How to Use Purchase Agreements Effectively in Odoo 18: Complete Guide
By Braincuber Team
Published on December 14, 2025
A purchase agreement is a legally binding contract that outlines the precise terms and conditions governing a business transaction between a buyer and a seller. Odoo 18 Purchase Module integrates this functionality, allowing organizations to define all necessary transaction parameters in advance for transparency, consistency, and accuracy in procurement activities.
What You'll Learn:
- Configuring Purchase Agreements in Odoo 18
- Creating and using Purchase Alternatives
- Setting up Purchase Templates
- Managing Blanket Orders
- Comparing quotations and Calls for Tender
Configuring Purchase Agreements
- Navigate to Purchase > Configuration > Settings
- Activate Purchase Agreements under Orders section
- Enable Purchase Alternatives to link and compare RFQs
- Save the modifications
Three Types of Purchase Orders
1. Purchase Alternatives (Call for Tenders)
Create alternative RFQs for different vendors offering the same products. Compare prices, lead times, and terms to choose the best supplier.
How to Use:
- Create an RFQ—Odoo generates the Alternatives tab
- Add other vendors and optionally copy product lines
- Receive vendor responses
- Compare and convert best quotation to Purchase Order
2. Purchase Templates
Reusable setup with predefined products and optional vendors to quickly create RFQs. Ideal for recurring purchases—vendor-independent and usable with multiple suppliers.
How to Use:
- Go to Purchase > Orders > Purchase Agreements
- Create new with Agreement Type: Purchase Template
- Add products, quantities, and prices
- Confirm the template
- When creating RFQ, select template in Agreement field
Tip: Keep templates updated for accurate pricing. Great for regular orders like office supplies.
3. Blanket Orders
Long-term contract with a vendor to purchase specific goods over a set period. Ideal for recurring supplies, negotiated pricing, and repeated deliveries.
How to Use:
- Go to Purchase > Orders > Purchase Agreements
- Create new with Agreement Type: Blanket Order
- Choose Vendor and define Agreement Validity period
- Add products with quantities and negotiated prices
- Confirm to activate the agreement
- Link new RFQs to auto-populate product lines
Creating a Blanket Order
Blanket Order Configuration Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Agreement | Name of the purchase agreement |
| Vendor | Supplier associated with the contract |
| Buyer | Customer/buyer associated with agreement |
| Agreement Type | Blanket Order or Purchase Template |
| Currency | Applicable currency for transactions |
| Agreement Validity | Start and end dates |
| Reference | Related purchase order reference |
| Operation Type | Stock movement classification |
Creating Alternatives and Calls for Tender
- Send initial RFQ to a vendor
- Open the Alternatives tab
- Click Create Alternative
- Choose another vendor in the pop-up
- Enable Copy Products to duplicate product details
- Click Create Alternative
- Use Link to Existing RFQ to connect existing orders
Comparing Quotations
- Click Compare Product Lines to view side-by-side comparison
- Evaluate prices, lead times, and other factors
- Select optimal vendor
- Click Confirm Order on chosen quotation
- Choose Keep Alternatives to maintain others for reference
- Proceed with Create Bill or Send PO by Email
- Use Lock to prevent edits to confirmed orders
Conclusion
The Purchase Agreements feature in Odoo 18 provides organizations with a structured, efficient, and transparent framework for handling procurement operations and vendor management. Whether using Blanket Orders for long-term contracts, Purchase Templates for recurring orders, or Purchase Alternatives for competitive bidding, businesses can streamline their purchasing processes and make informed decisions.
Need Help with Odoo Purchase Management?
Our experts can help you configure purchase agreements, set up vendor management, and optimize your procurement workflows.