Product Storage Strategies in Odoo#
Storage and removal strategies control which lot, location, or unit Odoo picks first when fulfilling an order. The right strategy ensures product rotation compliance, reduces spoilage, and can improve picking efficiency.
Removal Strategies#
Set per storage location (applies to products stored there):
Inventory → Configuration → Locations → [Location] → Removal Strategy:
| Strategy | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| First In First Out (FIFO) | Oldest receipt date picked first | Electronics, general merchandise |
| First Expiry First Out (FEFO) | Shortest remaining shelf life picked first | Food, pharma, cosmetics |
| Last In First Out (LIFO) | Most recently received picked first | Bulk materials, raw commodities |
| Closest Location | Nearest location to packing picked first | Large warehouses with many bins |
| Least Packages | Minimize number of packages picked from | Reduces open package handling |
Applying a Removal Strategy#
Inventory → Configuration → Locations → WH/Stock → Removal Strategy: FIFO
Now when a picking order is generated for a product stored at WH/Stock, Odoo automatically selects the oldest lot/serial first.
FEFO Setup Requirements#
FEFO requires lot tracking with expiry dates:
- Enable Lots/Serial Numbers and Expiration Dates in settings
- Record expiry on every received lot
- Set location removal strategy to FEFO
- Odoo sorts lots by expiry date (soonest first) during picking
Per-Product Override#
Override the location strategy for a specific product:
Product → Inventory tab → Removal Strategy: override with a different strategy.
Example: most products at WH/Stock use FIFO, but perishable products override to FEFO.
Multiple Storage Zones with Different Strategies#
Organize the warehouse into zones:
- WH/Ambient (FIFO): dry goods
- WH/Cold-Room (FEFO): chilled products
- WH/Chemicals (FEFO): products with strict shelf life compliance
- WH/Bulk (LIFO): raw materials with no expiry concern
Each zone has its own removal strategy, applied automatically when products are stored there.
Putaway + Removal Strategy Pairing#
Putaway rules route products INTO locations; removal strategies control which unit comes OUT:
- Putaway: fresh receipt → goes to back row of the shelf
- Removal (FIFO): oldest unit on the shelf → picked first
Together, they enforce proper stock rotation automatically.