There are differences between Odoo 16, 17, and 18.
Odoo releases a new version every year, with the latest always bringing more innovation than the previous one. This means you might be working with a version that handles Peppol differently from the most recent release.
With this article, you’ll get an overview of the differences between Odoo versions and make sure there are no surprises on January 1st!
The different versions of Odoo with Peppol
Odoo 16
- Generation of Peppol-compatible UBL XML files
- Odoo 16 can export invoices in the appropriate XML format, suitable for uploading to a Peppol access point, but this must be done manually via an external interface.
- No native send/receive function
From the outset, Odoo 16 did not yet function as an access point; this feature was integrated into version 16.3, but it was initially too complex to be fully operational.
Odoo 17
- Official Peppol access point and SMP
Starting with version 17 (and partially in version 16.4+), Odoo acts as an access point and service metadata editor, allowing you to send and receive invoices directly via the Peppol network without the need for external tools.
- Seamless integration
Both the community and enterprise versions come with interconnection as standard: Odoo 17 can automatically route invoices via the Peppol network, with status tracking.
- UI registration process
In the billing interface, you are guided through the process of registering, validating endpoints, and tracking send/receive statuses.
Odoo 18
- Mature access point with improved stability
Odoo 18 builds on the features of Odoo 17, with more stable and robust AP/SMP support.
- Improved user experience
In Odoo 18, the user interface for Peppol processing has been simplified, with clearer status indications and improved error handling (e.g., after a database restore).
Overview of differences
| Version | Generate UBL XML | Native sending/receiving
| Access point + SMP
| UI/UX functionality
|
Odoo 16 | Yes | No (manual download)
| Limited (via v16.3)
| Limited, more complete after version 16.3
|
Odoo 17 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Complete Peppol process
|
Odoo 18 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improved, more stable, better error handling
|
Odoo also provides documentation on settings in different versions :https://www.odoo.com/documentation/18.0/applications/finance/accounting/customer_invoices/electronic_invoicing.html
Conclusion
- Odoo 16 provides the basics : you can generate Peppol XML, but manual processing is required.
- Odoo 17 provides full native Peppol integration as an access point and SMP, including an automatic send/receive workflow.
- Odoo 18 further refines and stabilizes this integration, with improved user experience and error handling, and makes it easier to support backward compatibility options for earlier versions.
Let me know if you would like to learn more about upgrade scenarios, technical implementation, or best practices !