In most SMEs, information gets lost between emails, attachments, and chat channels. Odoo's Chatter brings order: it is the conversation thread linked to each business record (CRM opportunity, quote, invoice, project task, item, etc.) where messages, internal notes, attachments, and activities are exchanged – all without leaving the document. The result: we collaborate in the context of work, and the history follows the file, not the inboxes.
What Chatter allows (and why it changes everything)
1) Messages, internal notes, and mentions
Un message notifie les abonnés du document (suiveurs). Une note interne reste visible aux utilisateurs internes (ex. consignes au back-office). On peut @mentionner collègues/équipes pour les mobiliser. (
2) Structured activities (calls, follow-ups, tasks)
Plan activities (call, follow up, meet, approve…) with deadlines and responsible parties, visible from the clock icon that consolidates all your upcoming actions. (
3) Unified tracking of email exchanges
You can send/reply by email from Chatter, and if the client replies from Outlook/Gmail, the response automatically returns to the correct folder (document thread), thanks to Odoo's routing.. (
4) Aliases & automatic capture
Create alias addresses (e.g. purchases@… / support@…) : Odoo can create a record (ticket, opportunity, document) or sort the response into the correct thread upon receiving the email. (
5) Attachments & traceability
Add contracts, POs, delivery proofs, photos… directly in the thread. We keep the evidence and the context, useful for quality/audit. (Tracked fields can also log their changes in Chatter)
6) Real-time & team communication (Discuss)
The Chatter combines with Discuss: private chats, team channels, notifications, integrated audio/video calls. Ideal for switching from a "by folder" thread to a team discussion.
Bonus: for those who still care, Odoo offers an Outlook plugin to sort emails into Odoo from the Outlook inbox. However, in many cases, working directly within Chatter is enough to reduce Outlook/Teams to the bare minimum..
"No more need for a team email box?" — Our pragmatic viewpoint
Internal: yes, you can easily do without the back and forth between Outlook/Teams; use internal notes + activities + Discuss.
External: keep aclient email channel(alias/reply-to) for those who prefer to respond from their email; Odoolinksthe exchanges to the right thread.
Concrete use cases (SMEs Quebec)
Sales (B2B)
Quotes: negotiation, price exceptions, proof of approval ininternal note→ clear audit.
Reminders: activities "Follow up quotes" with deadlines + daily reminders.
Operations & logistics
Purchase order: supplier exchanges, acknowledgments,deadline changeslogged.
Delivery: photo/BL attached in Chatter; client sees the thread via portal.
Service & support
Ticket: captures, priorities,SLAmanaged via activities; documented escalations.
Field: technician uploads photo/report in the intervention thread.
Finance
Invoice: request for parts, approvals, documented disputes,timestamped proof.
Best implementation practices (2–4 weeks)
Subscribers & roles
Define who follows what: sales, procurement, finance. Avoid "over-notification".
Templates & labels
Create messagetemplates by situation (negotiation, reminder, missing delivery). par situation (négociation, rappel, livraison manquante).
Standardize activities(types, deadlines by flow). (types, délais par flux).
Aliases & routing
Configurecatchall+ aliases (support@, purchases@). Test auto creation and thereply-to.
Traceability
Enable thetrackingon sensitive fields (price, deadlines, status).
Change & training
1 hour of training "Internal notes vs Messages » + @mentionseffective.
Remember the etiquette: one info = one thread, no duplicates in parallel channels.
Governance & compliance
Access: theinternal notesremain internal; outgoing messages follow the document's rights.
Audit: the thread keeps thetimestamp, attachments, and tracking of critical fields.
Mobility: notifications and reading via the Odoo mobile app (and push modules if needed).
Simple indicators to track (weekly)
Up-to-date activity rates(zero delays > 48 h)
Files without messages for X days(risk of inaction)
Customer response times(first response)
Tickets resolved via a single thread(no off-topic)
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Put everything in "message": use internal note for back-office instructions.
Too many default subscribers: create clear rules (e.g. the seller + the coordinator).
Untested aliases: make atest pathcomplete (external send → return in the thread).
Zero template: standardize your short messages and recurring activities.
Express setup (checklist)
Define 5–7 types of activities by flow (Sales, Purchases, Service).
Activate tracking on 3–5 key fields per model (price, deadlines, status).
Create 3 aliases (e.g. sales@, purchases@, support@) and test.
Train the team on @mention + internal note vs message.
Link Discuss (channels) for real-time team exchanges.
(Option) Install the Outlook plugin for email holdouts.
In short
The Chatter is not "just another chat": it is the living journal of your files. By adopting it, you reduce internal email, speed up follow-ups, and secure traceability. For your teams, it means less friction and more clarity; for your clients, it means faster responses and commitments kept.
Want to implement it correctly (without over-engineering)?