How to Manage Multiple Branches of Business With Odoo?

Introduction

In today’s competitive business world, managing multiple branches of a single can become very stressful making sure a business grows and makes money is really important. Odoo is a very flexible and strong software for managing a business. 

Odoo Services helps businesses with its comprehensive solutions. It helps businesses streamline their various aspects of business operations. Management with Odoo looks like having a cup of tea.

In this article, we will see how odoo helps businesses to set up and manage multiple branches efficiently without much difficulty.

Steps for Setup Multi-Branch

The multi-branch application operates similarly to a multi-company environment. When a user makes a new record, it will automatically be put in the main branch set for the user. And all the information in the fields will match what is in the main branch. Now let’s look at the steps to Multi-Branch Operations Setup:

1. Install the Multi-Branch Operations Setup module.

2. Find the newly added menu under "Users and Companies" within the Settings section.

3. Navigate to "Settings" -> "Users and Companies" -> "Branches". Add a branch name and associated company. Also, add additional information if needed.

4. Access "Settings" -> "Users and Companies" -> "Users" to set the default branch and allow branches for each user.

5. When creating a record, the default branch set for the user will automatically apply. All field values within the record will adjust accordingly based on the default branch.

See Also: Optimizing Performance with Odoo: Best Practices and Examples

List of Branches Management With Odoo

1. Branch for Partners:

Odoo helps in managing partner information. It includes customers, suppliers, and also other stakeholders. It helps in tracking communication and sales history as well.

The branch field will be automatically set as the default branch arranged for the logged-in user when a new partner is created. Once you have selected a branch for a partner company, the branch contacts related to that company will be set as the same branch as the parent company.

2. Branch for Products: 

Odoo helps maintain a centralized database for products. It also includes a description and pricing of a product. It also maintains inventory levels. Odoo also helps in monitoring product performance. It also analyses sales trends to optimize inventory management.

When a company is assigned to a product, users now have the option to select a branch associated with the chosen company as the branch for the product.

3. Branch for Warehouse: 

Odoo helps in optimising warehouse operations. It helps with features like inventory management, stock movements, and order fulfilment. Odoo also uses barcode scanning and RFID technology for better inventory accuracy and traceability.

In Odoo, users can make many warehouses with permission. When a new warehouse is finished, Odoo will make the kind of operation for the warehouse. If a branch is chosen for the making warehouse, then the branch part of the made operations will be filled in automatically with the warehouse's branch. 

When a new warehouse transfer is made, the branch set for the transfer will be the main one, and the operations shown will be from that branch, even though the user can change it and pick any allowed branch.

4. Branch on Accounting: 

Odoo helps streamline financial processes. It also generates financial reports for comprehensive financial analysis. Odoo also ensures compliance with accounting standards and regulations through customisable charts of accounts and tax configurations.

In accounting, businesses can use different journals for their money tasks. By adding the multi-branch app, they can manage branches in the accounting section. This helps businesses assign branches to journals, so they can have separate journals for each branch. 

When users make a new payment for a customer or vendor, the system automatically picks the user's main branch for the payment. Also, the journal used for the payment will match the branch chosen for the payment. The same thing happens when users create a new invoice or vendor bill.

5. Branch on Sales and Purchase Flow:

Odoo helps in managing sales and purchase orders, tracking sales and purchase cycles from order creation to delivery and invoicing. Sales and purchases are really important for businesses, and this module helps manage them across different branches.

When users make new sales or purchase orders, the system automatically assigns them to the user's main branch, but users can change this if they need to. For sale orders, it uses the warehouse from the branch, and for purchase orders, it sets the "Deliver to" place based on the chosen branch. Also, the branch of the invoice or bill matches the branch of the sale or purchase order, and the journal used is related to the chosen branch.

6. Purchase Order: 

Odoo helps in creating and tracking purchase orders for procuring goods and services from suppliers. It also monitors order status, delivery schedules, and vendor communications.

When a new Purchase Order is made, the branch for the order will be set according to the user. If the user can use only one branch, the order will be set to that branch. If the user can use more than one branch, the order won't have a default branch set.

7. Receipt: 

Odoo helps in recording the receipt of goods and services against purchase orders. It also validates received quantities and quality to ensure accuracy and compliance with purchase agreements. 

Once the Purchase Order is confirmed, the receipt will be made. The Destination Location and Branch for the receipt will be set according to the Purchase Order Branch.

8. Vendor Bill: 

After confirming, the Receipt Vendor Bill can be made from the Purchase Order. The branch for the created bill will be the same as the branch chosen for the Purchase Order, and the journal will be used accordingly.

9. Sale Order: 

When a new Sale order is made, the branch for the sale will be the user's main branch if the user can only use one branch. If the user can use more than one branch, the branch field will be left blank. Users need to choose a branch from the list of allowed branches because it's required.

10. Delivery Order: 

After confirming the Sale order, the system will make the corresponding Delivery Order. The branch and source location for the delivery will be set based on the branch of the Sale Order.

11. Customer Invoice: 

After checking the Delivery Order, make an Invoice from the Sale order. The journal and branch for the new Invoice will be chosen according to the Sale order's branch.

12. Branch on Reporting: 

Odoo's reports and analyses help understand a company's operations accurately. If a company has many branches, it's important to get reports for each branch. This module lets users do that. They can get sales, purchases, and invoices by branch. In the pivot view of sales, purchases, and invoices, users can group the records by branch.

13. Sales Order Report: 

The Sales Order Report gives a full look at all the sales activities done in the business for the chosen branch. It tracks sales performance by product, region, salesperson, or other relevant dimensions. It also generates sales forecasts and projections to support sales planning and target setting.

14. Purchase Order Report: 

The Purchase Order report shows details about the product buying done for the chosen branch. It also identifies cost-saving opportunities and vendor negotiation strategies based on purchasing insights.

15. Stock Moves: 

The Stock Moves report shows how products move around, as it's described. It includes receipts, deliveries, transfers, and adjustments. It also analyses stock movement patterns to optimise warehouse layout, stocking strategies, and reorder points.

16. Product Move: 

The Product Move Report in Odoo defines all the details of how products move in a specific branch. It tracks product availability, lead times, and transit times for efficient order fulfilment. It also optimises product flow and distribution channels based on historical movement data and demand forecasts.

17. Stock Valuation: 

The Stock Valuation report gives a number-based analysis of the products in stock at the warehouse branch of the company.

18. Invoice Analysis: 

Users can see an analysis of all the invoices made for the chosen branch in the Invoice Analysis Report. They can also optimize invoicing processes, credit terms, and payment methods to improve cash flow and reduce bad debt.

See Also: The Ultimate Odoo Implementation Guide for 2023: A Roadmap to Success

Conclusion

Managing multiple branches of a company at once can be difficult. But doing business with Odoo is easy. It can help businesses to streamline operations, and improve efficiency. It also can help to drive growth across the organization. With Odoo’s integrated modules for partners, products, warehouse, accounting, sales, and reporting, businesses can get better control and insight into their business processes.

Whether you are a small start-up or a big company, Odoo has scalable solutions for everyone. It can help anyone to meet their desired needs and empower the team to succeed. So, why wait? Unlock the full potential of your business branch management with Odoo and embark on a journey of sustainable growth and success. If you think that you need an Odoo ERP Development Company or need to hire odoo developer, don’t forget to contact AspireSoftServ.