Odoo for Restaurants: What It Is, POS Features, & Back-Office Operations

Odoo for restaurants is an integrated restaurant management platform that combines point of sale (POS), kitchen, inventory, staff, and accounting operations within a single system. It connects front-of-house activities, such as table service, ordering, and payments, with back-office processes like stock control, supplier purchasing, and financial reporting, all from one shared data source.

Restaurant operators are increasingly prioritising integrated technology, with 52% planning to invest in back-office systems and 48% in POS platforms to improve efficiency and control (National Restaurant Association, 2024). Odoo is designed to support this shift by combining restaurant POS capabilities with inventory, purchasing, staff planning, and accounting in one integrated platform.

This article explains what Odoo for restaurants is, how it works end-to-end, and which POS and back-office capabilities matter most for restaurant operators.

What Is Odoo for Restaurants?

Odoo for restaurants is a modular restaurant management system that brings POS functionality with core operational systems such as inventory, purchasing, staff planning, and accounting. Unlike POS-only restaurant systems that focus primarily on taking orders and processing payments, Odoo is designed to manage both customer-facing services and the operational processes behind them within one system.

Odoo is built on a modular architecture, allowing restaurants to start with POS and activate additional applications, such as Inventory, Purchase, or Accounting, as operational needs grow. Although each module can be used independently, all share a unified data model, ensuring consistent information across operations, finance, and reporting.

At a high level, Odoo for restaurants covers core operational areas, including:

• Restaurant POS operations: Table orders, bill splitting, tips, and offline mode
• Kitchen and bar coordination: Printers or display systems
• Inventory management: Ingredient-level stock tracking and food cost control
• Purchasing management: Reorder rules, supplier workflows, and RFQs
• Staff planning and scheduling: Roles, availability, and service-based scheduling
• Integrated accounting: Revenue, tax, and financial reporting without manual entry

Odoo is used by a wide range of hospitality businesses, including restaurants, cafés, bars, food courts, and hospitality groups. It is particularly suited to operators who require visibility across daily service operations and back-office control, or who plan to scale beyond a single location or basic POS setup.

In short, Odoo is more than just a standard restaurant POS system. It connects service, operations, and finance into a single, unified platform. The following section will detail how Odoo manages a restaurant's entire operation

How Odoo Runs a Restaurant End to End

Odoo connects each customer order directly to kitchen preparation, inventory updates, and accounting records through a single, continuous workflow. Each action taken during service, placing an order, preparing a dish, or taking payment, automatically updates the next operational step without manual handovers or duplicate data entry.

• From Table Order to Kitchen Preparation: Orders are taken at the table using the restaurant’s POS and linked to a digital floor plan. Once confirmed, orders are sent immediately to the kitchen or bar through printers or a Kitchen Display System (KDS).
• From Dish Sold to Inventory & Cost Tracking: When a dish is sold, Odoo update inventory based on predefined recipes or Bills of Materials (BOMs), enabling restaurants to track consumption, control food costs, and monitor waste without manual stock adjustments.
• From Payment to Accounting Records: Once payment is completed at the POS, sales, taxes, and payment data are synchronised directly with accounting, allowing automatic reconciliation and real-time financial visibility without duplicate data entry.

By connecting service, operations, and finance into a single flow, Odoo enables restaurants to operate with clarity across the entire day’s activity. The next section explores the core POS features that support this workflow on the restaurant floor.

Core POS Features for Restaurants

Odoo’s core POS features for restaurants are the tools needed to manage daily service on the floor, from order taking and kitchen coordination to billing and reservations. These features are designed to support fast, accurate service on the floor while keeping orders, tables, and payments fully connected to the rest of the system.

Restaurant POS (Online & Offline)

Odoo POS for restaurants is a web-based point-of-sale system that runs on modern browsers, allowing restaurants to operate on tablets, laptops, or touchscreen terminals. It is built to remain operational even during connectivity issues.

Key capabilities include:

• Web-based POS accessible on multiple devices
• Optimised for tablets and touchscreen interfaces
• Offline mode to continue taking orders without internet
• Data synchronised once the connection is restored

Table & Floor Management

Odoo POS includes visual tables and floor management to help staff manage seating and service flow efficiently. Floor plans can be configured to reflect the restaurant’s physical layout.

Core capabilities include:

• Customisable floor plans
• Real-time table occupancy tracking
• Transfer guests between tables or merge tables for groups

Kitchen and Bar Order Flow

Odoo connects front-of-house orders directly to kitchen and bar teams, reducing miscommunication and delays during service. Orders are transmitted instantly as they are confirmed.

Core capabilities include:

• Orders sent to the kitchen or bar printers
• Kitchen Display System (KDS) support
• Order notes for modifiers, allergies, and special requests

Billing, Tips, and Payments

Odoo POS supports flexible billing and payment scenarios common in restaurants, allowing staff to handle complex transactions quickly and accurately.

Key capabilities include:

• Split bills by item or guest
• Multiple payment methods (cash, checks, and credit card payments)
• Tip collection and tracking

Self-Ordering & Online Orders

Self-ordering features enable customers to place orders directly, reducing wait times and optimising staff workload during peak hours.

Core capabilities include:

• QR code ordering at the table
• Self-service kiosk support
• Mobile ordering from customer devices
• Easily configurable combo meals can help boost food sales

Table Booking and Reservations

Odoo supports table booking and reservations by linking booking information directly to the restaurant floor plan. This helps teams plan seating and manage service flow in advance.

• Table reservations via Odoo Appointments
• Automatic updates to floor plans based on reservations

Together, these POS features support smooth, coordinated service on the restaurant floor while remaining tightly connected to inventory, staffing, and finance. The next section looks beyond the POS to the back-office and operational systems Odoo manages behind the scenes.

Back-Office & Operations Odoo Manages for Restaurants

Odoo manages restaurant back-office operations by connecting inventory, purchasing, staffing, and accounting into a single operational system. These functions work seamlessly with the Odoo POS system to provide restaurant operators with real-time control beyond the service floor.

Inventory & Recipe Management

Odoo Inventory enables restaurants to track products in real time, linking sales, stock movements directly to daily sales and kitchen usage. This helps reduce waste and maintain accurate stock visibility across locations.

Key capabilities include:

• Real-time stock updates from POS sales and stock movements
• Expiry date management to support food safety
• Lot and serial number tracking for traceability

Purchasing & Supplier Management

Odoo Purchase supports restaurant procurement by automating replenishment and coordinating with multiple suppliers. Purchasing decisions are driven by real-time inventory data, helping restaurants replenish supplies on time while maintaining supplier flexibility.

Key capabilities include:

• Reorder rules based on minimum stock levels
• Automated RFQs and purchase order generation
• Multi-supplier sourcing for the same ingredients or products

Staff Planning & Payroll Support

Odoo Payroll and planning tools help restaurants organise staff schedules and manage workforce data consistently. This is especially relevant in environments with shift work and varying service demand.

Key capabilities include:

• Shift scheduling by role and availability
• Staff role and coverage planning
• Payroll data integration for hours worked and pay calculation

Restaurant Accounting & Financial Reporting

Odoo Accounting connects restaurant sales and operations directly to financial records for accurate, up-to-date reporting. Because accounting data originates from POS and inventory activity, financial visibility reflects real operations.

Key capabilities include:

• Sales, cost of goods sold (COGS), and margin tracking
• Tax handling and accounting localisation
• Real-time financial reporting and dashboards

By managing inventory, purchasing, staffing, and accounting within the same platform, Odoo helps restaurants maintain operational control beyond the service floor. The next section looks at the hardware, devices, and deployment options that support Odoo in real-world restaurant environments.

Hardware, Devices, and Deployment Options for Restaurants

Odoo supports restaurant operations through compatible hardware, dedicated device connectivity, and flexible deployment options that adapt to different operational needs. This allows restaurants to run POS and operational workflows reliably across front-of-house and back-office setups.

Supported Restaurant Hardware and Devices

Odoo POS is compatible with common restaurant hardware used for daily service and order processing. This ensures the system can operate in real service environments without specialised or proprietary equipment.

Supported hardware and devices include:

• Receipt and kitchen printers for order and bill printing
• Barcode scanners for inventory and stock management
• Cash drawers connected to POS terminals
• Payment terminals, such as Tyro, Linkly, and more, for card and online payments
• Compatible with PCs, tablets, and industrial touch-screen terminals.

Odoo IoT Box Explained

The Odoo IoT Box is a small device that connects physical hardware to the Odoo platform, enabling real-time communication between software and in-store equipment. It acts as a bridge where direct device integration is not available.

Key aspects include:

• Connects printers, scanners, scales, and other peripherals
• Enables local device control from the Odoo interface
• Reduces configuration complexity in restaurant environments

Cloud vs On-Premise Deployment

Odoo offers multiple deployment options so restaurants can choose how their system is hosted and managed. Each option fits different scenarios depending on scale, customisation requirements, and internal IT capabilities.

Available options include:

• Odoo Online (SaaS): A fully hosted solution managed by Odoo, suitable for restaurants seeking minimal technical overhead.
• Odoo.sh: A cloud platform offering more flexibility for customisation and staging environments.
• On-premise: A self-hosted option for restaurants that require full control over infrastructure and data.

Together, Odoo’s hardware compatibility and deployment flexibility allow restaurants to operate reliably across service floors, kitchens, and offices. The next section explores when Odoo is a strong fit for restaurant businesses, and when it may not be.

When Odoo Is a Good Fit for Restaurants (and When It’s Not)

Odoo is a strong fit for restaurants that need their POS tightly connected to operations and finance, rather than as a standalone sales and billing tool. It is designed for environments where service, inventory, staffing, and finance need to stay connected as the business grows or becomes more complex.

Odoo tends to fit best in scenarios such as:

• Restaurants needing POS and operations integration, where orders should automatically update inventory, purchasing, and accounting without manual work
• Businesses with menu complexity or ingredient-level control needs, where recipes, stock usage, and costs must be tracked accurately
• Multi-location or growing hospitality groups that need consistent processes, centralised reporting, and visibility across sites
• Operators planning to scale, who want to start with POS and extend into inventory, purchasing, payroll, and accounting over time

On the other hand, Odoo may not be the most suitable option for very small venues that only require basic order taking and payment processing, with no need for inventory control, supplier management, or integrated financial reporting. In these cases, simpler POS-only tools can be easier to deploy and maintain.

In summary, Odoo is best suited to restaurants that view technology as an operational backbone, not just a payment tool. The next section answers common questions restaurant operators ask when evaluating Odoo in practice.

FAQs About Odoo for Restaurants

Is Odoo POS free for restaurants?

Odoo POS is available in a free Community edition with basic POS functionality, while most restaurant-specific features and integrations are provided through the Enterprise edition with a user-based subscription and flexible pricing plan.

Can Odoo POS work offline?

Yes, Odoo POS supports offline mode, allowing restaurants to continue taking orders and payments during internet outages, with data synchronising automatically once connectivity is restored.

What hardware does Odoo POS support?

Odoo POS supports standard restaurant hardware, such as receipt and kitchen printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, and compatible payment terminals, either directly or via the Odoo IoT Box.

Is Odoo Right for Your Restaurant?

Odoo is ideal for restaurants that need POS, operations, and accounting to work as one system, not as separate tools. If your restaurant relies on inventory control, purchasing workflows, staff planning, or multi-location reporting, Odoo provides a connected foundation that extends beyond standalone POS systems.

This need for integration aligns with how restaurant operators view technology today. According to the National Restaurant Association, 76% of operators say using technology gives them a competitive edge, yet many believe their restaurants could do more to keep up on the technology front. This gap is where platforms that connect daily service with back-office operations become increasingly relevant.

If you’re evaluating Odoo for your restaurant, seeing the system in action can help clarify how it supports your workflows in practice. As an official Odoo partner and ERP implementation specialist in Australia and New Zealand, Havi can help you assess, configure, and deploy Odoo POS and restaurant operations to fit your real-world workflows. You can request a personalised demo to explore how Odoo fits your restaurant’s workflow and growth plans.