Skip to Content

Auto Generate Product Code(Sku/Internal Reference)

7 min read
April 30, 2024
Odoo Apps

If you are looking for an app to generate automatic code/Internal Reference for each product variants of all the products then this odoo app is the best choice for all you. After installing this module you will see the configuration options to provide dynamic product code setup option such as take letters from the product attributes, add pattern sequence , user letters of product name or product category , take database id for generation of product sku or code. Once you configured settings when you create new products it will automatically generate product's internal reference /product code based on this settings.

Also Read: Automatic Invoice from Delivery Order

Features

1) Create SKU based on attribute.

You can select maximum 2 characters from the product attribute to create sku of product.

2) Add pattern to SKU of product.

You can select a pattern you want to append with the SKU.

3) Create SKU based on value of product.

You can select maximum 4 characters from the product variant to create sku of product.

4) Use of hyphens.

You can add hyphens in between the SKU to identify every attributes of that product.

5) Creates SKU based on different aspects.

Creates SKU based on pattern, product database id, product category and product variant.

6) Spanish translation available

Spanish translation also available for strings used in this module.

Why Product SKU Management Is Important

Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) play a critical role in inventory management, warehouse operations, purchasing, sales processing, and product identification. As businesses grow and product catalogs expand, manually assigning internal references becomes increasingly difficult and time-consuming.

Without a structured SKU system, organizations may face challenges such as:

  • Duplicate product codes
  • Inventory tracking errors
  • Product identification issues
  • Inconsistent naming conventions
  • Slow warehouse operations
  • Reporting inaccuracies

The Automatic Product SKU Generator module helps businesses automate product code generation while maintaining consistency across inventory operations.

Benefits of Automatic SKU Generation

Automatically generating SKU codes provides several operational benefits.

Improved Inventory Accuracy

Unique internal references help reduce stock management errors and improve inventory visibility.

Faster Product Creation

New products and variants can be created without manually assigning product codes.

Consistent Product Coding

The module ensures that SKU structures follow predefined business rules.

Better Warehouse Management

Warehouse teams can quickly identify products using meaningful SKU structures.

Reduced Administrative Work

Users no longer need to manually generate and maintain internal references.

Improved Reporting

Structured SKU codes make inventory reports easier to understand and analyze.

Generate Product Codes Using Attributes

Many organizations sell products with multiple attributes such as:

  • Size
  • Color
  • Material
  • Style
  • Capacity
  • Model

The module allows businesses to generate SKU codes based on product attributes, making it easier to identify and manage product variants.

For example, different product variations can automatically receive unique internal references based on selected attribute values.

This helps improve inventory organization and product traceability.

Product Variant Management Made Easy

Managing product variants manually becomes difficult when businesses offer hundreds or thousands of product combinations.

The module automatically generates SKU codes for product variants using configurable rules.

Benefits include:

  • Faster variant identification
  • Better inventory visibility
  • Reduced duplicate references
  • Improved warehouse efficiency
  • Simplified stock counting processes

This functionality is particularly useful for businesses managing large product catalogs.

Flexible SKU Configuration Options

Every business follows different coding standards.

The module provides flexibility by allowing SKU generation using:

  • Product attributes
  • Product variant values
  • Product categories
  • Product database IDs
  • Custom patterns
  • Prefixes and suffixes
  • Hyphen separators

This allows organizations to create SKU structures that align with internal business processes.

Why Internal References Matter

Internal references are used throughout inventory and sales operations.

They help businesses:

Track Inventory Efficiently

Monitor stock movements accurately across locations.

Improve Purchasing Operations

Reference products consistently when creating purchase orders.

Simplify Warehouse Activities

Enable faster picking, packing, and stock transfers.

Improve Sales Processes

Help sales teams identify products quickly.

Support Business Reporting

Provide structured product identification for reporting and analysis.

Well-designed internal references improve operational efficiency across departments.

SKU Management for Multi-Warehouse Businesses

Organizations operating multiple warehouses require consistent product identification across locations.

Automatic SKU generation helps businesses:

  • Standardize inventory records
  • Improve warehouse coordination
  • Simplify stock transfers
  • Reduce inventory discrepancies
  • Improve product traceability

As businesses expand, consistent SKU management becomes increasingly important.

Industries That Benefit from Automatic SKU Generation

Retail

Manage large product catalogs more efficiently.

eCommerce

Generate consistent product references for online stores.

Wholesale Distribution

Improve inventory tracking and warehouse operations.

Manufacturing

Manage raw materials, components, and finished goods.

Fashion and Apparel

Track products by size, color, and style.

Electronics

Manage multiple product models and configurations.

Best Practices for Product Code Management

Organizations can improve SKU management by following these recommendations:

  • Use consistent SKU structures
  • Include meaningful product identifiers
  • Avoid duplicate references
  • Maintain standardized coding rules
  • Review SKU formats periodically
  • Ensure product variants receive unique references

These practices help maintain accurate and scalable inventory management processes.

Challenges of Manual SKU Management

Many businesses initially create product codes manually. While this may work for small catalogs, it becomes increasingly difficult as the number of products and variants grows.

Common challenges include:

  • Duplicate product codes
  • Inconsistent naming conventions
  • Difficulty identifying variants
  • Inventory tracking errors
  • Slow product creation processes
  • Reporting inaccuracies
  • Increased administrative workload

Automating SKU generation helps businesses eliminate these issues and maintain consistent product identification across the organization.

Improve Product Data Accuracy

Accurate product data is essential for inventory control, purchasing, warehouse management, and sales operations.

Automatically generated SKU codes help businesses:

  • Maintain consistent product records
  • Reduce data entry mistakes
  • Improve inventory visibility
  • Standardize product identification
  • Simplify stock management processes

Better product data accuracy improves overall operational efficiency and decision-making.

Benefits for Warehouse Operations

Warehouse teams rely heavily on product codes for daily operations.

The module helps warehouse staff by:

Faster Product Identification

Employees can quickly identify products and variants.

Improved Picking Accuracy

Structured SKU codes reduce picking and packing errors.

Better Inventory Tracking

Stock movements can be tracked more accurately.

Simplified Stock Counts

Physical inventory counts become faster and more reliable.

These improvements help warehouses operate more efficiently while reducing operational errors.

Benefits for Sales and Purchasing Teams

Sales and purchasing departments frequently work with large product catalogs.

Automatically generated internal references help teams:

  • Locate products faster
  • Reduce order entry errors
  • Improve quotation accuracy
  • Simplify procurement activities
  • Enhance customer service

Consistent SKU structures improve communication across departments and business processes.

SKU Standardization Across Multiple Locations

Businesses operating multiple warehouses, stores, or distribution centers often struggle with inconsistent product coding.

The module helps standardize product references across all locations by automatically generating SKU codes using predefined rules.

Benefits include:

  • Consistent inventory records
  • Improved stock visibility
  • Simplified inventory transfers
  • Better reporting accuracy
  • Enhanced operational control

Standardization becomes increasingly important as organizations expand.

Product Variant Complexity Made Simple

Managing products with multiple attributes can quickly become challenging.

Examples include:

  • Size and color combinations
  • Material variations
  • Product configurations
  • Model differences
  • Regional product variations

The module automatically generates unique SKU codes for each variant, making it easier to distinguish products while maintaining consistent coding standards.

Why Businesses Choose Automatic SKU Generation

Organizations choose automated SKU generation because it helps:

  • Reduce manual data entry
  • Improve inventory accuracy
  • Eliminate duplicate product references
  • Accelerate product creation
  • Standardize product identification
  • Improve warehouse productivity
  • Support business growth

The module provides a scalable solution for businesses managing growing product catalogs.

Product SKU Configuration

User can give name, product variants, product attribute, product category, pattern with database Id and use of hyphens.  

Product SKU Configuration

Configuration based on Product Name

Based on number of product variant SKU will carry the product name.Example if product name is Denim Jeans then SKU will generate alphabets "den" in case of 3 letter is selected.  

Configuration based on Product Name

Generated Product Code

As Shown in figure you can see the product with SKU as we select in SKU configuration.  

Generated Product Code

If user change product name, product category, and product attribute then internal code also get updated automatically.  

Generated Product Code




In tree view products and their SKU code can be seen.  

Generated Product Code

Conclusion

The Automatic Product SKU Generator module helps businesses automate internal reference creation and product code generation within Odoo. By supporting attribute-based SKU generation, variant-based coding, product category integration, database identifiers, and custom patterns, the module improves inventory accuracy while reducing manual administrative effort.

Whether managing retail products, manufacturing inventories, wholesale catalogs, or eCommerce operations, businesses can use this module to standardize product identification, improve warehouse efficiency, and streamline inventory management workflows.

Auto Generate Product Code(Sku/Internal Reference)
Vrajesh Soni ERP Consultant
Book a Consultation

Share this post