Day 1 of Odoo Experience 2025 just wrapped and I am genuinely excited about what this means for Australian businesses. As someone who partners with companies across Australia daily at WilldooIT, today's announcements show Odoo is laser-focused on solving real business challenges.
The big picture
The highlight for me was definitely the keynote session where the presenters showed how Odoo is expanding across a wide range of industries. There were demos for retail, legal services, education, restaurants, manufacturing, accounting, HR and even ESG compliance. It is becoming a truly all-encompassing platform for business management and operations across virtually every sector.
The central theme throughout was operational simplicity: replacing manual work with automation, making day-to-day tasks faster and providing a single integrated system instead of relying on multiple disconnected apps.
Key features that matter for Australian businesses
Inventory & retail revolution
For Australian wholesalers and retailers, the new inventory and POS features stood out:
- Stock can now be updated instantly through mobile barcode scanning.
- Automated reordering reduces the risk of stock outs.
- Integrated loyalty programmes and digital receipts in POS system make customer engagement much easier.
Manufacturing gets smarter
For the customers we support, the upgrades in manufacturing and procurement will be very relevant:
- Redesigned shop floor app allows teams to collaborate on orders with barcode scanning.
- AI-powered procurement system suggests purchase quantities based on demand and supplier constraints.
These improvements should help Australian businesses better manage their supply chains, which is always a challenge in our geography.
Accounting & compliance made simple
The accounting improvements received major attention on day 1 as Odoo now covers local invoicing requirements for 58 countries. It also comes with:
- AI-assisted process that promises to cut processing time dramatically.
- Streamlined bank reconciliation.
- Integrated credit card expense management.
While Australia was not part of the keynote demo, the direction is clear: Odoo is investing heavily in localisation, automation and audit readiness. That aligns perfectly with the challenges we see in Australia, where compliance and efficiency in finance can make a big difference to cash flow.
ESG compliance gets ahead of the curve
The new ESG app is also worth noting. With sustainability reporting becoming a bigger topic here, this app automatically tracks emissions, gender parity and compliance documentation. It is a reminder that Odoo is preparing businesses for regulations that are only going to get stricter in the coming years and it gives our customers the tools to stay ahead of the curve.
Hospitality & service excellence
Restaurants were another focus, with new POS features supporting:
- Table reservations and QR code ordering.
- Integration with delivery platforms.
For Australian businesses in hospitality, these capabilities mean better service and smoother operations without needing multiple systems.
AI integration that actually works
AI was the thread running through everything but not in a flash way. It is practical AI that actually saves time.
From automatically scoring sales opportunities to building e-commerce websites, Odoo is putting AI to work where it matters most: reduce the boring, repetitive tasks that eat up your day.
The new dashboards, in particular, will help managers in Australia get a clearer view of their operations without having to invest in separate business intelligence (BI) tools. It is about getting insights that drive decisions, not just pretty charts.
Why this matters?
For us at WilldooIT, day 1 has confirmed that Odoo 19 continues to be the right platform for Australian businesses. It is not just about adding new features – it is about making the daily work of running a business simpler, smarter and more connected.
Whether you are in timber, food distribution, renewables or another industry, the opportunities to improve efficiency and customer engagement are growing with every release.
I am looking forward to tomorrow’s keynote where more will be unveiled and I will continue to share updates on what this means for our customers back home. Stay tuned!