Hello,

The questions you’re asking aren’t specific to ERP systems. All ERPs will have discrepancies if people steal, don’t use the system, or misuse it.

In Odoo, the POS is connected to the inventory, and it automatically deducts from the inventory. By default, the system doesn’t check if the goods are in stock because it’s designed for customers to bring goods to the counter, so the goods are considered to be in stock.

To prevent negative stock levels, you need to install a module that checks the quantity in stock from the POS and displays an error message if it falls below zero.

To reduce the mismatch, the most crucial factor is your local organization and thorough checks and counts as frequently as possible. It’s also mandatory to have one person responsible for the inventory whose pay is tied to the accuracy of the stock. You’ll be surprised at how much this helps.

As a final tip, in Odoo versions before 18, the system displays the quantity during counting. You’ll need to deactivate this feature via a module to prevent users from expecting a certain outcome.

Good luck,

Eva P.