Sell Products & Ship Later in Odoo 18 POS
By Braincuber Team
Published on January 8, 2026
A customer walks into your furniture showroom, falls in love with a sofa set, and wants to buy it immediately—but their new apartment isn't ready until next month. Without a solution, you either lose the sale or ask them to return later (and risk losing to a competitor). Alternatively, they might want to purchase a refrigerator that you have in stock, but since they're driving a small car, they need it delivered tomorrow. In both cases, the customer wants to pay now and receive the product later.
Odoo 18 Point of Sale includes the Ship Later feature that lets customers complete payment in-store while scheduling delivery for a future date. The cashier adds products to the cart, selects a customer with a valid shipping address, chooses "Ship Later," picks a delivery date, and processes payment. The order creates a delivery transfer in the warehouse that's scheduled for the chosen date. When stock is insufficient, partial shipments are possible, with backorders automatically created for remaining items. This bridges the gap between immediate retail sales and flexible fulfillment, improving customer satisfaction while maintaining accurate inventory control.
Core Benefit: Customer pays in-store → selects future delivery date → order creates scheduled warehouse transfer → shipment automatically prepared when date arrives. Enables immediate sales with flexible fulfillment.
Why Use Ship Later in POS?
Capture Every Sale
Don't lose sales because customers can't take products home immediately. Let them pay now for furniture, appliances, or bulk items and schedule delivery when convenient.
Flexible Fulfillment
Ship when the customer is ready to receive, not when they happen to be in-store. Perfect for gift purchases, home renovations, or scheduled office setups.
Inventory Integration
Ship Later orders create real warehouse transfers with scheduled dates. Warehouse staff see upcoming shipments and can prepare in advance for efficient fulfillment.
Backorder Support
If stock is insufficient, ship what's available now and create backorders for remaining items. Customers receive partial shipments without waiting for everything.
Enabling Ship Later in POS
Access POS Configuration
Navigate to the Point of Sale settings:
- Go to Point of Sale module
- Find your POS shop on the dashboard
- Click the three-dot menu on the shop card
- Select Edit to open settings
- Navigate to Configuration → Settings
Enable Allow Ship Later
Activate the Ship Later feature:
- Scroll to the Inventory section
- Enable Allow Ship Later checkbox
- This adds the Ship Later option to the POS interface
- Customers can now schedule future deliveries
Configure Warehouse Settings
Set up warehouse and shipping options:
- Warehouse: Select the warehouse that fulfills orders
- Specific Route: Choose delivery route (one-step, two-step, etc.)
- Shipping Policy: Select fulfillment behavior
- Click Save to apply changes
Shipping Policy Options
SHIPPING POLICY OPTIONS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
OPTION 1: As Soon As Possible
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Behavior: Ship available items immediately,
backorder remaining items
Use Case: Customer orders 20 units, only 16 in stock
Result: - Ship 16 units now
- Create backorder for 4 units
- Ship remaining when stock available
Best For: Retailers who want to maximize immediate
fulfillment and minimize customer wait time
OPTION 2: When All Products Are Ready
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Behavior: Wait until all ordered items are in stock
before shipping
Use Case: Customer orders 27 units, only 26 in stock
Result: - Order waits until 27 units available
- Single shipment with complete order
- No partial deliveries
Best For: Orders where items must arrive together
(furniture sets, bundled products)
CONFIGURATION PATH
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Point of Sale → [Your Shop] → Edit → Settings
→ Inventory Section → Shipping Policy
RECOMMENDATION
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Most retailers prefer "As Soon As Possible" for
customer satisfaction. Use "When All Products Are Ready"
for items that must be delivered together (matching
furniture, coordinated product sets).
Complete Ship Later Workflow
SHIP LATER TRANSACTION WORKFLOW
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
SCENARIO: Customer Buys Furniture for New Home
Store: Modern Home Furnishings
POS: Showroom Floor
Date: January 8, 2026
STEP 1: OPEN POS SESSION
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Action: Open Register
Opening Cash: $500.00 (from previous day)
Status: Session Active
STEP 2: SELECT PRODUCTS
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Product Selected: Executive Leather Sofa
On-Hand Quantity: 5 units available
Unit Price: $1,299.00
Quantity Ordered: 1 unit
Product Selected: Matching Armchair
On-Hand Quantity: 8 units available
Unit Price: $499.00
Quantity Ordered: 2 units
Cart Total: $1,299 + (2 × $499) = $2,297.00
STEP 3: SELECT CUSTOMER
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Customer: Jennifer Mitchell
Email: jennifer.m@email.com
Phone: (555) 123-4567
Shipping Address: 742 Maple Street, Apt 5B
Springfield, IL 62701
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Customer MUST have valid shipping address
for Ship Later option to appear
STEP 4: CHOOSE SHIP LATER
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Action: Click "Ship Later" button
Result: Date picker appears
Shipping Date Selected: January 25, 2026
(Customer's move-in date to new apartment)
Click: Confirm
STEP 5: PROCESS PAYMENT
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Payment Method: Credit Card
Amount: $2,297.00
Card Last 4: ****7842
Action: Click Validate
Result: Payment Approved ✓
STEP 6: ORDER CONFIRMATION
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Order Reference: POS/2026/00234
Receipt Printed: ✓
Delivery Date Shown: January 25, 2026
Status: Paid - Awaiting Shipment
BACKEND RESULT
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Location: Point of Sale → Orders → Orders
Order: POS/2026/00234
Customer: Jennifer Mitchell
Total: $2,297.00
Status: Paid
Delivery: Scheduled for January 25, 2026
Picking Created:
Reference: WH/OUT/00567
Scheduled: January 25, 2026
Status: Waiting (will be ready on scheduled date)
Products: 1x Executive Leather Sofa
2x Matching Armchair
Handling Insufficient Stock
When a customer orders more than available stock, Ship Later handles this gracefully based on your shipping policy. With "As Soon As Possible," partial shipments are created automatically.
HANDLING INSUFFICIENT STOCK
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
SCENARIO: Bulk Office Chair Order
Store: Office Essentials
Product: Ergonomic Office Chair
On-Hand Stock: 16 units
Customer Order: 20 units
Shipping Policy: As Soon As Possible
STEP 1: ORDER PLACED
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Product: Ergonomic Office Chair
Ordered Quantity: 20 units
Unit Price: $249.00
Order Total: $4,980.00
Customer: Apex Solutions LLC
Shipping Date: January 15, 2026
Payment: Processed ✓
STEP 2: WAREHOUSE RECEIVES ORDER
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Picking Reference: WH/OUT/00589
Scheduled Date: January 15, 2026
Demanded Quantity: 20 units
Available Quantity: 16 units
Status: Partially Available
STEP 3: PROCESS AVAILABLE STOCK
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Action: In warehouse, open picking WH/OUT/00589
Action: Click "Check Availability"
Result:
- 16 units reserved (available in stock)
- 4 units still waiting (not in stock)
Action: Set quantity to 16 in the "Done" column
Action: Click "Validate"
STEP 4: CREATE BACKORDER
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Popup: "Create Backorder?"
Message: You are about to deliver 16 units.
4 units are remaining.
Options: - Create Backorder (recommended)
- No Backorder (discard remaining)
Action: Click "Create Backorder"
RESULT
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SHIPMENT 1 (Completed):
Reference: WH/OUT/00589
Quantity: 16 units
Status: Done ✓
Shipped: January 15, 2026
SHIPMENT 2 (Backorder):
Reference: WH/OUT/00590 (automatically created)
Quantity: 4 units
Status: Waiting for Stock
Ships: When stock arrives
CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
"Dear Apex Solutions,
Your order of 20 Ergonomic Office Chairs has been
partially shipped:
✓ 16 chairs shipped on January 15, 2026
Tracking: TRK-2026-00589
⏳ 4 chairs pending (awaiting restock)
Expected: January 22, 2026
We'll notify you when the remaining items ship.
Thank you for your order!"
Processing Ship Later Orders
Access Backend Orders
Find ship later orders in the backend:
- From POS, click the menu (three lines)
- Select Backend to exit POS interface
- Navigate to Point of Sale → Orders → Orders
- Find orders with scheduled delivery dates
View Order Details
Open the order to see complete information:
- Order Reference, Date, Session, Employee
- Customer name and shipping address
- Products, quantities, and prices
- Click Pickings smart button to see delivery transfers
Fulfill the Delivery
Process the warehouse transfer:
- Open the picking (delivery transfer)
- Click Check Availability to reserve stock
- Verify quantities in the "Done" column
- Click Validate to complete shipment
- Create backorder if partial fulfillment needed
Complete Example: Appliance Store
COMPLETE SHIP LATER EXAMPLE: APPLIANCE STORE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
STORE SETUP
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Business: Metro Appliance Center
POS Name: Showroom Register
Warehouse: Main Distribution Center
Shipping Policy: As Soon As Possible
Route: Two-Step Delivery (Pack + Ship)
CUSTOMER SCENARIO
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Customer: Robert & Lisa Chen
Situation: Buying appliances for kitchen renovation
Kitchen won't be ready until February 1st
Purchase Date: January 8, 2026
PRODUCTS ORDERED
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Product | Qty | Price | Subtotal
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
French Door Refrigerator | 1 | $2,499 | $2,499.00
Gas Range with Oven | 1 | $1,799 | $1,799.00
Built-in Dishwasher | 1 | $899 | $899.00
Over-Range Microwave | 1 | $449 | $449.00
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Subtotal: | $5,646.00
Tax (8%): | $451.68
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL: | $6,097.68
POS TRANSACTION
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1. Cashier adds all 4 products to cart
2. Selects customer: Robert Chen
3. Verifies shipping address:
1847 Oak Ridge Drive
Westchester, IL 60154
4. Clicks "Ship Later"
5. Selects delivery date: February 1, 2026
6. Clicks "Confirm"
7. Customer pays with credit card: $6,097.68
8. Clicks "Validate"
ORDER CREATED
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Order: POS/2026/00245
Status: Paid
Delivery Date: February 1, 2026
Picking: WH/OUT/00578
WAREHOUSE PREPARATION (January 30, 2026)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Two days before scheduled delivery:
1. Warehouse manager filters upcoming shipments
2. Finds WH/OUT/00578 scheduled for Feb 1
3. Clicks "Check Availability"
4. All 4 appliances reserved ✓
5. Items moved to packing area
6. Packing completed, ready for delivery
DELIVERY DAY (February 1, 2026)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1. Delivery team loads truck with order
2. Validates picking WH/OUT/00578
3. Status: Done ✓
4. Delivers to 1847 Oak Ridge Drive
5. Customer signs for delivery
6. Installation scheduled for Feb 2
CUSTOMER RECEIPT (Original)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
METRO APPLIANCE CENTER
123 Commerce Blvd, Springfield
================================
Order: POS/2026/00245
Date: January 8, 2026
Cashier: Maria Santos
French Door Refrigerator $2,499.00
Gas Range with Oven $1,799.00
Built-in Dishwasher $899.00
Over-Range Microwave $449.00
--------------------------------
Subtotal: $5,646.00
Tax (8%): $451.68
--------------------------------
TOTAL: $6,097.68
Payment: VISA ****8234 $6,097.68
*** SHIP LATER ORDER ***
Delivery Date: February 1, 2026
Ship To: 1847 Oak Ridge Drive
Westchester, IL 60154
Thank you for shopping with us!
Updating Stock for Backorders
RESOLVING BACKORDERS BY UPDATING STOCK ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SCENARIO: Backorder Waiting for Stock Product: Conference Table (Premium Oak) Backorder: WH/OUT/00590 Quantity Needed: 4 units Current Stock: 0 units Status: Waiting for Stock STEP 1: RECEIVE NEW INVENTORY ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── When new stock arrives from supplier: Option A: Receive Through Purchase Order - Validate incoming shipment - Stock automatically updates - Backorder becomes available Option B: Manual Inventory Adjustment - Go to Inventory → Products - Select the product - Click "Update Quantity" STEP 2: UPDATE PRODUCT QUANTITY ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Product: Conference Table (Premium Oak) Current On-Hand: 0 units New On-Hand: 100 units (received from supplier) Action: Click "Update Quantity" Enter: 100 Click: Save STEP 3: CHECK BACKORDER AVAILABILITY ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Navigate to: Inventory → Operations → Transfers Filter: Waiting for Stock Find: WH/OUT/00590 Open backorder: Previous Status: Waiting New Status: Ready (stock now available) Action: Click "Check Availability" Result: 4 units reserved ✓ STEP 4: COMPLETE BACKORDER ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Verify Quantities: 4 units in "Done" column Action: Click "Validate" Status: Done ✓ CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── "Dear Apex Solutions, Great news! Your remaining order has shipped: ✓ 4 Ergonomic Office Chairs shipped today Tracking: TRK-2026-00590 Expected Delivery: January 23, 2026 Your complete order of 20 chairs is now fulfilled. Thank you for your patience!"
Best Practices
✅ Follow These Guidelines:
- Require complete customer addresses: Ship Later won't appear without valid shipping address—train staff to capture full address details
- Set realistic delivery dates: Consider warehouse capacity and delivery schedules when promising dates to customers
- Monitor scheduled shipments: Review upcoming Ship Later orders daily to ensure timely preparation
- Communicate proactively: Notify customers if delivery dates need to change due to stock issues
- Choose shipping policy wisely: "As Soon As Possible" for most retail; "When All Products Ready" for coordinated items
- Keep stock updated: Accurate inventory prevents overselling and backorder surprises
- Train cashiers thoroughly: Ensure staff understand when Ship Later is appropriate and how to process
- Print clear receipts: Receipts should clearly show delivery date and shipping address for customer reference
Common Issues and Solutions
🚨 Issue #1: Ship Later Button Not Appearing
Ship Later option not visible in POS. Solutions: Enable "Allow Ship Later" in POS settings, ensure customer has valid shipping address, verify warehouse is configured for the POS.
🚨 Issue #2: Order Stuck in "Waiting" Status
Picking shows waiting even after delivery date. Solution: Open the picking and click "Check Availability." If stock is insufficient, either update stock or process partial shipment with backorder.
🚨 Issue #3: Customer Address Missing
Can't select Ship Later for specific customer. Solution: Edit customer record and add complete shipping address including street, city, state/province, postal code, and country.
🚨 Issue #4: Backorder Not Created
Partial shipment completed but remaining items lost. Solution: When validating partial shipment, always click "Create Backorder" instead of "No Backorder" to preserve remaining quantity for later fulfillment.
Conclusion
Ship Later in Odoo 18 POS bridges the gap between immediate retail transactions and flexible delivery fulfillment. Enable the feature in POS settings, configure your warehouse and shipping policy, and cashiers can offer customers the option to pay now and receive products on a scheduled date. The system creates warehouse transfers automatically, handles partial shipments with backorders when stock is insufficient, and maintains complete traceability from point of sale to delivery. Whether customers are buying furniture for a future move-in date, ordering appliances for a kitchen renovation, or purchasing bulk items that require scheduled delivery, Ship Later captures the sale immediately while accommodating their delivery needs.
🎯 Key Takeaway: Enable Ship Later in POS settings → customer selects future date → pays immediately → warehouse transfer created automatically → fulfillment on scheduled date → backorders handle stock shortages. Result: no lost sales due to delivery timing constraints.