In standard Odoo, there's no built-in field that directly shows which user approved a purchase order, especially if multiple people are involved in the approval process.

Here’s how it usually works:

• For simple approval setups, the person who clicks the “Approve” button is the one who’s considered to have approved the PO.
• You can usually see this in the chatter (the activity log at the bottom of the PO), where Odoo notes who performed each action.

What if you have multiple approvers?

If your company uses a multi-step approval process, like needing approval from both a manager and a finance head, you’ll typically need some customization:

• Many businesses choose to add custom fields (like “Approved By”) to capture exactly who approved and at what stage.
• This can be set up using Odoo Studio or with a little bit of technical help if you're using custom workflows.

Hi,

In standard Odoo, the purchase order model does not have a built-in field to track which individual users approved a purchase order, especially in the case of multiple approvers.

Please refer to the following links:

Blog: https://www.cybrosys.com/blog/how-to-manage-purchase-order-approvals-in-odoo-18

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKFzpSkwCWY

Hope it helps.

Implementing a robust approval process for Purchase Orders (POs) in Odoo ensures that expenditures are authorized appropriately, enhancing financial control and compliance. Odoo provides built-in features and customizable workflows to manage PO approvals effectively.​

1. Built-in Approval Feature:

Odoo allows setting a minimum amount threshold for PO approvals:​

• Configuration:
  • Navigate to Purchases > Configuration > Settings.​
  • Under the Orders section, activate the Order Approval feature.​
  • Specify the Minimum Amount that requires approval. POs exceeding this amount will need managerial approval before confirmation.​

This setup ensures that any PO above the defined threshold enters a 'To Approve' state, awaiting managerial authorization. ​

2. Multi-Level Approval Workflows:

For organizations requiring more complex approval hierarchies, Odoo supports multi-level approval processes:​

• Approval Workflows:
  • Define multiple approval levels based on job positions and approval limits.​
  • Each approver can have a specified minimum and maximum approval amount, creating a dynamic and flexible approval route.​

This customization allows tailoring the approval process to align with organizational policies and hierarchies. ​

3. Tracking Approvals and Approvers:

To monitor and record which users have approved specific POs:​

• Approval History:
  • Odoo maintains a history of approvals, detailing the users who have authorized each PO.​
  • This log provides transparency and accountability within the procurement process.​

Accessing this information ensures clarity on approval actions and aids in auditing processes. 

4. Third-Party Modules for Enhanced Functionality:

For extended features, consider integrating third-party modules:​

• Purchase Order Approvals Module:
  • This module facilitates automatic generation of approval requests upon PO creation.​
  • Approvers receive notifications and can approve or reject POs directly through the system.​

Implementing such modules can streamline the approval workflow and enhance operational efficiency. ​

At Wan Buffer Services, we specialize in customizing Odoo's procurement processes to align with your organization's approval policies. Our expertise ensures that your PO approval workflows are both efficient and compliant with internal controls.