Struggling with overdue invoices? Odoo Accounting simplifies your collections process by allowing you to automate payment reminders using its powerful Follow-up Levels. This feature systematically sends timely notifications to your customers about pending payments, eliminating the need for manual tracking and helping you get paid faster.
Why Use Follow-Up Levels?
Follow-up messages are essential to keep your cash flow healthy. Odoo Accounting helps you:
- Automatically identify overdue invoices.
- Send reminders through email, SMS, or even postal letters.
- Customize reminders based on the number of days overdue.
Whether you handle installment payments or standard invoices, Odoo Accounting makes it easy to schedule and send reminders with the right tone at the right time.
Configuration: Setting Up Follow-Up Actions
Navigate to: Accounting → Configuration → Follow-up Levels.
By default, Odoo Accounting provides pre-configured levels.
You can edit a level to change the number of days before or after the due date when a reminder is sent.
Adjust the Description or customize the Actions (e.g., send Email, SMS, or Letters).
Content Templates:
- Choose a pre-filled Email or SMS Template to speed up communication.
- Click the internal link arrow next to the template field to customize it.
Additional Options:
- Automatic: Let Odoo Accounting send reminders automatically.
- Attach Invoices: Include overdue invoice PDFs in reminders.
- Add Followers: Notify your team when a customer replies to reminders.
- Schedule Activities: Assign tasks (e.g., call the customer) when the follow-up level triggers.
Invoice Follow-Up Process
Before You Start:
Make sure all bank transactions are reconciled to avoid sending reminders for invoices that are already paid.
View Overdue Invoices:
Go to Accounting → Customers → Invoices.
Use the search filter to quickly find invoices marked as Overdue.
Follow-Ups for a Single Customer
For a customer-specific overview:
Go to Accounting → Customers → Customers.
Open the customer record and check the Accounting tab.
View their Invoice Follow-Up Status or click Overdue Invoices for detailed data.
Additional Features:
- Reminders: Automatic or manual based on your settings.
- Next Reminder: Adjust the date for the next follow-up.
- Responsible User: Assign who handles this follow-up action.
Manual Reminder:
Click Send and choose between Print, Email, SMS, or Post.
Optionally attach invoices or modify the content template before sending.
Follow-Ups for All Customers
Want to check all overdue customers at once?
Go to Accounting → Customers → Customers.
Use filters like Overdue Invoices or Requires Follow-up.
Switch to List View, select the customers, and click Process Follow-Ups to send reminders in bulk.
Reports You Should Use
Customer Statement:
Accessed via the Customer Statement smart button on a customer’s form. It provides a detailed view of their account balance, due invoices, and payment history.
You can send this statement directly to the customer by clicking Send → Print & Send.
For multiple customers, select them from the list view and click Open Customer Statements.
Follow-Up Report:
For a consolidated view of overdue invoices, go to Accounting → Reporting → Partner Ledger → Follow-Up Report.
Generate PDF or XLSX formats for sharing or record-keeping.
Tips & Best Practices
- Use Multiple Follow-Up Levels: Send a friendly email first, then a stronger reminder, and finally a firm notice if payments are still delayed.
- Automate Where Possible: Save time with automated follow-ups and activities.
- Monitor Your Chatter: Odoo Accounting’s chatter logs every follow-up action, so your team can track communication history.
Curious how it works? Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALKD9PfptKg