Guide ยท Odoo
Should Odoo reordering rules use the Auto or Manual trigger?
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In Odoo, an Auto reordering rule creates a request for quotation by itself when the forecast drops below Min. A Manual rule only lists the need on the Replenishment report until someone clicks Order. Use Auto for cheap, steady items you never want to think about, and Manual for expensive, lumpy or vendor-consolidated items you want to review.
This guide follows the Odoo 19.0 documentation as published on 2026-10-01. Menus and labels can differ in earlier versions.
What is the difference between Auto and Manual?
Both triggers use the same Min, Max and forecast logic. The only difference is who launches the order.
| Auto | Manual | |
|---|---|---|
| Default | Yes. New rules start as Auto. | No |
| What happens when forecast falls below Min | Odoo creates an RFQ (Buy route) or manufacturing order (Manufacture route). | The product appears on the Replenishment report as a need. |
| When it runs | When the scheduler runs, or when a confirmed sales order pushes the forecast below Min. | When someone clicks Order on the report. |
| Can you edit the quantity first | Only on the RFQ after it is created. | Yes. Adjust To Order before ordering. |
| Uses horizon days | No. Horizon days are meant for manual rules. | Yes |
How do you switch a rule between Auto and Manual?
The Trigger column is hidden by default. To show it and change a rule:
- Go to Inventory app, then Operations, then Replenishment.
- Click the adjust settings icon at the far right of the column titles and tick Trigger.
- In the Trigger column of the rule, choose Auto or Manual.
Rules can also be created from the Reordering Rules smart button on the product form. For creating rules and picking Min and Max, see how to set reorder points in Odoo.
When exactly does an Auto rule create an RFQ?
An Auto rule fires in two situations. Either the scheduler runs and the forecasted quantity is below Min, or a sales order is confirmed and drops the forecast below Min. With the Buy route, the result is an RFQ under Purchase app, then Orders, then Requests for Quotation.
The scheduler runs once a day by default. To run it sooner, turn on developer mode, go to Inventory app, then Operations, then Run Scheduler, and click Run Scheduler. Odoo warns that this also runs your other scheduled actions.
An Auto rule still produces an RFQ, not a confirmed purchase order. Someone confirms it to turn it into a PO, so a person still controls what is sent to the vendor.
How does a Manual rule work day to day?
Manual rules put products on the Replenishment report (Inventory app, then Operations, then Replenishment) when the forecast drops below Min. Odoo calls these "needs".
The default To Reorder filter shows a need only when it is time to order, taking lead times and order deadlines into account. You check the To Order quantity, change it if needed, and click Order. The report also lets you snooze a rule or order up to Max early. The Odoo replenishment report guide covers it in detail.
Which trigger should you use for which items?
Choose by the cost of a wrong order, not by habit. Auto saves clicks but orders without review. Manual costs a daily or weekly look at the report but lets you consolidate and sanity-check.
- Auto suits low-cost, steady consumables with one vendor and a reliable lead time, where a small mistake costs little.
- Manual suits expensive items, items with lumpy demand, items you buy together to reach a vendor minimum, and anything where you want to look ahead with horizon days.
- Mixing works. Many teams run Auto on the long tail of cheap items and Manual on the top sellers by value.
- Check Auto rules regularly. They are hidden from the Replenishment report by default, so review open RFQs instead.
Is there a way to skip tuning triggers and Min/Max?
ReorderOwl, a purchasing agent you use in ChatGPT, works from sales history, so by default it does not need triggers or Min/Max kept current. It reads sales history, stock on hand, open purchase orders, vendors and lead times from Odoo, forecasts each item, and tells you what to order and how much. An Excel workbook explains every line.
You draft a purchase order in chat and confirm it, and it is saved in Odoo as a confirmed purchase order, not an RFQ. It counts confirmed purchase orders as incoming stock, but not draft or sent RFQs, so review open RFQs before you confirm. Nothing goes to a vendor until someone on your team sends it. The Odoo connection is built and tested against Odoo test systems, and we connect it to yours with you during setup.
See ReorderOwl for Odoo or the comparison Odoo reordering rules vs ReorderOwl.
Frequently asked questions
Does an automatic reordering rule send the purchase order to the vendor?
No. It creates a request for quotation. Someone still confirms the RFQ to turn it into a purchase order and sends it to the vendor.
How often does Odoo check automatic reordering rules?
Whenever the scheduler runs, which is once a day by default, and whenever a confirmed sales order drops the forecast below Min.
Can I trigger reordering rules immediately?
Yes. With developer mode on, use Inventory, Operations, Run Scheduler. This also runs other scheduled actions, so use it with care.
Why don't I see my automatic rules on the Replenishment report?
Odoo's documentation says automatic rules are available on that menu but hidden by default. Adjust the report's filters to include them.
Do horizon days work with Auto rules?
Odoo's documentation says horizon days are only meant for manual reordering rules.
Sources
- Reordering rules (Odoo 19.0), Odoo, accessed 2026-10-01
- Replenishment report (Odoo 19.0), Odoo, accessed 2026-10-01
- Lead times (Odoo 19.0), Odoo, accessed 2026-10-01