Many companies still run Odoo 12, 13 or 14. The system works, and upgrading feels like a big project, so it keeps being postponed. But every year on an old version makes the jump bigger. Here is how to decide, and what a safe upgrade looks like.
Why older versions become a risk
- No official support: Odoo supports only the three latest major versions. Versions 12 to 14 have been out of support for years, with no more bug or security fixes.
- Compliance: Odoo's official integration for ZATCA e-invoicing Phase 2 is only available in recent versions.
- Integrations and apps: new connectors for payments, stores and shipping are built for recent versions, and fewer are maintained for old ones.
- Performance and ease of use: recent versions are faster, easier to use on mobile, and include features that used to require customisation.
When it is better to wait a little
- During your busiest season: plan the go-live for a quieter period.
- When your data needs cleaning first, such as duplicate products or customers.
- When you have many customisations you no longer need: clean up first, then upgrade.
How a safe upgrade works
- Audit: list the installed modules, customisations, integrations and the volume of data.
- Test upgrade: upgrade a copy of the database to the target version. Enterprise databases go through Odoo's upgrade service, which passes through the intermediate versions.
- Port custom modules to the new version, and drop the ones now covered by standard features.
- Test with your team on the upgraded copy, using real day-to-day scenarios, and compare balances and stock before and after.
- Go-live: freeze new entries, run the final upgrade on the latest data, then switch over, usually during a weekend.
- Training on the new interface and features, with close support in the first weeks.
What affects time and cost
The number and complexity of custom modules, the volume of data, the integrations with other systems, and whether third-party apps are available for the new version. A small database with few customisations can be upgraded in a few weeks, while heavily customised systems need a longer plan.
From our experience
We work with every Odoo version from 12 to the latest, and we have moved clients from old versions to recent ones while keeping their history, reports and integrations. The first step is always an audit that shows you what the upgrade involves before you commit.
Want to apply this to your business?
Book a free 30-minute discovery session, and we will map out the right solution with you — no commitment.