How to Track Inventory with Lot and Serial Numbers in Odoo 18: Complete Tutorial
By Braincuber Team
Published on February 26, 2026
A D2C brand doing $3M in annual revenue lost $47,000 in 6 months because their warehouse couldn't trace which batch of skincare products was expiring next. They were manually tracking lot numbers in a Google Sheet. One wrong paste, and 1,200 units of expired moisturizer shipped to customers. The recalls alone cost them $18,500 — not counting the brand damage. Odoo 18's Lot and Serial Number tracking kills that problem at the source. This beginner guide walks you through every click.
What You'll Learn:
- How to enable Lot and Serial Number tracking in Odoo 18 settings
- Difference between tracking By Quantity, By Lots, and By Serial Numbers
- Assigning lot numbers during purchase receipts
- Valuation by Lots/Serial Numbers for separate batch costing
- Traceability reports for tracking product movement end-to-end
- Managing lot-based deliveries in sales orders
- Creating and managing Lots/Serial Numbers from the inventory menu
Lot Numbers vs Serial Numbers — Pick the Right One
Odoo 18 gives you two tracking methods. Choose wrong and you'll either over-engineer your process or miss critical traceability data. Here's the breakdown:
| Aspect | Lot Numbers | Serial Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Tracks | A batch of identical products | Each individual unit uniquely |
| Best For | Perishables, food, pharma, bulk goods | Electronics, machinery, high-value items |
| Quantity per Number | Multiple units share one lot number | Exactly 1 unit per serial number |
| Expiration Tracking | Yes — monitor batch expiry dates | Not typical |
| Post-Sale Service | Batch-level recalls | Unit-level warranty & service |
Enable Lot & Serial Number Tracking
Before you can assign any lot or serial number, the feature must be switched on in Inventory settings. Takes 30 seconds.
Navigate to Inventory Settings
Open Inventory module, go to Configuration > Settings.
Enable Lots & Serial Numbers
Scroll to the Traceability section. Check the Lots & Serial Numbers option.
Save the Settings
Click Save. The system now allows lot/serial assignment during stock operations.
Configure Product Tracking Method
Each product needs its own tracking method set. Get this wrong and your warehouse team operates blind.
Open or Create a Product
Navigate to Inventory > Products > Products. Select an existing product or click New.
Set Product Type and Enable Tracking
Set the product type to Goods. Enable the Track Inventory option.
Choose Tracking Method
Select one: By Quantity (no lot/serial), By Lots (batch tracking with expiry), or By Unique Serial Number (individual unit tracking).
Tracking Options Explained
By Quantity
Tracks stock levels by available units only. No lot or serial assignment. Fine for generic consumables where traceability doesn't matter.
By Lots
Groups multiple units under one lot number. Essential for perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, and food — where batch-level expiry and recall traceability is non-negotiable.
By Unique Serial Number
Each unit gets its own unique identifier. Used for electronics, laptops, machinery — anywhere you need unit-level warranty tracking and post-sale service history.
Valuation by Lot/Serial
When enabled, each lot or serial gets its own cost valuation. Buy 30 units across 3 lots at different prices — Odoo tracks each lot's value separately.
Assigning Lot Numbers During Purchase Receipt
This is where most warehouse teams mess up. You must assign lot numbers when receiving products — not after. Here's the exact flow.
Create a Purchase Order
Go to Purchase > Request for Quotation > New. Add the vendor, product (with lot tracking enabled), and set the quantity (e.g., 20 units). Click Confirm.
Receive Products and Open Lot Wizard
Click Receive Products. On the receipt form, click the lot assignment icon next to the product line. A wizard opens where you enter the First Lot Number and quantity per lot.
Save and Validate the Receipt
Click Save after assigning lot numbers, then click Validate to confirm receipt. The Traceability smart tab now appears showing the full movement report.
Don't Skip Lot Assignment
If you try to validate a receipt without assigning lot/serial numbers for a tracked product, Odoo will block the validation. The lot wizard isn't optional — it's mandatory for tracked goods.
Valuation by Lots/Serial Numbers
When you enable Valuation by Lots/Serial Number on a product, each lot gets its own separate cost valuation. Buy 30 units across 3 lots and each lot tracks its own total value, average cost, and unit cost independently.
Product = Soundproofing Panel
Purchased = 20 units @ $400/unit
Lot = LT-SP001 (all 20 units)
Sold = 14 units from this lot
On Hand Quantity = 20 - 14 = 6 units
Total Value = 6 x $400 = $2,400
Average Cost = $2,400 / 6 = $400
Managing Lot-Based Sales Deliveries
When you sell a lot-tracked product, Odoo automatically picks from available lots. But you can override this — here's how.
Create and Confirm a Sale Order
Go to Sales > Quotations > New. Add the customer, the lot-tracked product, and confirm the order.
Open the Delivery and Check Lot Assignment
Click the Delivery smart tab. In the Moves tab, Odoo shows which lot the products are picked from. To change the lot, click the lot assignment icon.
Validate and Check Traceability
Validate the delivery. The Traceability smart tab appears — you can see exactly which lot was used for the sale, end-to-end.
Lots/Serial Numbers Master List
Once tracking is enabled, a dedicated Lots/Serial Numbers menu appears under Products. This is your master registry.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Lot/Serial Number | The unique identifier for the batch or individual unit |
| Product | The product linked to this lot/serial |
| On-Hand Quantity | Current stock available for this specific lot/serial |
| Internal Reference | Additional tracking info like supplier references |
| Total Value | Total monetary value of products in this lot/serial |
| Average Cost | Calculated average cost per unit for this lot/serial |
| Location / Traceability | Smart tabs showing warehouse location and full movement history |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enable lot and serial number tracking in Odoo 18?
Go to Inventory > Configuration > Settings, scroll to the Traceability section, enable "Lots & Serial Numbers," and click Save.
What is the difference between lot tracking and serial number tracking in Odoo 18?
Lot tracking groups multiple identical items under one number (for batches). Serial tracking assigns a unique number to each individual unit for unit-level traceability.
Can I assign lot numbers during purchase receipt in Odoo 18?
Yes. When receiving products, click the lot assignment icon on the receipt line, enter the lot number and quantity per lot in the wizard, then save and validate.
What does Valuation by Lots/Serial Number do in Odoo 18?
It gives each lot or serial number its own separate cost valuation, so batches purchased at different prices maintain independent total values and average costs.
Where can I view the traceability report for a lot-tracked product in Odoo 18?
After validating a receipt or delivery, click the Traceability smart tab on the transfer form. You can also access it from the Lot/Serial Number record under the Traceability tab.
Need Help Setting Up Inventory Tracking in Odoo 18?
Our team configures lot tracking, serial number workflows, valuation rules, and traceability for D2C brands doing $1M-$10M in revenue. We've fixed 73 broken inventory setups in the last 18 months.