It is Thursday afternoon and the bookkeeper just quit. You are a small business owner with 47 unpaid invoices, a purchase order that needs approval, three inventory items below reorder level, and a CRM full of leads nobody has followed up on in two weeks. You know all of this lives in Odoo, your ERP system, but navigating through the modules to deal with each item takes time you do not have.
What if you could handle all of it from your phone? “Show me overdue invoices.” “Reorder the items that are below minimum stock.” “Send follow-up emails to leads that haven’t been contacted in 14 days.” Each one handled by your AI agent, executing the actions directly in Odoo while you focus on running the business.
That is what the OpenClaw Odoo skill makes possible. It connects your AI agent to your Odoo instance, giving you conversational access to your entire ERP. Invoicing, inventory, CRM, purchasing, accounting — all through text messages.
This guide covers the setup process, what you can automate, and real workflows that small businesses use to save hours every week.
What Is Odoo?
Odoo is an open-source ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platform used by millions of businesses worldwide. It covers nearly every business function:
- Invoicing and Accounting — Create invoices, track payments, manage expenses, generate financial reports
- CRM — Track leads, manage the sales pipeline, schedule follow-ups
- Inventory — Manage stock levels, track shipments, handle warehouse operations
- Purchasing — Create purchase orders, manage vendors, track deliveries
- Manufacturing — Bill of materials, work orders, production planning
- HR and Payroll — Employee records, leave management, payroll processing
- eCommerce — Online store management integrated with inventory and invoicing
Odoo offers both a cloud-hosted version (Odoo Online) and a self-hosted Community Edition. The OpenClaw Odoo skill works with both, connecting through Odoo’s XML-RPC or JSON-RPC API.
For small and mid-sized businesses, Odoo is often the system of record for everything. Which makes conversational access to it particularly valuable.
What the Odoo Skill Does
The OpenClaw Odoo skill connects your agent to your Odoo instance and exposes its modules through conversation. The skill translates your natural language requests into Odoo API calls and returns the results in readable format.
Core capabilities by module:
Invoicing
- Create and send invoices
- Check payment status
- List overdue invoices
- Record payments
- Generate invoice PDFs
CRM
- View the sales pipeline
- Create and update leads/opportunities
- Schedule activities and follow-ups
- Move deals through stages
- Check win/loss statistics
Inventory
- Check stock levels
- Create delivery orders
- Process receipts
- Set reorder rules
- Track shipments
Purchasing
- Create purchase orders
- Approve pending orders
- Track vendor deliveries
- Compare vendor prices
Accounting
- Check account balances
- View profit and loss reports
- Reconcile bank statements
- Track expenses
Contacts
- Create and update customer/vendor records
- Search contacts by name, email, or company
- View contact history
The skill works with Odoo’s permission system. Your agent can only do what your Odoo user account is allowed to do. If your account does not have access to the Accounting module, the agent cannot access it either.
Installation and Setup
Step 1: Prepare Your Odoo Instance
The skill connects to Odoo through its external API. For Odoo Online (cloud), the API is enabled by default. For self-hosted instances, make sure the XML-RPC or JSON-RPC endpoint is accessible.
You need:
- Odoo URL — Your instance URL (e.g.,
https://mycompany.odoo.comorhttps://erp.mycompany.com) - Database name — The Odoo database name (visible in the URL or settings)
- Username — Your Odoo login email
- API Key or Password — An API key (recommended) or your account password
To generate an API key in Odoo:
- Log into Odoo
- Go to Settings then Users & Companies then Users
- Click your user profile
- Under Account Security, click New API Key
- Name it “OpenClaw” and copy the generated key
API keys are more secure than passwords because they can be revoked individually.
Step 2: Install the Skill
clawhub install odooStep 3: Configure the Connection
openclaw config set odoo.url "https://mycompany.odoo.com"
openclaw config set odoo.database "mycompany"
openclaw config set odoo.username "[email protected]"
openclaw config set odoo.api_key "your-odoo-api-key"Or use environment variables:
export ODOO_URL=https://mycompany.odoo.com
export ODOO_DATABASE=mycompany
export ODOO_USERNAME=[email protected]
export ODOO_API_KEY=your-odoo-api-keyStep 4: Verify the Connection
openclaw skills reload
openclaw startTest it:
List my Odoo modulesor:
Show me the 5 most recent invoices in OdooIf the agent returns data from your Odoo instance, the connection is working.
Invoicing Workflows
Invoicing is where most small businesses feel the pain of ERP navigation. Creating invoices, tracking payments, and chasing overdue accounts are repetitive tasks that the OpenClaw Odoo skill handles conversationally.
Creating an Invoice
Create an invoice for Acme Corp:
- 10 hours of consulting at $150/hour
- 1 project setup fee at $500
Due date: March 15The agent creates a draft invoice in Odoo with two line items, the correct customer, and the due date. It returns the invoice number for your reference.
Sending an Invoice
Send invoice INV/2026/0047 to the customer by emailThe agent triggers Odoo’s email sending for the specified invoice. The customer receives the invoice with your configured email template.
Checking Overdue Invoices
Show me all overdue invoices, sorted by amountOverdue Invoices:
1. INV/2026/0031 - Acme Corp - $4,500 - 15 days overdue
2. INV/2026/0038 - TechCo - $2,200 - 8 days overdue
3. INV/2026/0042 - SmallBiz LLC - $750 - 3 days overdue
Total overdue: $7,450Recording a Payment
Record a payment of $4,500 for invoice INV/2026/0031 from Acme Corp,
received today via bank transferThe agent creates the payment record and reconciles it with the invoice.
Monthly Invoice Summary
Show me the invoicing summary for February 2026:
total invoiced, total paid, total outstandingFebruary 2026 Invoicing:
- Total invoiced: $38,200
- Total paid: $29,750
- Outstanding: $8,450
- Overdue: $7,450
- Average days to payment: 18CRM and Sales Pipeline
The CRM module in Odoo tracks leads from first contact to closed deal. The OpenClaw Odoo skill lets you manage this pipeline without opening the CRM dashboard.
Viewing the Pipeline
Show me the current sales pipeline in OdooSales Pipeline:
- New: 12 leads ($45,000 estimated)
- Qualified: 8 leads ($92,000 estimated)
- Proposal: 5 leads ($67,000 estimated)
- Negotiation: 3 leads ($41,000 estimated)
- Won this month: 4 deals ($55,000)
Total pipeline value: $245,000Creating a Lead
Create a new lead in Odoo CRM:
Company: DataFlow Inc
Contact: David Kim, CTO
Email: [email protected]
Expected revenue: $25,000
Notes: Met at SaaS conference, interested in our enterprise planUpdating a Deal
Move the DataFlow opportunity to "Proposal" stage
and set the expected close date to March 30Scheduling Follow-Ups
Show me leads that haven't been contacted in more than 7 daysStale leads (no activity in 7+ days):
1. TechStart Inc - Lisa Wang - Last contacted Feb 14
2. CloudNine - Jennifer Park - Last contacted Feb 12
3. ScaleUp - Rachel Martinez - Last contacted Feb 10Schedule a follow-up call with Lisa Wang at TechStart for tomorrow at 2 PM
and add a note: "Discuss pricing proposal"Win/Loss Analysis
Show me the win rate for the last 3 months and the top reasons for lost dealsInventory Management
For businesses that sell physical products, inventory management in Odoo is critical but often neglected because the interface requires multiple clicks to check stock, create orders, and process receipts.
Checking Stock Levels
Show me all products below their minimum stock levelLow Stock Alert:
1. Widget A - Current: 12 units - Minimum: 50 - Reorder: 100
2. Cable Kit B - Current: 3 units - Minimum: 20 - Reorder: 50
3. Connector C - Current: 0 units - Minimum: 10 - Reorder: 30Creating a Purchase Order
Create a purchase order to SupplierX for:
- 100 units of Widget A at $5.50 each
- 50 units of Cable Kit B at $12.00 each
Expected delivery: March 10The agent creates the PO in Odoo and returns the PO number.
Processing a Receipt
Confirm receipt of purchase order PO/2026/0023 from SupplierX.
All items received in full.The agent validates the receipt and updates inventory quantities.
Tracking a Shipment
What is the status of delivery order DO/2026/0089?Delivery Order DO/2026/0089:
Customer: Acme Corp
Status: Ready to ship
Products: 25x Widget A, 10x Cable Kit B
Carrier: FedEx
Tracking: Not yet assignedInventory Valuation
What is the total inventory valuation as of today?Useful for month-end reporting and financial planning.
Accounting Workflows
For businesses that handle their own bookkeeping, the OpenClaw Odoo skill provides quick access to financial data without navigating Odoo’s accounting module.
Checking Account Balances
Show me the current balance of my main bank account in OdooProfit and Loss
Generate a profit and loss statement for January 2026The agent pulls the data from Odoo’s accounting module and formats it as a readable summary.
Expense Tracking
Create an expense record:
Category: Travel
Amount: $347.50
Description: Flight to client meeting in Chicago
Date: February 20Bank Reconciliation
Show me unreconciled bank transactions from the last 7 daysThe agent lists transactions that need to be matched with invoices or expenses, helping you keep your books clean without spending time in the reconciliation view.
Real-World Workflows for Small Businesses
Here are complete workflows that small business owners actually use with the OpenClaw Odoo skill.
Morning Business Check (5 minutes)
Every morning, ask your agent:
Give me my morning business briefing from Odoo:
1. Cash position (main bank account balance)
2. Overdue invoices
3. Orders to fulfill today
4. Low stock items
5. New leads from yesterdayYou get a complete picture of your business before your first coffee is finished. This same information would take 15-20 minutes to gather from the Odoo app.
Weekly Invoicing Run
Show me all completed projects from last week that haven't been invoiced yetCreate invoices for all of them using the standard rates on fileSend all draft invoices created todayThree messages. Invoicing done.
End-of-Month Close
Show me the following for February 2026:
1. Total revenue
2. Total expenses by category
3. Outstanding receivables aging report
4. Inventory valuation change
5. Top 5 customers by revenueA month-end summary without running five separate reports in Odoo.
OpenClaw Odoo vs. the Odoo Interface
The Odoo web interface is powerful and feature-rich. The OpenClaw Odoo skill does not replace it. It provides a faster interface for specific, repeated operations.
| Operation | Odoo Web Interface | OpenClaw Odoo Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Create an invoice | Navigate to Invoicing, click Create, fill fields | One message |
| Check overdue accounts | Invoicing, Customers, filter by overdue | One message |
| Stock level check | Inventory, Products, filter by low stock | One message |
| CRM pipeline overview | CRM, Pipeline view | One message |
| Record a payment | Find invoice, click Register Payment, fill form | One message |
| Complex report building | Report builder with filters and groups | Limited |
| Customizing views | Drag and drop columns, save filters | Not applicable |
| Bulk data import | Import wizard with CSV mapping | Not supported |
| Module configuration | Settings pages, field customization | Not supported |
Use the Odoo interface for: Initial setup, module configuration, complex report building, bulk imports, and visual dashboards.
Use the OpenClaw Odoo skill for: Day-to-day operations, quick checks, task execution, mobile access, and anything where speed beats visual richness.
Security Considerations
Connecting an AI agent to your ERP system raises valid security concerns. Here is how to handle them responsibly.
Use a Dedicated User Account
Create a separate Odoo user for your OpenClaw agent with limited permissions. Do not use your admin account. Give it access only to the modules you want the agent to use.
Example permissions:
- Invoicing: Create and send invoices (not delete)
- CRM: Read and update leads (not export)
- Inventory: Read stock levels, create POs (not modify pricing)
- Accounting: Read-only for balances and reportsUse API Keys, Not Passwords
API keys can be revoked without changing your password. If the key is compromised, revoke it in Odoo and generate a new one.
Audit Trail
Odoo logs all changes with the user who made them. Actions taken by your agent appear under the dedicated agent user, making it easy to audit what the agent did versus what a human did.
Network Security
If your Odoo instance is self-hosted, ensure the API endpoint is only accessible over HTTPS. Consider restricting API access to specific IP addresses if your OpenClaw agent runs on a fixed server.
Configuration Options
# Set the Odoo connection details
openclaw config set odoo.url "https://mycompany.odoo.com"
openclaw config set odoo.database "mycompany"
openclaw config set odoo.username "[email protected]"
openclaw config set odoo.api_key "your-api-key"
# Set default company (for multi-company setups)
openclaw config set odoo.default_company "My Company"
# Set default currency
openclaw config set odoo.default_currency "USD"
# Set the API protocol (xmlrpc or jsonrpc)
openclaw config set odoo.protocol "jsonrpc"
# Set request timeout (seconds)
openclaw config set odoo.timeout 30Multi-Company Support
If your Odoo instance manages multiple companies:
Switch to the "Company B" context in OdooOr set a default:
openclaw config set odoo.default_company "Company B"Troubleshooting
”Authentication failed”
Check your credentials. The most common issues:
- API key was revoked or expired
- Database name is incorrect (case-sensitive)
- Username does not match the Odoo login email
Verify by testing the connection:
curl -X POST https://mycompany.odoo.com/jsonrpc \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"call","params":{"service":"common","method":"login","args":["mycompany","[email protected]","api-key"]}}'“Access denied” on specific operations
Your Odoo user does not have permission for that module or action. Check the user’s access rights in Odoo under Settings then Users.
”Module not installed”
The skill cannot access an Odoo module that is not installed on your instance. For example, if you ask about Manufacturing but the Manufacturing module is not activated, the agent returns an error. Install the module in Odoo first.
Slow responses
Odoo API calls can be slow for large datasets. If a query returns too many records (e.g., “show me all invoices”), it may time out. Be specific:
Show me invoices from February 2026instead of:
Show me all invoicesSelf-hosted connection issues
Ensure your Odoo instance allows external API connections. Check:
- Firewall rules allow inbound connections on your Odoo port
- HTTPS is configured with a valid certificate
- The
xmlrpcorjsonrpcendpoint is not blocked by a reverse proxy
Pairing with Other Skills
The Odoo skill works well alongside other OpenClaw capabilities.
- Pair with email skills to send invoice reminders through your personal email
- Pair with calendar skills to sync CRM follow-up dates with your calendar
- Pair with the Playwright skill to automate Odoo operations that are not exposed through the API
- Pair with spreadsheet skills to export Odoo data to Google Sheets for analysis
- Browse business skills for tools that complement ERP workflows
Getting Started
If you have not set up OpenClaw yet, start with the Getting Started guide.
Once your agent is running:
clawhub install odoo
openclaw config set odoo.url "https://your-instance.odoo.com"
openclaw config set odoo.database "your-database"
openclaw config set odoo.username "[email protected]"
openclaw config set odoo.api_key "your-api-key"
openclaw skills reloadStart with a read-only query:
Show me the 5 most recent invoices in OdooOnce that works, try creating a test invoice, checking your CRM pipeline, or reviewing stock levels. Build up from simple queries to automated workflows as you get comfortable with what the skill can do.
For the full skill documentation, visit the odoo skill page. For more business automation tools, browse business skills. And for recommendations across every category, see Best OpenClaw Skills 2026.