The Point of Sale (POS) systems that support smooth operations in establishments like restaurants and retail stores have given businesses a competitive edge. To help businesses manage their transactions efficiently, Odoo 18 offers a robust point of sale (POS) module that connects with accounting, inventory, and e-commerce. Odoo is available in two editions: Community and Enterprise editions. The Community edition, which is open-source and free, provides a quite simple POS system; however, the Enterprise edition offers more sophisticated features with greater automation and scalability. This blog would explore how the Odoo 18 Community and Enterprise POS differ from one another.
1. Customer Display Screen:
The Customer Display Screen feature in Odoo 18 is exclusively available to Enterprise users. At the point of sale, it offers a customer display with up-to-date information on scanned products, total amount, change due, and promotional messaging. This feature is designed to enhance the checkout experience and is better suited for retail operations. The Odoo IoT Box and the Enterprise Edition work well together, making it simpler to configure compatible devices like tablets or additional monitors. However, customer display screens are not included in the Community edition by default. This feature would have to be provided by third-party modules.
2. Advanced POS Interface Management:
The Odoo Community POS Interface is simple but effective enough to make product administration, payment tracking, and sales processing easier. Only Odoo Enterprise offers the following advanced POS features:
* Layouts customized to the needs of the company.
* Touchscreen for quick processing
* Quicker loading and improved usability
Larger companies with significant transaction volumes could use Odoo Enterprise because of these features.
3. Floor and Table Management:
Floor and table management is a crucial aspect of bars and restaurants. There is no floor and table management system of any kind in the Community edition of Odoo. With the help of the graphical restaurant layout included in Odoo’s Enterprise solution, businesses can efficiently assign tables, make seating arrangements, and track orders. Everything is therefore customer-friendly and facilitates quick table turnover, which distinguishes the package for the hospitality sector.
In the POS dashboard, select Restaurant or Bar to viewa graphical representation of table layout as shown below:
4. Advanced Order Management and Bill Splitting:
The main order processing functions are included in both the Community and Enterprise editions of the software. It includes:-
* Fulfilling sales orders
* Completing invoices for clients
* Abstracting away sales and discounts
However, one unique function that is only available with Odoo Enterprise is bill splitting. When it is utilized by bars and restaurants that frequently split bills among a large number of patrons or under separate payments of a group order, this feature represents an additional benefit.
To enable Bill splitting, navigate to Configuration > Settings and then enable Allow Bill Splitting as shown below:
5. Advanced Payment Terminal Integration and Cash Control:
Both editions enable cash controls for cash transactions to prevent inconsistencies. Odoo Enterprise has sophisticated payment terminal integration, allowing a company to accept payments by:
* Authorization for contactless payments, mobile wallets, and credit and debit cards.
* A single transaction that combines two.
However, Odoo Community is not a strong choice for companies that accept a variety of payment methods because it lacks direct connectivity with any payment terminal.
6. Loyalty Programs and Customer Retention:
Customer loyalty has a significant positive impact on any business expansion. Odoo Enterprise offers a loyalty program feature that includes: Point-based Reward System, Discount vouchers, Benefits Exclusive to members together, this creates a crucial customer relationship management system that promotes repeat business. Effective client retention is limited by built-in loyalty program functionality, which is not accessible in Odoo Community.
7. Inventory Integration and Real-Time Stock Updates:
Odoo's inventory module is integrated into both the Community and Enterprise versions; however, Odoo Enterprise offers real-time inventory tracking. Businesses that have real-time stock control are able to: Automate inventory replenishment, reduce stock discrepancies, and update stock levels instantly after each sale. Odoo Community may occasionally require human inventory adjustments in order to match the actual stock, which could increase the likelihood of stock mismatches.
8. Advanced Reporting and Order Analysis:
The foundation for well-informed decision making is its company's performance information. Odoo Enterprise offers sophisticated analytics and reporting, including real-time revenue insights, order trends and customer preferences, and sales performance tracking. However, Odoo Community lacks comprehensive sales reporting, making it less appropriate for companies that need in-depth data analysis.
9. IoT Boxes Support:
The noteworthy features of the Odoo Enterprise include barcode scanners, receipt printers, and weighing scales. As a result, procedures can be automated more effectively and with fewer human errors. Odoo Community is not appropriate for companies that require hardware automation because it does not offer IoT box connectors.
To connect the IoT Box to Odoo, select IoT Box from Apps in Odoo Database and click on Connect as shown below:
Then find the pairing code; if a printer is connected to the IoT Box, it will print a code. If a monitor is connected to the IoT Box, the code will appear on the screen. Enter the pairing code and click on Pair as shown below:
10. Offline Mode:
The enterprise edition of Odoo 18’s Point of Sale (POS) has the capability to operate offline. Businesses focusing on product sales without an internet connection would benefit greatly from offline mode or offline processing. The POS system functions in a genuinely offline state because it operates within a browser, briefly logging transactions before synchronizing with server-based processes. As a result, nothing happens, particularly for restaurants and busy retail establishments that don’t want to witness a decline in sales due to internet connectivity. However, the Community edition of Odoo does not have an offline mode. Some third-party modules tried to incorporate the offline capability into the Community edition, but most of them would require a great deal of technical setup and might not offer the same level of support and stability as the native Enterprise feature.
11. Preparation Display:
The Preparation Display, often known as the Kitchen or Bar Screen, is a built-in-feature of Odoo 18’s PoS system that is exclusive to the Enterprise edition. The display allows the bar and kitchen staff to see orders as they come in, monitor when they’re ready, and filter products by categories such as Food or Drinks. The touchscreen design and compatibility with kitchen printers allow order operations to be handled smoothly and effectively in a restaurant or cafe setting. On the other hand, a Preparation Display is not included by default in the Community edition. Users of the Community Edition are not automatically supported for this functionality. Therefore, it is necessary to think about either custom programming or third-party modules for similar functionality.
A useful tool for efficiently managing sales for companies of all sizes is the Odoo 18 POS module. While the Enterprise editions offer more functionality, automation, and scalability to better support a growing business, the Community edition will offer basic POS operations at a lower cost. Odoo Community will be adequate if your company needs less expensive POS features, but if you require real-time stock management, multiple payments, loyalty programs, and hardware interfaces, Odoo Enterprise is the best option.
To read more about how to configure & Use POS Product Categories in Odoo 18, refer to our blog How to Configure & Use POS Product Categories in Odoo 18.