Webhooks are one of those under-the-radar features in Odoo that can quietly transform how your business operates. Think of them as silent operators—listening in the background and springing into action the moment something changes in an external system.
Let’s explore how webhooks work in Odoo, why they matter, and how you can set one up in just a few minutes—without writing a line of code (well, mostly).
What Are Webhooks, Really?
Imagine you’re running an online store, and every time someone places an order, your inventory in Odoo gets updated immediately. That’s what webhooks make possible. They’re like digital couriers—waiting for a signal from an external system and then delivering that data into your Odoo database with zero delay.
All of this is powered by simple HTTP POST requests. A webhook URL is generated in Odoo Studio, and once an external system sends a payload to that URL, Odoo gets to work.
Why You Should Care About Webhooks
- They’re real-time – Unlike scheduled jobs, webhooks react instantly.
- They reduce manual work – Fewer clicks, less chance of human error.
- They keep your systems talking – Ensure your apps are always in sync.
If your business touches more than one tool or system, webhooks can help them play nicely together.
Use Case 1: Update Sales Orders Automatically
Let’s say your company operates globally, but you want all sales orders in Odoo to be reported in USD. Instead of changing currencies manually every time, you can trigger a webhook.
Here’s how it works:
When a sales order is confirmed in another system, it sends a payload like this:
{
"model": "sale.order",
"id": "7"
}
Odoo receives it and updates that sales order’s currency field to USD—instantly.
It’s the kind of simple automation that saves your team hours over the course of a week.
Use Case 2: Instantly Create New Contacts
You run a lead generation campaign and new form submissions come through a third-party landing page. Instead of manually entering those leads into Odoo, use a webhook.
Sample payload:
{
"name": "Jane Doe",
"email": "jane@example.com",
"phone": "1234567890"
}
The webhook triggers an action in Odoo to create a new contact record. You can even add them to a specific mailing list or assign them to a sales rep.
Testing Webhooks (Without Breaking a Sweat)
You don’t need to build a full integration just to see if your webhook works. Tools like Postman let you test by sending mock data to your Odoo webhook URL. If you get a 200 OK response, everything’s working.
Bottom Line
Webhooks are your secret weapon for automating repetitive tasks and making your systems smarter. You don’t have to be a developer to get started—though, a little help never hurts.
If you’re exploring ways to streamline your operations, or you’re tired of syncing data manually between apps, webhooks might be your new favorite feature in Odoo.
Need help setting it up? I work with businesses to design and implement custom Odoo workflows that just work.
Drop me a message if you’d like to explore how webhooks can fit into your system.
