Unlocking Power: Mastering Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features for Ultimate Online Success

Unlocking Power: Mastering Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features for Ultimate Online Success

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital commerce, staying ahead means constantly optimizing your online store for both efficiency and an unparalleled customer experience. The latest release, Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features, introduces a suite of robust enhancements designed to do just that – making your e-commerce operations smarter, more intuitive, and ultimately, more profitable.

Today, we delve deep into these groundbreaking updates, transforming the way you present products, manage inventory, and engage with your customers. This comprehensive guide, inspired by the insights shared in the official Odoo release demonstration (watch the full video here), will not only persuade you of the immense value these features bring but also provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to implement them, ensuring your Odoo 18.4 e-commerce platform is ready to conquer the market.

Whether you’re a seasoned Odoo user or considering it for your next digital venture, the new Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features are poised to revolutionize your online sales strategy. Let’s explore how.

Revolutionizing Your Online Store with Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features

Odoo 18.4 brings significant improvements across several critical areas of e-commerce, focusing on visual appeal, operational simplicity, and mobile accessibility. These enhancements are not just minor tweaks; they represent a strategic evolution of Odoo’s e-commerce capabilities, directly addressing common pain points and opening new avenues for growth.

1. Seamless Product Exploration: Variant Previews & Thumbnails

Imagine a customer browsing your online shop. Instead of clicking into each product to see its different variations (like colors or sizes), they can now get a visual cue right on the product card. This is precisely what the new variant preview and thumbnail feature among the Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features delivers.

Why it matters:

• Enhanced User Experience (UX): Customers can quickly grasp product variations, reducing clicks and frustration. This intuitive browsing can lead to higher engagement and longer session durations.

• Accelerated Decision-Making: By visually presenting options upfront, shoppers make quicker purchasing decisions, minimizing cart abandonment.

• Improved Conversion Rates: A smoother, more informative browsing experience directly translates to more completed sales. When customers can easily visualize what they’re getting, they’re more likely to proceed to checkout.

• Dynamic Shop Page: Your shop page becomes more dynamic and visually rich, showcasing the breadth of your product offerings without requiring deep navigation. This feature truly makes your digital storefront more engaging.

This capability is a significant leap forward in product discoverability, crucial for any business with diverse product lines.

2. Elevate Your Store’s Aesthetics: Dynamic Product Page Layouts

First impressions are everything, especially in e-commerce. Odoo 18.4 understands this, offering expanded control over your product page aesthetics. Beyond the default style, you now have the power to choose between a “Boxed” layout and an even clearer “Large” layout.

Why it matters:

• Branding Consistency: Align your product pages more closely with your brand’s visual identity, creating a cohesive and professional online presence.

• Optimized Product Presentation: Different products benefit from different visual treatments. A clothing item might look better in a boxed layout, while high-detail electronics could thrive in a large layout. This flexibility allows you to highlight product features optimally.

• Improved Readability and Focus: The “Large” layout, for instance, can minimize distractions and focus the customer’s attention directly on the product image and key details, which is particularly beneficial for showcasing premium items.

• Competitive Edge: A visually appealing and well-structured product page distinguishes your store from competitors, conveying trustworthiness and attention to detail.

These layout options provide powerful tools to enhance visual appeal and ensure your product pages are as compelling as your products themselves.

3. Streamlined Inventory & Sales: Unified Units of Measure and Packaging

One of the most impactful Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features for operational efficiency is the unification of Units of Measure (UoM) and packaging. Historically, these were separate entities, sometimes leading to complexities. Odoo 18.4 merges them, allowing for a more integrated and flexible approach to how you define and sell your products in various quantities. While this might mean adjusting to a new flow for some, the advantages in simplification and sales flexibility are immense.

Why it matters:

• Simplified Product Configuration: Reduce complexity in managing product variants and pricing across different packaging sizes. Instead of managing separate UoM categories, everything ties back to a primary unit with defined packaging options.

• Flexible Pricing and Sales: This feature shines in scenarios where you sell products in varying quantities, like a single item, a pack of six, or a bulk five-kilogram bag. Prices automatically adjust based on the selected packaging, eliminating manual calculations and potential errors.

• Enhanced Customer Choice: Customers can easily select their desired quantity or package size directly on the product page, mirroring real-world shopping habits. This flexibility can cater to both individual consumers and bulk buyers.

• Accurate Inventory Management: By linking packaging directly to the primary UoM, inventory tracking becomes more precise, reflecting what’s actually available in different configurations.

• Dynamic Price Lists: While direct price list application based solely on packaging is still evolving, the unified system sets a strong foundation for future advancements in complex pricing strategies tied to specific packaging types and minimum quantities.

Consider selling honey. You might sell it per unit (e.g., a jar) but also offer a “pack of six” or a “pack of twelve.” Similarly, for fruits sold by the kilogram, you can now easily offer 500-gram or 5-kilogram package options, with prices automatically adjusting from the base per-kilogram price. This level of detail and automation directly supports complex sales scenarios and improves customer satisfaction by offering convenient purchase options.

4. Optimized for On-the-Go Shoppers: Enhanced Mobile Cart Summary

In today’s mobile-first world, a seamless mobile shopping experience is non-negotiable. The improved mobile cart summary view in Odoo 18.4 is a testament to this understanding. When customers add items to their cart and view it on a smartphone, the summary is now cleaner, more organized, and intuitive.

Why it matters:

• Reduced Mobile Abandonment: A clunky mobile checkout process is a leading cause of abandoned carts. This streamlined summary view ensures a smooth transition from browsing to purchase.

• Improved User Experience (UX) on Mobile: Everything from product listings to subtotals and checkout buttons is optimized for smaller screens, making it easier for customers to review their order and proceed.

• Increased Mobile Conversions: By making the mobile checkout process effortless, businesses can expect a noticeable uplift in sales originating from mobile devices. Given that mobile commerce accounts for a significant portion of online sales, this is a critical improvement.

• Professional Image: A well-designed mobile interface reinforces your brand’s professionalism and commitment to customer convenience.

This enhancement ensures your Odoo 18.4 e-commerce store performs exceptionally well across all devices, capturing the lucrative mobile market segment.

5. Refined Product Organization: Shop Page Category Management

The way products are categorized and displayed directly impacts discoverability and navigation. Odoo 18.4 brings improvements to how uncategorized products are handled on the shop page. While uncategorized products are generally not displayed by default, Odoo now provides options to forcefully display them if needed. This subtle but important feature allows for greater control over your product visibility.

Why it matters:

• Better Shop Page Organization: Encourages proper product categorization, leading to a more organized and user-friendly shop page.

• Improved SEO: Well-structured categories and product assignments contribute positively to your store’s search engine optimization, making it easier for customers to find your products through organic search.

• Enhanced Navigation: Customers can more easily filter and find products within specific categories, improving their overall shopping journey.

• Flexibility for Special Cases: The option to forcefully display uncategorized items provides necessary flexibility for scenarios like new product uploads before full categorization, or for products that genuinely defy standard categories.

These Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features collectively empower businesses to create a more dynamic, user-friendly, and efficient online store, leading to better customer satisfaction and increased sales.

Mastering Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you understand the powerful benefits of these new Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features, let’s walk through how to set them up and leverage them effectively in your Odoo instance.

1. Enabling Variant Thumbnails on Product Cards

This intuitive feature significantly enhances product visibility and customer interaction on your shop page.

• Step 1: Access Website Settings.

  • Log into your Odoo 18.4 environment.
  • Navigate to the Website application.
  • From the top menu, go to Configuration > Settings.

• Step 2: Activate the Feature.

  • Scroll down or search for the “Shop” or “Product Display” section.
  • Locate and enable the option titled “Show Variant Image on Product Card” or similar wording.
  • Click “Save” to apply your changes.

• Step 3: Configure Product Attributes.

  • Go to Sales > Products > Products.
  • Select a product that has variants (e.g., a T-shirt with color options).
  • Ensure that the product’s attributes (e.g., “Color”) are configured with specific images for each variant value. This is crucial for the thumbnails to appear correctly.

• Step 4: Verify on Shop Page.

  • Go to your public website by clicking the “Website” button from the main Odoo dashboard.
  • Navigate to your “Shop” page.
  • Observe how product cards now display small variant thumbnails or allow you to interact to see different variant images directly on the card. This provides a rich, interactive preview without needing to click into the product detail page.

2. Changing Product Page Layout

Odoo 18.4 offers new visual styles for your product detail pages, enhancing their appeal.

• Step 1: Enter Website Edit Mode.

  • From your Odoo website, navigate to any product page.
  • Click the “Edit” button located in the top-right corner of the page to activate the website builder’s edit mode.

• Step 2: Access Customization Options.

  • Once in edit mode, a side panel (often on the right) or a top menu will appear.
  • Look for a tab or section labeled “Customize,” “Style,” or “Layout.”

• Step 3: Select Your Desired Layout.

  • Within the customization options, find “Product Layout” or “Product Page Style.”
  • You will see options like “Default,” “Boxed,” and “Large.” Click to select the layout that best suits your product and brand aesthetic.
  • The page will dynamically update to show the new layout.

• Step 4: Save and Publish.

  • Click the “Save” or “Publish” button (usually at the top) to make your layout changes live.
  • Review the product page on your live site to ensure the new layout is applied as intended. Experiment with different layouts for various product types to find the most impactful presentation.

3. Defining Units of Measure and Packaging

This unified system for UoM and packaging is one of the most powerful Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features for businesses with complex product offerings.

• Step 1: Navigate to Product Configuration.

  • From the Odoo dashboard, go to the Sales application.
  • Select Products > Products and open the product you wish to modify (e.g., “Honey” or “Fruits”).

• Step 2: Set Primary Unit of Measure.

  • Under the “General Information” tab, ensure the “Unit of Measure” field is correctly set (e.g., “Unit(s)”, “kg”). This is your base unit.

• Step 3: Add Packaging Options.

  • Go to the “Sales” tab of the product form.
  • Locate the “Packaging” section.
  • Click “Add a line” to introduce a new packaging type.
  • Package Type: Enter a descriptive name for this package (e.g., “5 kg Pack”, “500g Pouch”, “Pack of 6 Jars”).
  • Quantity: Specify the quantity of your primary unit of measure that this package contains (e.g., 5 for a 5 kg pack, 0.5 for a 500g pouch, 6 for a pack of 6 units).
  • Unit of Measure: Select the unit of measure associated with this specific packaging (e.g., “kg” for the 5 kg pack, “g” for the 500g pouch, “Unit(s)” for the pack of 6 jars). Odoo intelligently uses the base UoM for calculations.
  • You can add multiple packaging lines for a single product.

• Step 4: Ensure Website Visibility.

  • Under the “Sales” tab, make sure the “Can be sold on Website” checkbox is enabled.

• Step 5: Test on Your Website.

  • Go to your public website and navigate to the product page you just configured.
  • You will now see a UoM/Packaging selector near the quantity field. When you switch between different packaging options (e.g., “500g Pouch” or “5 kg Pack”), the product price will automatically adjust based on the quantity and your base unit price.
  • (Pro Tip: While applying price lists based directly on packaging is still being refined, you can use minimum quantity rules in price lists to offer discounts for bulk purchases linked to these packaging options. Explore Sales > Configuration > Price Lists for advanced pricing rules.) For more on advanced pricing, consult the Official Odoo Documentation on Pricing (note: link points to 18.0, but concepts are similar).

4. Mobile Cart Summary View

This feature is designed for seamless mobile shopping and typically requires no manual configuration in Odoo 18.4.

• Step 1: Add Products to Cart.

  • On your Odoo website, add one or more products to your shopping cart.

• Step 2: Simulate Mobile View.

  • If on a desktop browser, right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” or “Developer Tools.”
  • Look for a mobile device icon (often resembling a smartphone and tablet) and click it to toggle mobile view. Select a common mobile device from the dropdown (e.g., iPhone X, Galaxy S20).

• Step 3: Access Cart and Review.

  • Navigate to your shopping cart page.
  • Observe the improved layout of the cart summary. Items, quantities, prices, and totals should be clearly presented in a mobile-friendly format, making it easy to review and proceed to checkout. This streamlined process directly contributes to lower mobile cart abandonment rates.

5. Shop Page Categories

Effective product categorization is key to discoverability. Odoo 18.4 provides better control over how products appear on your shop page based on their category assignment.

• Step 1: Define Product Categories.

  • Go to Website > Products > Product Categories.
  • Ensure you have a well-structured hierarchy of categories that accurately represents your product offerings (e.g., “Electronics,” “Apparel,” “Books,” with subcategories like “Smartphones,” “Laptops,” “T-Shirts,” etc.).

• Step 2: Assign Categories to Products.

  • For each product (Sales > Products > Products), edit the product and assign it to one or more relevant “Product Categories” under the “Sales” tab. Proper categorization ensures products appear in the correct filter results.

• Step 3: Manage Uncategorized Products.

  • By default, Odoo 18.4 may hide products without a category from your main shop page to encourage better organization.
  • If you need to display uncategorized products, explore Website > Configuration > Settings and look for options related to “Product Visibility” or “Shop Page Display” to override this default behavior if necessary. However, for best practice and improved user navigation, assigning categories is highly recommended.

• Step 4: Verify on Shop Page.

  • Visit your website’s shop page.
  • Check that products are correctly displayed within their assigned categories and that the category filters work as expected. A well-organized shop page significantly enhances user experience and helps customers find what they need faster. Consider linking directly to specific categories in your navigation menu for optimal user experience. For more on optimizing your product catalog, see our guide on Streamlining Odoo Product Management (internal link placeholder).

Final Thoughts on Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features

The array of Odoo 18.4 eCommerce Features represents a significant step forward in simplifying complex e-commerce operations while simultaneously elevating the customer experience. From intuitive product browsing with variant thumbnails and flexible product page layouts to the ingenious unification of units of measure and packaging, and the essential enhancements for mobile shoppers, Odoo 18.4 is engineered for modern online retail.

These powerful updates empower businesses to present their products more effectively, streamline their sales processes, and convert more visitors into loyal customers. By mastering these new capabilities, you’re not just updating your software; you’re investing in a smarter, more agile, and ultimately more successful digital storefront. Embrace the future of e-commerce – it’s already here with Odoo 18.4. Start exploring these features today and watch your online business thrive!