In short: In Odoo 19, AI agents mostly gave answers. In Odoo 20 they can also act: create, update and send records, and start on their own through scheduled actions. All AI features require IAP credits. In this article you will read what agents actually do in an SME, what it costs, what the risks are and how to get started responsibly.
For a long time, AI in an ERP system was mostly a smart search bar: you asked a question and got an answer. Odoo 20 changes that. Agents can now also do things in your database themselves. That creates opportunities, but it also calls for clear agreements about who checks what. This article is part of our overview of the most important new features in Odoo 20.
Odoo 19 and Odoo 20: from answers to action
Odoo 19 introduced AI agents, but they mostly gave answers. You could ask them something about your data, and that was it. In Odoo 20, agents also carry out tasks. According to the official release notes, they can, among other things:
- Create, update and send records, including files.
- Answer questions about files, such as an attached PDF or spreadsheet.
- Start from scheduled actions, so even when nobody asks a question.
- Generate images and filter data by period.
- Reprocess sources and update themselves.
- Give interactive answers with buttons and default prompts. You can also dictate instead of typing.
In addition, Odoo automatically chooses an AI model per provider, and you can give agents an avatar per role. What used to be called "topics" in Odoo 19 is called "skills" in Odoo 20.
What can AI agents actually do in an SME?
Below are four applications that are a logical first step for many SMEs. Not all of them are agents in the strict sense: some are AI features built into an app. For you as a user that makes little difference. The goal is the same: less manual work.
1. Drafting quotations
An agent can prepare a quotation for you. Think of a salesperson who, after a phone call, asks for a draft quotation for an existing customer with the products that were discussed. The agent creates the record; the salesperson checks prices and terms and sends it. Because agents can also send things themselves, it is wise to agree that a person always does the final check.
2. Processing vendor bills
On vendor bills, Odoo 20 suggests the product, account, tax and analytic distribution for each line. It does this based on previous bills and the description on the line (bill line prediction). Odoo also detects duplicate bills better, with warning levels. Your accounts team types less and can focus on the exceptions.
3. Suggesting helpdesk replies
In Helpdesk, AI looks for similar tickets and suggests a reply. An employee no longer has to search old tickets to find out how a problem was solved before. The suggestion is a starting point: the employee adjusts it and sends it.
4. Renaming and searching documents
In the Documents app you can have AI rename files. Useful when scans and attachments come in every day with names like "scan_0042.pdf". Agents can also answer questions about the contents of files, so you do not have to open every document to look something up.
And more
Other apps include AI as well. Marketing Automation helps you set up campaigns, Social writes posts for social media, eCommerce supports product management and Accounting offers AI financial insights.
What does AI in Odoo 20 cost?
All AI features in Odoo 20 require IAP credits. IAP stands for In-App Purchase: you buy credits that are used up when you use AI. This comes on top of your Odoo licence.
How many credits you need depends on how often and for what you use AI. An agent that processes many records every night through a scheduled action needs more than an employee who asks a question now and then. So start small, keep track of usage in the first weeks and only scale up once you know what it delivers.
Besides credits, there are the costs of setup and guidance. At DAADit we implement Odoo at a fixed price of €1,000 per app. See our pricing for the details.
Connecting external AI through MCP
Odoo 20 can work with external AI tools through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). MCP is an open standard that lets AI assistants and other software communicate with each other. This means AI does not have to be limited to what is built into Odoo itself.
How we use AI tools is explained on our AI tooling page. Examples of processes that lend themselves well to automation can be found under AI automation. Is it about connections with other software, such as a webshop or accounting package? For that we use Connecta.
Risks: who checks the agent?
An agent that only gives answers can make a mistake without anything going wrong right away. An agent that creates and sends records can carry a mistake all the way to your customer. That is why these points deserve attention:
- Human in the loop: let agents create drafts, but have an employee check and send them. Especially at the start.
- Limit what an agent does: give an agent only the tasks it needs. A helpdesk agent does not need to send invoices.
- Limits in Odoo itself: conversations are kept for a maximum of 30 days, and Odoo asks for confirmation when an agent reaches the tool call limit.
- Access rights in order: in Odoo 20, access rights work with a domain per right instead of record rules. After the upgrade, check that everyone still sees exactly what they should see.
- Data and costs: decide in advance which data you want AI to process, and keep an eye on credit usage.
At DAADit that is our starting point too: AI builds, a consultant checks. Want to read more about what AI in an ERP can really do today? Read Agentic AI in your ERP: what is hype and what already works?
Step-by-step plan: how to get started with AI agents
- Choose one process. Start with a task that occurs often and carries little risk, such as renaming documents or reply suggestions in Helpdesk.
- Define what good looks like. Agree on how you will measure whether it works, for example less manual work per bill or a shorter response time.
- Arrange the credits. Make sure IAP credits are available and agree on who keeps track of usage.
- Test on a copy. Try the agent on a test database first, with real examples from your own daily work.
- Keep a human in the loop. For the first weeks, let the agent only create drafts that an employee checks.
- Expand step by step. Does it work? Then let the agent do more, for example through a scheduled action, or add a second process.
Are you still on Odoo 19 or an older version? Then the upgrade is the first step. Read our step-by-step plan Upgrading Odoo to the latest version.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AI in Odoo 19 and Odoo 20?
In Odoo 19, AI agents mostly gave answers. In Odoo 20 they can also create, update and send records, and start from scheduled actions.
Are AI agents in Odoo 20 free?
No. All AI features in Odoo 20 require IAP credits, on top of your licence.
Can I connect Odoo 20 to external AI tools?
Yes. Odoo 20 can work with external AI tools through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Can an AI agent send something on its own?
Yes, agents in Odoo 20 can send records and files. We recommend having an employee check every sending at the start.
Finally
AI agents in Odoo 20 can take over a lot of routine work, as long as you start small and keep people in control. Want to know which processes in your company are suitable? Contact DAADit Group or take the free Business Scan.