We worked with a client who had a similar setup—though their warehouses were much farther apart, lol. Ultimately, there are two options, and the choice really comes down to personal or company preference.

Option 1: Two Warehouses with Automated Inter-Warehouse Moves

This is the “by-the-book” way to handle multiple warehouses. You set up each physical location as a separate warehouse, configure routes to automate stock moves, and let Odoo handle the rest. Sounds clean and efficient, right? Here’s how it could work:

1. How It Works:

• Set up two distinct warehouses, each with its delivery address.

• Automate stock moves between the two warehouses using replenishment rules or internal transfer routes.

• Manufacturing orders can pull components from both warehouses, and the system takes care of the rest.

2. How It Feels:

• It’s neat, scalable, and fits Odoo’s structure well. You also get the flexibility to expand in the future without redoing your setup.

3. PO Workflow:

• Use Odoo’s built-in “Delivery Address” field on POs to specify where items should go. No custom fields are necessary.

4. Customization:

• If you need your PO template to show the delivery address more prominently, you can tweak it to match your old system.

Why It’s Great:

• Fully leverages Odoo’s capabilities, including automation and reporting.

• Scalable for future growth—if you expand operations, this setup can grow with you.

• Keeps your stock levels clearly separated by location, reducing confusion.

What Could Be Tricky:

• The setup takes time and attention. If something’s misconfigured, it could lead to frustrating stock errors or unnecessary moves.

• If your warehouses are practically neighbours and you’re just jogging inventory between them, all this automation might feel like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Plus, every little stock movement gets logged, and that can clutter your inventory history faster than you’d expect.

• Tracking two separate warehouses means more data to manage, and mistakes could happen if the inventory isn’t updated properly.

Option 2: Single Warehouse with Internal Locations

This is the “simplify and streamline” approach. Instead of splitting everything into two warehouses, you use one warehouse with two internal locations to represent the physical spaces. It’s like keeping it all under one roof—just with two rooms.

1. How It Works:

• Set up one warehouse with two internal stock locations, one for each address.

• When you move inventory, just update the stock location within the same warehouse.

• For POs, add a custom field (similar to your old system) to select the delivery address. Customize your PO template to display it.

2. How It Feels:

• This setup is simpler, requires less configuration, and keeps everything in one place.

• You avoid the complexity of automating inter-warehouse transfers for short trips down the road.

Why It’s Great:

• Easier to set up and maintain—fewer rules, fewer headaches.

• Matches the way you’re already working, so it’s a natural transition.

• Avoids over-complicating things for two locations that are practically neighbours.

What Could Be Tricky:

• Custom fields on POs mean extra work when upgrading Odoo, and they’re only as reliable as the people using them.

• Less visibility into inventory across locations. You might need to dig into reports to see what’s stored where.

• If your operations grow or you add more locations, this setup might start to feel cramped, requiring more tweaks down the line.

Which Way to Go?

If you want simplicity and a setup that feels familiar, Option 2 (Single Warehouse with Internal Locations) is a solid choice. It keeps things manageable and minimizes disruptions to your workflow.

If you’re thinking long-term or want to stick with Odoo’s built-in structure, Option 1 (Two Warehouses) sets you up for scalability and full automation. It’s a bit more work upfront, but it’s great if you anticipate growth.

PS - Our client chose Option 1 since they were anticipating exponential growth and the potential addition of multiple warehouses.