Odoo ERP · Pharma
Odoo for Pharma Distribution: Batches, Expiry, and Credit
· Updated · 2 min read
A stockist cannot ship a batch that is already expired, or a customer who is already over their limit, and then explain it at month end. Those two controls are the first release.
Batch and expiry on the products that need them
Turn on lots where you already buy and sell by batch. Do not enable it for every consumable that you never scan. Tracking you do not record becomes a block at delivery.
The warehouse design is the same idea as inventory for distributors: a location for saleable stock and a location for hold or returns.
Credit is a delivery rule
A limit on the customer should stop the next delivery when finance says so. If everyone overrides it, you do not have a policy. Name the few people who may release a hold.
Prices belong on pricelists, not in a salesperson’s sheet. One product catalogue serves the order, the pick, and the invoice.
Do not start with a regulator’s entire checklist as custom code
Configure standard lots, locations, and credit first. Add a custom document only when a standard flow would force a permanent side file. That decision is in when to customise.
A stockist with a few apps is often ₹2–5 lakhs and 4–8 weeks when the catalogue is disciplined, and longer when every SKU is batch-tracked on day one. Confirm it in a free audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we block expired batches from sale?+
Yes, if lots and expiry are recorded on receipt. The control is only as good as the receipt discipline.
Should every product be batch-tracked?+
Only the ones you already trace. Tracking the whole catalogue on day one slows every delivery.
Is this legal or regulatory advice?+
No. We configure the documents your quality and finance owners specify. We do not replace their sign-off.