Configuring and Customizing the Customer UI for an Odoo SH Self Vending POS (V17 and V18)

Odoo Point of Sale allows you to run shops and restaurants, and it brings that simplicity to self-service vending. Whether you have a snack vending machine or a full retail kiosk, Odoo POS in versions 17 and 18 lets you control the customer facing interface. Using Odoo.sh you can customize the interface, streamline workflows and brand it. Below I will guide you through the process for V17 and V18, including key pos features, Community vs Enterprise differences and examples.

Optimizing Odoo POS for a Seamless Self-Service Vending Experience

1. Set Up the Self-Service Vending POS

First, configure your POS for self-service. The Odoo POS works on any device with a web browser, even offline, so it’s perfect for vending setups.

• Action: Log in to your Odoo.sh instance. Go to Point of Sale app, select Configuration > POS Settings and select your POS (e.g. “Snack Vending POS”).
• V17: Enable Kiosk Mode in the “Mobile self-order & Kiosk” section.
• V18: Activate the new Self-Service Kiosk option which is more sleek.
• Example: Configure a “Snack Vending POS” to show “Cola” and “Chips” as big tiles for the customer to tap.

2. Customize the Product Display

Customize the product catalog for your vending needs. Product movements are registered in stock with Odoo POS, so you have real time updates.

• Action: Go to Point of Sale > Products > Products. Add products like “Cola” and assign them to your “Snack Vending POS”.
• V17: Upload a “Cola” image to the product form for a grid layout.
• V18: Use the “Variant Display” feature to show “Regular Cola” and “Diet Cola” as separate buttons.
• Example: Show “Chips” with a bold label and crispy image so the customer can notice it easily.

3. Engage the Customer

Engage the customer with loyalty programs and notes. Users can register customers and collect loyalty points and give rewards in Odoo POS even in self-service mode.

• Action: In an open POS session create customers by filling in their contact information. Add customer notes for specific products during the session (e.g. “Prefers Diet Cola”).* V17 & V18: Enable the “Customer” feature in POS settings.
• Example: Register “John Doe” via the kiosk, note his Cola preference and give him 5 loyalty points for the purchase.

4. Customize the UI

Simplify the frontend. Odoo POS allows users to add customer notes and control the UI.

• Action: In Odoo.sh edit the POS frontend files (e.g. /point_of_sale/views/pos_kiosk.xml). Customize the button styles via CSS.
• V17: Create a custom_pos.css file and add:
css
.pos-kiosk-button { width: 120px; height: 120px; background-color: #00FF00; }
• V18: Use the “Customize Header” setting to upload a logo (e.g. “Snack King”) and customize OWL templates for layout changes.
• Example: Green buttons for a “Healthy Snacks” vending POS and logo at the top.

5. Payments and Refunds

Simplify transactions and returns. To return and refund a product users need to start a session from the POS dashboard.

• Action: In POS Settings > Payments enable “Card” or “Mobile Pay”. For refunds open a session, select the order and process the return.
• V17: Link a payment terminal (e.g. Stripe) for card payments.
• V18: Add “Pay Online” with QR codes for phone payments.
• Example: Tap “Pay $1.50” for “Cola” or refund “Chips” by selecting the order from the dashboard.

6. Cash and Close Session

Track cash and close the day. Users can manage cash register activities by selecting Cash In or Cash Out in Odoo POS.

• Action: During a session record cash movements. To close the POS session users need to count their cash and confirm the amount in Odoo POS.
• V17 & V18: Go to “Close POS Session”, enter the cash total (e.g. $50) and validate.
• Tip: It is highly recommended to close the POS session at the end of each day to keep records accurate.* Example: Count $20 for “Cola” sales, confirm and close the session.

7. Orders

Analyze sales. Users can filter orders list by Receipt Number, Date or Customer in Odoo POS.

• Action: From the POS dashboard, go to the “Orders” tab. Apply filters (e.g. “Customer: John Doe”).
• V17 & V18: Same filters available in both versions.
• Example: Filter orders from March 09, 2025, to see “Cola” sales by “John Doe”.

8. Deploy

Test and go live. Both Community and Enterprise do not have special hardware requirements so your vending POS will run on any device.

• Action: Start a “Snack Vending POS” session in Kiosk Mode. Commit and push changes via Odoo.sh with git commit -m “Vending UI update” and git push.
• Example: Verify “Cola” is displayed, payments work and the screen resets after purchase.

Odoo Community vs. Enterprise for POS

Odoo Community is the base of Odoo Enterprise, but they are very different.

• Community: Offers basic POS features like Kiosk Mode and customer registration. But Odoo 17 Community does not have full accounting, so you cannot track financials.
• Enterprise: Has all the features of Odoo Community and additional proprietary applications. Odoo Enterprise has full accounting, so you can have balance sheets and tax reports through the Accounting app. It also has advanced POS features like barcode scanning in the Inventory app and enhanced Helpdesk features.

Additional Enterprise Features

• Link Odoo Enterprise with external delivery services to manage shipping (e.g. for vending restocks).
• Use affordable pricing for OCR document recognition to process receipts.
• Plan manufacturing processes and control quality with unique Enterprise tools.
• Manage advanced HR features, not available in Community.

Limitations

• You cannot install 3rd party apps in Odoo Online for both editions.
• No differences in access rights between Odoo Community and Enterprise, so same user control.

Which Edition to Choose

Consult with an Odoo partner to know which edition is best for your business. For a simple vending POS, Community is enough. For advanced financials or inventory, Enterprise is the way to go.

V17 vs. V18 Enhancements

• V17: Relies on manual coding for UI tweaks (e.g., CSS edits) and offers basic Kiosk Mode.
• V18: Introduces backend UI editors (e.g., logo uploads) and features like QR payments and variant displays.

Practical Example

For a “Snack King” vending POS:

• Enable Kiosk Mode (V17) or Self-Service Kiosk (V18).
• Add “Cola” with an image and “Diet Cola” variant (V18).
• Register “Jane” with a “Cola” note and 5 loyalty points.
• Style buttons green in V17 CSS or add a “Snack King” logo in V18 settings.
• Process a $1.50 “Cola” payment via card, refund “Chips” from the dashboard, and close the session with $20 cash.

Final Tips

• Use Odoo’s docs for version-specific details.
• Back up your Odoo.sh branch before deploying.
• Test offline functionality to ensure reliability.

This approach actively customizes your vending POS UI while leveraging Odoo’s full potential in V17 and V18, across Community and Enterprise! Let me know if you need deeper details.