Odoo 20: What's Getting Upgraded From Odoo 19
A new Odoo version is not just about brand-new features; a lot of the value is in existing apps getting better. This post looks at what is expected to be upgraded in Odoo 20, the improvements to things you already use, as opposed to the genuinely new arrivals, which I cover separately.
A note on accuracy: as of early September 2026, Odoo 20 has not launched. The improvements below are based on Odoo’s public roadmap ahead of the launch, and the confirmed details come at the event itself.
Simpler payroll
Payroll is expected to get simpler in Odoo 20. Payroll is one of the fiddlier, higher-stakes areas of any ERP, so streamlining how it works is a genuinely useful upgrade. Anything that makes running payroll faster and less error-prone, while keeping it compliant, is welcome for the teams who deal with it every month.
Enhanced accounting
Accounting is set for enhancements. Accounting is the backbone of the system, so improvements here ripple through everything. Whether it is smoother reconciliation, better reporting or a cleaner day-to-day experience, upgrades to accounting tend to be felt widely, because so much of the business touches the books in some way.
Improved CRM
The CRM is expected to be improved in Odoo 20. Sales teams live in the CRM, so a better pipeline experience, smarter handling of opportunities and sharper insight all translate fairly directly into helping people sell. Combined with the release’s wider push toward automation, a smarter CRM is a natural and valuable upgrade.
Smarter marketing automation
Marketing automation is set to get smarter. Automation is only as good as how well it targets and adapts, so improvements here mean campaigns that are more relevant and take less manual tending. In a release themed around intelligence, marketing automation getting cleverer fits the direction perfectly.
Better inventory management
Inventory is expected to see improvements too. For any business that holds stock, inventory accuracy and efficiency matter enormously, so upgrades to how stock is managed have a direct, practical payoff on the warehouse floor and in the numbers. Better inventory tools are the kind of upgrade operations teams feel immediately.
Performance and reliability
Alongside the app-level upgrades, Odoo 20 is expected to bring performance and reliability improvements: greater speed, better handling of larger workloads and improved offline functionality. These are the quiet upgrades that make the whole system feel snappier and more dependable, which everyone benefits from even if no one points at a single new button.
My take
The upgrades in Odoo 20 tell a consistent story: the core apps you rely on, payroll, accounting, CRM, inventory, marketing, getting simpler and smarter, on top of a faster, more reliable foundation. For existing users, this is often where the real value of an upgrade lives, in the daily work getting a little better across the board. As always, confirm the specifics at launch, then weigh which improvements matter most to you.
Based on Odoo’s public roadmap ahead of the Odoo Experience 2026 launch (24-26 September 2026). Confirmed details come at launch. Weighing an upgrade to Odoo 20? Get in touch.