour they worked, Odoo 20 may suggest timesheet entries based on project activity.
Another notable change is the merger of the Field Service module into Planning. Scheduling technicians, assigning work, and managing on-site visits would happen from one place instead of switching between separate apps.
Sales teams may also get basic inventory visibility directly inside the Sales module, reducing the need to open the full warehouse application for simple stock checks.
Finance and Payroll Get Practical Improvements
Payroll is expected to receive one of its biggest updates in recent years.
The redesigned payroll dashboard could highlight missing employee information before salaries are processed, reducing last-minute errors.
Finance teams may also gain more flexibility when working with taxes, deferred revenue, foreign currency adjustments, and accounting reconciliation.
These changes focus more on reducing manual checks than adding entirely new accounting features.
Better POS and eCommerce Experience
Restaurants and retailers are likely to benefit from several improvements.
A new drag-and-drop floor planner would allow restaurants to design seating layouts with different table shapes and custom backgrounds.
Retail businesses could manually arrange POS product buttons to match the physical layout of their shelves, making checkout easier for cashiers.
On the eCommerce side, expected additions include:
- Promotional progress bars
- Product recommendation blocks
- Catalog pages
- Customer return requests These updates focus on improving both customer experience and day-to-day store management.
A Better Mobile Experience
Odoo's mobile interface has improved steadily over the past few releases.
Odoo 20 is expected to redesign form views completely for phones and tablets. Larger labels, better spacing, and the removal of horizontal scrolling should make everyday tasks much easier for employees working away from a desktop.
Calendar improvements, including multiple calendar views and smarter appointment scheduling, are also expected.
More Industry-Specific Apps
Instead of asking businesses to customize everything themselves, Odoo 20 appears to introduce dedicated solutions for industries such as:
- Hotels
- Construction
- Real estate
- Auto repair
- Industrial equipment These applications are expected to include workflows built specifically for those industries, reducing implementation time.
Conclusion
While Odoo has not officially released the final feature list, the previews suggest that Odoo 20 will focus on improving how people work rather than simply adding more modules. AI is becoming part of everyday tasks, mobile usability is receiving a major refresh, and industry-specific applications continue to expand. If your business is planning an ERP upgrade, this is a good time to review your current setup and prepare for the transition. An experienced Odoo ERP solution partner can help you evaluate compatibility, custom modules, and upgrade planning before Odoo 20 becomes available.
