Getting Started with Your Odoo System - First Steps for New Users
Your Odoo system is live and your account has been created. This article walks you through your first login, navigating the interface, and the essential first steps to start using Odoo productively. Whether you are a sales rep, accountant, warehouse manager, or administrator, these basics apply to every user.
Prerequisites
- Your Odoo URL (provided by Unisolva or your administrator - typically yourdomain.odoo.com or a custom domain)
- Your username (usually your email address) and temporary password
- A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari - latest version recommended)
Step 1 - Log In to Odoo
- Open your browser and navigate to your Odoo URL
- Enter your email address and temporary password
- On first login, you will be prompted to set a new password - choose a strong, unique password
- After setting your password, you land on the Odoo home screen showing all modules you have access to
|
❗ Important Set a strong password: at least 12 characters, mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Do not reuse passwords from other services. If your organization uses two-factor authentication (2FA), Unisolva will provide setup instructions separately. |
Step 2 - Navigate the Interface
Odoo’s interface has a consistent layout across all modules:
Home screen
- Shows app icons for every module you have access to (e.g., CRM, Sales, Inventory, Invoicing)
- Click any icon to open that module
- You can return to the home screen at any time by clicking the grid icon (≡) in the top-left corner
Top navigation bar
- Left side - the current module name and sub-menus (e.g., Sales > Orders > Quotations)
- Right side - your profile, messaging/chat, and notifications
List, Kanban, and Form views
- Most modules show records in a list view (table) or Kanban view (cards) - toggle between them with the icons in the top-right
- Click any record to open its form view with full details
- Use the search bar at the top to filter, group, or search records
Breadcrumbs
- The breadcrumb trail at the top of the page shows where you are (e.g., Sales > Orders > SO001)
- Click any breadcrumb to navigate back to that level without losing context
Step 3 - Set Up Your User Preferences
- Click your name or avatar in the top-right corner and select My Profile (or Preferences)
- Set your timezone - this affects how dates and times are displayed throughout the system
- Set your language if the system supports multiple languages
- Add your email signature - this appears on emails sent from Odoo (quotes, invoices, messages)
- Upload a profile photo - helps colleagues identify you in internal messages and activity logs
- Click Save to apply your preferences
|
???? Tip Setting your timezone correctly is critical if your team spans multiple time zones. Incorrect timezone settings cause confusion with scheduled activities, deadlines, and log timestamps. |
Step 4 - Explore Your Assigned Modules
Your administrator has configured which modules you can access based on your role. Start with the modules most relevant to your daily work:
|
If your role is… |
Start with these modules |
|
Sales / Account Manager |
CRM, Sales, Invoicing |
|
Accountant / Finance |
Invoicing, Accounting, Payments |
|
Warehouse / Logistics |
Inventory, Purchase |
|
HR / People Operations |
HR, Attendance, Leave |
|
Project Manager |
Project, Timesheets |
|
Customer Support |
Helpdesk (Enterprise) |
|
Administrator |
Settings, all modules |
Open each module, browse existing records (if data has been migrated), and try the basic actions: create a new record, edit it, and save. This hands-on exploration is the fastest way to build familiarity.
Step 5 - Learn the Key Actions
These actions work the same way in almost every Odoo module:
- Create - click the “New” button (top-left) to create a new record (quote, invoice, contact, task, etc.)
- Edit - open a record and modify fields directly. Changes save automatically in many views, or click Save.
- Search and filter - use the search bar to find records. Click “Filters” and “Group By” for advanced options.
- Log a note - scroll to the bottom of any record to find the chatter (message log). Post internal notes or send messages to colleagues.
- Schedule an activity - in the chatter, click “Schedule Activity” to set a to-do, call, or meeting linked to this record.
- Export data - in list view, select records with checkboxes, then use Actions > Export to download data as CSV or Excel.
Step 6 - Get Help When You Need It
- In-app help - many Odoo screens have a “?” icon or tooltip that explains the field or feature
- Odoo documentation - official guides at odoo.com/documentation cover every module in detail
- Your organization’s admin - your super user or project lead can answer workflow-specific questions
- Unisolva support - for technical issues, bugs, or configuration changes, open a ticket at my.unisolva.com > Support > Open Ticket
|
???? Note Odoo’s official documentation is an excellent resource for learning module-specific features. However, your Odoo system has been customized by Unisolva to match your business - if something differs from the official docs, your configuration is intentional. Ask your admin or Unisolva before changing settings. |
Verify It Worked
- You can log in to Odoo with your credentials and see the home screen
- Your timezone and preferences are correctly set in your profile
- You can open each module assigned to your role
- You can create, edit, and save a test record (e.g., a draft quotation or contact)
- You know where to find help: in-app tooltips, Odoo docs, your admin, and Unisolva support
Related Articles
- Introduction to ERP with Unisolva - Odoo Community vs. Enterprise
- How Unisolva Implements Your Odoo ERP - The Go-Live Process
- What to Expect After Your ERP Goes Live - Support & Maintenance
- How to Open and Manage a Support Ticket (Support & SLA category)
