The Challenge

The client’s legacy process lacked real-time control and data accuracy across the supply chain.

Key operational challenges included:

• Unstructured Inbound Tracking — Goods were received manually without clear allocation to pallets, racks, or zones.
• No Location Mapping — Staff couldn’t easily trace where specific items or batches were stored within the warehouse.
• Manual Transfer Slips — Movements from the raw material warehouse to the production floor relied on paper-based logs.
• Limited Stock Visibility — Production and distribution teams often had outdated stock counts, leading to overstocking or shortages.
• Lack of Inter-Warehouse Coordination — Finished goods moving to distribution centers were manually tracked, leading to errors and delayed dispatches.
• No Barcode or Batch Traceability — Tracking expiry, batch numbers, or supplier references was tedious and error-prone.

The client required a robust, multi-warehouse inventory solution that could digitally manage the entire material flow — from supplier inbound to customer dispatch — with real-time tracking, location intelligence, and automation.

Solutions Delivered

TDWS Consulting Group implemented a fully integrated Odoo Warehouse Management System (WMS) that digitized every stage of warehouse operation.

The solution provided end-to-end visibility and traceability — from inward raw materials, to production transfers, to finished goods warehousing and distribution.

Key solution highlights included:

1. Inward Goods & GRN (Goods Receipt Note)

• Each truck entering the facility was logged in Odoo via a Dock-In screen, capturing vehicle details, supplier, purchase order reference, and expected materials.
• Upon unloading, warehouse staff used handheld barcode scanners to verify received goods against purchase orders.
• The system automatically generated a Goods Receipt Note (GRN), linking received quantities, batch numbers, and quality inspection data.
• Non-conforming materials were flagged and routed to a quarantine zone until QA clearance.

2. Location-Based Storage & Mapping

• Every item received was stored in mapped warehouse coordinates — specifying:

1. Wall / Aisle / Section / Rack / Pallet position
2. Material type and hazard category (if applicable)

• Odoo’s location hierarchy was configured to mirror the physical layout of the warehouse, allowing supervisors to view the exact position of every pallet or SKU in real time.

• The system used putaway rules to suggest optimal storage based on weight, turnover frequency, and material category.

3. Movement to Production

• When raw materials were required for production, requests were generated via the Manufacturing (MRP) module and automatically linked to stock pickings.
• Warehouse staff used transfer orders and barcode confirmation to move materials from their exact pallet to the production staging zone.
• Every movement was timestamped and traceable — providing full audit logs of material flow from inbound to factory floor.

4. Finished Goods Warehouse Management

• Once production was completed, finished goods were scanned and transferred into the Finished Goods Warehouse, using auto-generated lot numbers linked to production batches.
• The warehouse followed a zone-based layout, where finished goods were categorized by SKU type, packaging size, and distribution region.
• Real-time dashboards displayed available stock, pending dispatch orders, and pallet-level occupancy.

5. Inter-Warehouse & Distribution Transfers

• Outbound orders for distribution centers or retailers were planned via Odoo’s Delivery Orders and Routes module.
• Goods were allocated from finished stock using FIFO / FEFO rules, ensuring accuracy and freshness for perishable items.
• Odoo generated shipment manifests, including pallet labels, truck assignments, and digital e-way bills.
• Transfers were tracked until final receipt at the distribution warehouse, where GRNs were automatically generated.

6. Analytics & Automation

• Custom dashboards in Odoo Studio and Spreadsheet view provided real-time insights into:

1. Inventory turnover by SKU and zone
2. Dock utilization and average loading/unloading times
3. Stock valuation by warehouse
4. Wastage and quarantine rates

• Predictive reorder rules and automated alerts ensured stock never ran out at production or distribution levels.

Results Delivered

The Odoo WMS implementation completely transformed warehouse visibility, accuracy, and speed across the client’s supply chain.

Key outcomes included:

• Improved storage utilization by 20%, using intelligent putaway and pallet mapping.
• Zero stock discrepancies during audits due to batch and location tracking.
• Faster inter-warehouse transfers, cutting dispatch preparation time by 40%.
• Real-time dashboards and predictive insights for supply chain decision-making.

Technology Stack

• Platform: Odoo Enterprise (v15)
• Modules: Inventory, Purchase, Manufacturing (MRP), Barcode, Accounting, Studio
• Custom Add-ons: Location Mapper, Dock-In Dashboard, Inter-Warehouse Transfer Manager
• Integrations: Barcode Scanners, Weighbridge System, ERP Financials
• Hosting: TD Web Services

Conclusion

By implementing a customized Odoo Warehouse Management System, TDWS Consulting Group enabled the client to transition from a manual, fragmented inventory process to a real-time, fully automated warehousing ecosystem.

The solution provided granular visibility across every pallet, wall, and section of the warehouse, while ensuring seamless coordination between inbound, production, and distribution.

The result was a unified, data-driven supply chain where every movement — from supplier to factory to retailer — was visible, traceable, and optimized for performance.