How to Automate Order Processing
The Problem
Manual order processing means re-keying orders from emails, phone calls, and marketplace portals into your ERP, one by one. This creates bottlenecks during peak periods, introduces data entry errors that lead to wrong shipments, and delays fulfillment times. Customers expect same-day or next-day shipping, but manual workflows make that nearly impossible to achieve consistently.
The Solution
Odoo order automation captures orders from all channels, including your website, marketplaces, and EDI feeds, and routes them through configurable fulfillment workflows without human intervention. Orders are validated against inventory, payments are confirmed automatically, and picking lists are generated and assigned to warehouse staff instantly. Shipping labels print with carrier-calculated rates, and customers receive tracking updates at every stage.
Step-by-Step Setup
Connect Sales Channels
Integrate your ecommerce store, marketplace accounts, and B2B EDI feeds with Odoo using ECOSIRE connectors. All orders flow into a single order queue regardless of their source.
Configure Order Validation Rules
Set up automated checks for payment confirmation, fraud scoring, credit limits, and inventory availability. Orders that pass all checks move to fulfillment automatically; flagged orders route to a review queue.
Set Up Fulfillment Workflows
Define picking strategies (wave, batch, or zone picking) and packing procedures. Odoo assigns picks to warehouse staff based on workload, priority, and zone assignments.
Integrate Shipping Carriers
Connect carriers like FedEx, UPS, DHL, and local couriers to Odoo. The system automatically selects the best carrier and service level based on order weight, destination, and delivery promise.
Automate Customer Notifications
Configure email and SMS templates for order confirmation, shipping notification with tracking link, delivery confirmation, and follow-up review requests at each order lifecycle stage.
Enable Returns Processing
Set up RMA workflows that allow customers to initiate returns online. Odoo generates return labels, tracks incoming returns, and processes refunds or exchanges based on your return policy rules.
Build Order Analytics Dashboard
Create dashboards tracking order volume, fulfillment speed, shipping costs, and return rates across all channels. Set up alerts for SLA breaches or unusual order patterns.
Before vs After
| Aspect | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Order Entry | Staff manually types each order from emails and portal screenshots | Orders auto-import from all channels with zero manual entry |
| Fulfillment Speed | 24-48 hours from order to shipment on average | Same-day fulfillment for orders placed before cutoff time |
| Shipping Errors | 3-5% wrong item or wrong address rate | Below 0.3% error rate with barcode-verified picking and packing |
| Customer Communication | Customers call or email to ask where their order is | Proactive automated notifications at every stage with live tracking links |
| Peak Season Handling | Hire temporary staff and still fall behind during sales events | Same team handles 3-5x volume spikes with automated workflows |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Odoo handle orders from multiple marketplaces simultaneously?
Yes. ECOSIRE connectors pull orders from Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, and 20+ other platforms into a unified Odoo order queue. Each order retains its marketplace source for channel-specific reporting.
How does automated order validation prevent fraud?
Odoo checks payment status, billing and shipping address mismatches, order value thresholds, and customer history. Suspicious orders are flagged for manual review while clean orders proceed automatically to fulfillment.
What shipping carriers does Odoo integrate with?
Odoo has native integrations with FedEx, UPS, DHL, USPS, and many regional carriers. ECOSIRE can also configure custom carrier integrations via API for specialized logistics providers.
Can I set different fulfillment rules for different channels?
Absolutely. You can define separate warehouses, picking strategies, and shipping rules per sales channel. B2B orders can follow different workflows than direct-to-consumer orders from the same Odoo instance.
How are partial shipments handled?
Odoo supports backorder management out of the box. When an order cannot be fully fulfilled, it ships available items and creates a backorder for remaining quantities with automatic customer notification.
Ready to Automate?
ECOSIRE designs and implements custom automation workflows. Start saving time and reducing errors today.