It’s Not “Just an Upgrade”
S2, #23 - Odoo 17.1 is released, and the script to upgrade to 17 is available
Introduction
Great software is like fine wine. It gets better with time.
That’s the case with Odoo. It evolves with each update.
That’s the true reason why I started to use it 11 years ago. It’s not just because it’s more affordable and easier to use, but also because I believed it would evolve faster and better than any competitor.
Now, they have released version 17.1, plus the script to upgrade your current Odoo installation to Odoo 17.
History proved me right.
Agenda
1. Odoo news: release 17.1 and more
2. About Odoo: versions and upgrades
3. My top piece of advice for CEOs considering an Odoo upgrade:
4. Business quote on “Smiling”
5. Last but not least: a $ 1,000 gift
1. Odoo news: release 17.1 and more.
Two big news on Odoo: Version 17.1 has been released, and the upgrade script for Version 17 is now available!
Version 17.1
The subversion 17.1 is available on Odoo online! You can check the release note here:
https://www.odoo.com/odoo-17-1-release-notes
You can also test the new features by yourself on demo.odoo.com
The major improvements, in my opinion, are:
Fine-tuning and usability improvements on mature apps.
Often, the biggest value of the new Odoo version is not the trendy new apps (that lack maturity and business value) but fine-tuning the core (ERP) applications to make them 0.5% better. On version 17.1, the impacted features are:
Management of account receivables and follow-up (Accounting)
Accounting localization
Mass editing package location (Inventory)
Usability improvements to manage serial numbers in manufacturing
Promising apps
The “new” app that got a lot of critical improvements is Spreadsheet. It will not entirely replace the need for external reporting tools, but it is starting to become one of the most promising “non-core” apps in Odoo.
Odoo script upgrade?
Odoo finally released the script to upgrade your existing Odoo system to version 17 (that was already available before but only for the SaaS version of Odoo, Odoo online).
You can access it here to upgrade your database “automatically” to the latest major version.
2. About Odoo: versions and upgrades
Wait, why do we speak about upgrading to version 17.1 if version 17.1 is available? And why do we speak about the major version?
Odoo has two types of releases:
The major releases (e.g. versions 15.0, 16.0, 17.0) come once a year during the Odoo Experience. They are intended for all production installations of Odoo, which apply to both Odoo Community and Odoo Enterprise, and for all hosting types (Odoo online, Odoo.sh, and Odoo on-premise).
The minor releases (e.g. 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, etc.) come between the major ones about 3-4 times a year. They are intended to be used only for Odoo Online (Odoo Enterprise SaaS offer), but the source code is available to all Odoo partners.
How do I get to the latest version?
If you start using Odoo online today, you'll get 17.1. Upgrades are soon available to Odoo online users.
If you use Odoo on a private cloud (or Odoo.sh), you are supposed to use only the major releases (16.0, 17.0, …). You can now use the script of Odoo to help you migrate to the latest major release, Odoo 17.0.
Upgrading your Odoo version to the latest release is a major project because it could bring high costs and great benefits, depending on how it is done.
One of our Delivery Directors, Munesh, explains the process in this video:
3. My top advice for CEOs considering an Odoo upgrade
Just some high-level insight on how to think about your Odoo upgrade:
Start by identifying the "whys” or the top features of the new version that will drastically improve your business. Align with your business strategy and assess if you really want to upgrade now.
Challenge ALL non-standard features (custom development or community apps) you are currently using. The objective of an upgrade should always be to simplify your system.
Review all Odoo standard features (new or existing) you have not used and see if they could help your business. Those are quick wins for your business's competitiveness.
Consider the Odoo upgrade a major Digital Transformation project by allocating enough budget and effort to maximize the benefits. You'll usually get a much higher ROI than the initial implementation.
Bonus tip: If you have had four separate version upgrades or more in the past, approach the new upgrade as a new Odoo implementation. You'll spend much less money and make fewer mistakes than if you implemented Odoo for the first time. Hence, this approach will give you a cleaner implementation that is more aligned with your strategy while not leaving a major dent in your budget.
4. Business quote on “Smiling”
"Smiling is the cheapest way to make your employees, customers, and vendors happy. "
It doesn’t replace a good salary and coaching, or a quality product and a reliable service, but it brings a lot of value and happiness. For free.
5. Last but not least: a $1,000 gift
Writing this newsletter costs time, i.e., the missed opportunity to do something else. That’s about $500-1000 per week that I give for free to the Odoo community.
I hope it delivers as much value as possible. If you like it, I ask your favor to support this project. Any of the following would be a HUGE help:
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