Avoid Stockouts Like a Pro with Odoo’s Reordering Rules
The Frustration of Stockouts – A Story Every Business Owner Knows
Picture this: It’s the busiest week of the year for your online store. Orders are pouring in, and then—disaster strikes. A best-selling product suddenly runs out of stock. Customers are frustrated, sales are lost, and your team scrambles to place emergency orders with suppliers.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Stockouts cost businesses billions annually in missed revenue and damaged customer trust. The good news? You can prevent this nightmare with Odoo’s Reordering Rules—a smart, automated way to keep your inventory perfectly balanced.
What Are Reordering Rules in Odoo?
Reordering Rules are a feature in Odoo’s Inventory Management system that helps you:
- Set minimum stock levels for products.
- Automatically trigger purchase orders when stock dips too low.
- Eliminate manual tracking and human error.
Instead of constantly checking stock or reacting to shortages, Odoo does the work for you—keeping shelves stocked and customers happy.
How Odoo’s Reordering Rules Work (Step-by-Step)
1. Set Your Minimum Stock Threshold
Decide the lowest quantity you’re comfortable having before restocking. For example:
- If you sell 50 units of a product per week, set a minimum stock of 20 to allow time for reordering.
2. Define Reordering Rules in Odoo
Navigate to:
Inventory → Configuration → Reordering Rules
Here, you can:
✔ Choose the product
✔ Set the minimum quantity
✔ Select a preferred supplier
✔ Define the order quantity (fixed or dynamic)
3. Let Odoo Automate Purchase Alerts
Once set up, Odoo will:
✅ Monitor stock levels in real time.
✅ Generate purchase suggestions when stock is low.
✅ Optionally create automatic POs (if configured).
No more spreadsheets, no more guesswork—just seamless inventory control.
Why Reordering Rules Are a Game-Changer
1. Prevent Lost Sales & Angry Customers
Stockouts don’t just mean lost revenue—they damage customer trust. With automated reordering, you’ll always have stock when customers need it.
2. Reduce Excess Inventory Costs
Overstocking ties up cash and storage space. Reordering Rules help you balance supply and demand, avoiding both shortages and waste.
3. Save Time & Reduce Human Error
Manually tracking inventory is tedious and error-prone. Automation means:
✔ Fewer mistakes
✔ Less time wasted on emergency orders
✔ More focus on growing your business
4. Improve Supplier Relationships
By ordering before stock runs critically low, you avoid last-minute rushes—leading to better pricing and reliability from suppliers.
Best Practices for Using Reordering Rules
To get the most out of Odoo’s automation, follow these tips:
1. Analyze Historical Sales Data
- Set reorder points based on actual demand, not guesses.
- Adjust for seasonality (e.g., higher stock before holidays).
2. Set Safety Stock for Critical Items
For high-demand products, keep a buffer stock above the reorder point to cover unexpected spikes.
3. Regularly Review & Adjust Rules
- Check if products are frequently under/overstocked.
- Update rules as your business grows.
4. Combine with Demand Forecasting (Advanced)
For even smarter inventory, pair Reordering Rules with Odoo’s forecasting tools to predict future needs.
Final Thoughts: Never Run Out of Stock Again
Stockouts hurt sales, frustrate customers, and create unnecessary stress. With Odoo’s Reordering Rules, you can automate inventory management, reduce costs, and focus on what really matters—growing your business.
Your Turn!
How do you handle inventory alerts? Do you use manual checks, spreadsheets, or another tool? Share your tips below! ⬇️