Migration guide
Moving from Xero to Odoo
Overview
The short version
Because Xero's data model is clean, migration is mainly about mapping tracking categories and reconciling balances.
Why move
Why companies leave Xero
Operations and finance together
No sync between Xero and inventory apps.
Multi-company
Group companies in one database with intercompany rules.
Deeper inventory
Warehouses, routes and valuation built in.
Mapping
How Xero maps onto Odoo
| Xero | Odoo | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chart of accounts | Chart of accounts | |
| Tracking categories | Analytic plans and accounts | |
| Contacts | Contacts | |
| Items | Products | |
| Tax rates | Taxes | |
| Open invoices and bills | Open invoices and bills |
What migrates
- Chart of accounts and opening balances
- Contacts with addresses and payment terms
- Items with prices and tracked inventory quantities
- Open invoices, bills and credit notes
What usually stays behind
- Closed transaction history (kept read-only in the old system or as an archive export)
- Bank rules, report layouts and automations (rebuilt in Odoo)
- Audit logs from the old system
Process
Migration steps
- 01
Scope and cut-over date
Agree what moves from Xero, how much history, and a go-live date at a month, quarter or year boundary.
- 02
Extract
Export contacts, items and reports from Xero, or extract them through the Xero API.
- 03
Clean and map
Remove duplicates and inactive records, then map accounts, taxes, products and partners onto the Odoo configuration.
- 04
Trial loads
Load into a test Odoo database at least twice and reconcile trial balance, receivables, payables and stock each time.
- 05
Cut-over
Freeze Xero, load final balances and open items, reconcile, and go live. Keep Xero read-only for reference.
Watch out for
Common pitfalls
Tracking categories
Decide how they map to analytic plans before loading.
Bank feeds
Set up bank synchronisation in Odoo before cut-over.
ERP Builders is an independent Odoo services company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Odoo S.A. “Odoo” is a trademark of Odoo S.A.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Will our bank feeds move over?
Bank feeds are reconnected in Odoo; the feeds themselves do not migrate.
Next step
Moving off Xero?
We will review your data and give you a migration plan with a fixed scope.