Odoo 18 POS Ship Later: Complete Guide to Selling & Managing Orders
By Braincuber Team
Published on March 16, 2026
The Odoo 18 Point of Sale (POS) module offers powerful ship later functionality that transforms retail operations. This feature enables businesses to sell products in-store while arranging future delivery, enhancing customer satisfaction and optimizing inventory management. This comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to configure and use ship later functionality to create flexible, customer-centric shopping experiences.
What You'll Learn:
- Complete Odoo 18 POS ship later configuration and setup
- Warehouse and shipping policy configuration for optimal inventory management
- Ship later order processing from POS interface to backend fulfillment
- Inventory management for partial shipments and backorders
- Best practices for retail operations and customer experience
Understanding Ship Later Functionality
The Point of Sale (POS) module in Odoo 18 provides a user-friendly interface for processing sales instantly, particularly in retail and hotel management. However, connecting POS with other Odoo apps like Inventory and Sales enables businesses to offer customers the option to buy products in-store and have them shipped later.
By setting up ship later functionality, businesses can increase inventory accuracy, streamline the purchasing process, and enhance customer satisfaction through flexible delivery options that accommodate various customer needs and inventory situations.
POS Configuration Setup
Access POS Configuration
Navigate to Point of Sale module, locate your POS configuration, click the three-dotted menu, and select Edit to access configuration settings.
Enable Ship Later Feature
In Configurations > Settings > Inventory section, enable "Allow Ship Later" to activate the ship later functionality for your POS operations.
Configure Warehouse Settings
Add a proper warehouse for your company and specify the route (one step, two steps, or three steps) for inventory management.
Set Shipping Policy
Configure shipping policy to "As soon as possible" to deliver available items immediately, even if insufficient quantity for the full order.
POS Configuration Options
Ship Later Enablement
Toggle the "Allow Ship Later" option to activate the feature, enabling customers to schedule future delivery dates for their purchases.
Warehouse Assignment
Select the appropriate warehouse that will handle inventory and fulfillment for ship later orders, ensuring proper stock management.
Route Configuration
Choose specific routes (one step, two steps, or three steps) to define how products move through your fulfillment process.
Shipping Policy Options
Set to "As soon as possible" for partial shipments or "When all products are ready" for complete order fulfillment.
Opening POS Register
Navigate to Dashboard
Return to the POS dashboard and click "Open Register" to start your selling session with the configured ship later functionality.
Set Opening Cash
Enter the opening cash amount (cash left from previous sales) and click "Open Register" to begin the POS session.
Verify Product Availability
Review available products and their on-hand quantities to understand current inventory levels before processing ship later orders.
Processing Ship Later Orders
| Step | Action | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Select Product | Choose product from POS interface, view on-hand quantity |
| 2 | Set Quantity | Enter desired quantity (may exceed current stock) |
| 3 | Select Customer | Choose customer with valid shipping address |
| 4 | Ship Later Option | Click Ship Later, select shipping date, confirm |
| 5 | Payment Processing | Select payment method, validate transaction |
| 6 | Backend Navigation | Access backend to manage order fulfillment |
Customer Address Requirement
A valid shipping address must be selected for the customer to enable the Ship Later option. Ensure customer records contain complete address information.
Backend Order Management
Access Orders Section
Navigate to Orders > Orders in the backend to view all ship later orders created from the POS interface.
Review Order Details
Click on newly created orders to view details including Order Ref, Date, Session, Employee, Customer, Quantity, and Price information.
Check Pickings Status
Access the Pickings option to review inventory status and identify any quantity shortages or fulfillment issues.
Process Fulfillment
Manage partial shipments, create backorders, and update quantities to complete the fulfillment process.
Handling Inventory Shortages
Partial Shipment Processing
When demand exceeds available stock (e.g., 20 units requested, 16 available), process partial shipments and create backorders for remaining quantities.
Backorder Creation
Create backorders for out-of-stock items, ensuring customers receive remaining products once inventory is replenished.
Quantity Adjustment
Update quantities to match available stock, validate partial shipments, and proceed with transferring available items to customers.
Inventory Updates
System automatically updates product quantities and ensures all products are ready before final validation and delivery.
SHIP LATER ORDER PROCESS:
1. POS Order Creation:
- Customer requests 20 units of Conference Table
- Current stock: 16 units available
- Ship Later date selected: Future delivery
2. Backend Processing:
- Order created with Ship Later status
- Pickings show: "Waiting" due to insufficient quantity
- Available quantity: 16 units ready for processing
3. Partial Shipment:
- Update quantity to 16 units (available stock)
- Click "Check Availability" to confirm
- Validate partial shipment
- Create backorder for remaining 4 units
4. Customer Communication:
- 16 units shipped immediately
- 4 units on backorder for future delivery
- Customer notified of shipment schedule
5. Backorder Fulfillment:
- When stock replenished, process backorder
- Ship remaining 4 units to customer
- Complete order fulfillment
Shipping Policy Variations
As Soon As Possible Policy
Deliver available items immediately, even if insufficient quantity for the full order. Ideal for customer satisfaction with partial deliveries.
When All Products Are Ready Policy
Wait until all products are in stock before shipping. Ensures complete order delivery but may delay customer satisfaction.
Policy Selection Strategy
Choose based on business model, customer expectations, and inventory management capabilities. Consider customer communication for delays.
Inventory Management Best Practices
Real-Time Stock Updates
Ensure accurate inventory levels across all channels to prevent overselling and maintain customer trust in ship later orders.
Customer Communication
Provide clear shipping timelines and updates for partial shipments and backorders to manage customer expectations effectively.
Backorder Management
Implement efficient backorder processing to ensure timely fulfillment of remaining quantities once inventory is replenished.
Warehouse Optimization
Configure appropriate routes and warehouse settings to streamline fulfillment processes and reduce handling times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enable ship later functionality in Odoo 18 POS?
Navigate to Point of Sale > Configuration > Settings > Inventory section and enable "Allow Ship Later." Configure warehouse, shipping routes, and shipping policy to activate the feature.
What happens when ordered quantity exceeds available stock?
The system creates a partial shipment for available quantity and generates a backorder for remaining items. Customers receive available items immediately, with backordered items shipped when stock is replenished.
What's the difference between shipping policies?
"As soon as possible" ships available items immediately, while "When all products are ready" waits until complete inventory is available before shipping any items.
Do customers need a shipping address for ship later orders?
Yes, a valid shipping address must be selected for the customer to enable the Ship Later option. Ensure customer records contain complete and accurate address information.
How do I manage backorders in the backend?
Access Orders > Orders in the backend, review pickings status, and process backorders when inventory becomes available. Update quantities and validate shipments to complete fulfillment.
Transform Your Retail Operations with Ship Later?
Our experts can help you implement comprehensive ship later functionality in Odoo 18 POS, creating flexible shopping experiences that drive sales and improve customer satisfaction.