Weekly Odoo Notes: practical Odoo updates for Caribbean businesses
Odoo Experience 2026 takes place in Brussels from September 24 to 26. Odoo traditionally uses the opening keynote there to unveil its next major version, and this year that is expected to be Odoo 20.
If your company runs on Odoo, here is what to watch for, and what to do (and not do) in the weeks after the launch.
What Odoo has previewed so far
Odoo is positioning version 20 as an "AI-native" release. Based on what it has previewed this year, expect:
- AI agents with "skills": assistants inside Odoo that carry out tasks instead of only answering questions. The previewed skills include web search, image generation, and creating or updating records.
- AI in the Website Builder: generate whole web pages, including by voice command.
- Deeper Gmail and Outlook integration: work with Odoo records (leads, tasks, contacts) directly from your inbox.
- A built-in MCP server: MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI assistants such as ChatGPT or Claude connect to business software. For example, you could ask an assistant "which invoices are overdue?" and it would look the answer up in Odoo.
Treat this list as a preview. The keynote will confirm the final feature set, including which features need the paid Enterprise edition rather than the free Community edition. We'll cover the confirmed highlights in next week's post.
The part most businesses miss: the support clock
A new major version also moves the support window. Odoo gives standard Enterprise support to the three most recent major versions. Once Odoo 20 is out, those are 18, 19 and 20, and Odoo 17 falls outside that window.
Under Odoo's extended support policy, in effect since April 2026:
- Odoo Online (Odoo's cloud service): Odoo upgrades your database on its own schedule, so the surcharge doesn't apply.
- Odoo.sh (Odoo's hosting platform) and on-premise (your own servers): you still get support on a version outside the three most recent, but new and renewed subscriptions carry a 25% surcharge.
- A version can stay on Odoo.sh for up to six years before it is phased out, by October 31 of that year at the latest.
If you're self-hosted or on Odoo.sh and running Odoo 17 or older, check your renewal date. The surcharge starts at your next renewal, so planning your upgrade now may cost less than paying it for another year.
Why you shouldn't upgrade on day one
A new major version is exciting, but your live business system is not the place to try it out. Our advice:
- Wait for the first stabilization updates. The first weeks after a major release always bring fixes.
- Check your customizations and third-party modules. Every customization, including local tax, payroll and reporting setups specific to Aruba, has to be migrated and tested. App Store modules can take weeks or months to get a version 20 release.
- Test on a copy, not your live database. Run the upgrade on a duplicate first. Have your key users work through their daily processes (invoicing, stock, payroll, point of sale) before you switch over.
- Pick a quiet period. Avoid month-end, year-end closing and, for tourism businesses, high season (roughly December to April).
If you're on Odoo 18 or 19 there's no rush. You're fully supported, and you can move to Odoo 20 once it has settled and your modules are ready.
Next steps
- On Odoo 17 or older? Start planning your upgrade now, before your next renewal.
- On Odoo 18 or 19? Follow the keynote highlights, note which features matter to your team, and plan your upgrade for when version 20 has stabilized.
- Does your team already use AI assistants? Watch what Odoo confirms about MCP access and permissions. This is the most important new area in Odoo 20 to follow.
Not sure which version you're on, or when your subscription renews? Contact us for a short version and upgrade check. Upgrades and new Odoo implementations are handled together with our implementation partner, Insight Accounting.