Connect Odoo to every device on your floor, dock and counter.
Bista's own IoT device links your Odoo database, whether it runs on Odoo Online, Odoo.sh or your own servers, to the printers, scales, scanners, and equipment your teams use every day. It needs no VPN, no inbound firewall ports, and no printer drivers on user workstations.
What are Bista's Printing & IoT Solutions?
- In one sentence
- A Bista-built IoT device plus Odoo modules that connect any Odoo database to on-site hardware (printers, scales, scanners and shop-floor equipment), so business events in Odoo trigger physical actions automatically.
- Components
- Bista IoT Device (Bista Cloud Server): the encrypted bridge between Odoo and local devices. Bista ZPL Designer: a drag-and-drop thermal label designer inside Odoo.
- Where it's used
- Manufacturing floor, warehouse and shipping, and Point of Sale.
- Not the Odoo IoT Box
- It's Bista's own device, designed for cloud-hosted Odoo: outbound-only connections, no VPN, no static IP, encrypted pairing and no-code event automation.
- Odoo compatibility
- Odoo Online, Odoo.sh and on-premise. ZPL Designer supports Odoo 17.0, 18.0 and 19.0.
- Supported printers
- Zebra (ZPL RAW), generic PCL, Star TSP raster, EPSON receipt, dot matrix, and any device addressable by IP and port.
- Pricing
- ZPL Designer: $129 one-time, perpetual license, with no per-label fees. IoT device: priced for your environment.
Provided by Bista Solutions, an Odoo Gold Partner and 8-time Odoo Best Partner for North America.
Built for Odoo in the cloud and hardware on the ground
Most Odoo companies now run in the cloud, but their printers, scales and machines stay on a local network. Our device was designed from the start to bridge that gap securely, without IT projects at every site.
Works with any Odoo hosting
Odoo Online, Odoo.sh or on-premise. You don't need to change how or where Odoo is hosted.
Online · .sh · On-premNo VPN, no inbound ports
The device connects outbound to Odoo, so you don't need port forwarding, router changes or inbound firewall rules.
outbound-onlyNo static IP required
The device checks Odoo for new jobs and sends them to local devices, so it works on ordinary business internet connections.
poll & routeEncrypted by design
All traffic between Odoo and the device uses Fernet symmetric encryption. Pairing uses a code, so credentials never travel in plain text.
Fernet · pairing codeInstall once, everyone prints
Set it up once per site and every Odoo user can print. You don't need to install drivers or configure each workstation.
zero workstation setupMulti-site device pools
Run an independent device at each plant, warehouse, store or region, each with its own pool of devices, all managed from one Odoo.
per site · per building1-click device discovery
Fetch and sync every registered printer into Odoo in one click. Odoo skips devices it already has, so you don't get duplicates.
auto-syncNo-code event automation
Print automatically when a lot is created, a transfer is validated or a sales order is confirmed. Rules are set in the Odoo interface.
events · domains · methodsExtended and supported by Bista — the team that builds the device also implements Odoo, so we can adapt workflows and device support to your operation. 8× Odoo Best Partner
Connect the shop floor to Odoo Manufacturing
Operators on a busy plant floor shouldn't be retyping weights, walking to a shared printer or hunting for the right label template. Bista's IoT device connects work centers to Odoo, so production data is captured when the work happens and labels print where the part is.
- Labels and travelers print at the work centerWhen an operation is completed, a lot or serial number is created, or a transfer is validated, Odoo sends the right label or traveler to the printer at that station. No one has to press print.
- Weights and measurements go straight into OdooProduction and packing scales and measuring gauges send readings directly to the work order or quality check, removing transcription errors and giving you a record of every reading.
- Scan instead of typingBarcode scanners at each station identify work orders, components, lots and locations, so material consumption and output are recorded accurately.
- Hands-free operationFootswitches and station buttons can move a work order to the next step or validate it while operators keep their gloves on and their hands on the part.
- One device per plant, one Odoo for allEach facility runs its own device and device pool. Multi-plant manufacturers manage every station from a single Odoo database, including cloud-hosted ones.
Pump Housing Assembly, Lot 26-0914-07
- Production scale 02
- Label printer (ZPL, 203 dpi)
- Station barcode scanner
- Footswitch
Shop-floor devices and what they do in Odoo
| Device | Connection | Odoo workflow | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Label & traveler printers | ZPL RAW over IP / port | Auto-print lot, serial, product and work-order labels on events such as lot creation or transfer validation | Pre-printed labels, batch printing at a shared office printer |
| Industrial dot matrix | IP / port | Multi-part travelers, pick tickets and production paperwork in harsh environments | Hand-filled paperwork |
| Production & packing scales | IP / serial | Capture weights on work orders, packages and quality checks | Reading the display and typing the value |
| Measuring gauges | USB / serial | Record measurements against tolerances on quality checks | Clipboard measurement logs |
| Barcode scanners | USB / network | Identify work orders, components, lots and locations | Manual lookup and data entry |
| Footswitches & station buttons | USB | Hands-free validate or next step on the work order | Removing gloves to tap a tablet |
| Machines, counters & sensors | Network (project-based) | Report cycle counts, output and machine status | End-of-shift production sheets |
Device support depends on the model and connection type. During assessment we confirm which devices on your floor connect as standard and which need a project-based integration.
Built for manufacturers in
Design thermal labels without leaving Odoo
A drag-and-drop visual editor for professional ZPL labels, built natively inside Odoo. Link any field on the record to the label and see a pixel-accurate preview before you print. No ZPL coding required.
no per-label fees
- ✓Drag-and-drop canvas for text, barcodes, QR codes, images and borders
- ✓Live ZPL preview with printer-grade bitmap rendering
- ✓Dynamic field binding to any Odoo field
- ✓Multi-DPI: 152, 203, 300 and 600 dpi
- ✓Multiline text with wrapping; static or field-bound
- ✓Publish control by user group
Create
Choose the model, size and DPI
Design
Drag in text & barcodes
Bind
Link Odoo fields
Preview
See the exact bitmap
Publish
Print from Odoo or events
Direct printing from Odoo to any printer
The device is an encrypted bridge between Odoo and your local hardware. Odoo decides what should happen and the device makes it happen on the right equipment at the right site.
Odoo, in the cloud or on-premise
Starts a print job or device action from any record (product, lot, transfer, work order) or from an automation rule.
→ encrypted job, outboundBista IoT Device
Receives the encrypted job, authenticates it and routes it to the correct device in the site's pool.
→ local network, IP / port or USBPrinter or device
Receives the job and prints or acts immediately.
✓ done, no user action requiredAutomatic print triggers include lot creation, transfer validation and sales order confirmation, as well as custom Odoo events, method calls and domain conditions.
Checkout hardware that just works with Odoo POS
Receipts, kitchen tickets, cash drawers and scales need to respond instantly at the counter. With a Bista IoT device at each store, Odoo POS reaches every device in that location, even when Odoo runs in the cloud.
Receipt printers
Print receipts and tickets on EPSON and Star TSP printers.
EPSON · Star TSP rasterKitchen & order printers
Send orders to prep stations as soon as they're placed.
IP / portCash drawers
Open the drawer automatically when a cash payment is taken.
via receipt printerCustomer displays
Show line items and totals to customers as the order is built.
per registerScales
Weigh priced-by-weight goods at checkout, straight into the order line.
deli · produce · bulkBarcode scanners & shelf labels
Scan at checkout and print price and shelf labels from ZPL Designer templates.
ZPL labelsBista IoT Device vs. Odoo IoT Box vs. a CUPS print server
There's more than one way to connect Odoo to hardware. Here's how the common approaches compare, so you can pick the right one for your sites.
| Bista IoT Device | Odoo IoT Box | Self-managed CUPS server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built and supported by | Bista Solutions | Odoo S.A. | Your IT team (open-source CUPS + OCA module) |
| Odoo hosting | Odoo Online, Odoo.sh, on-premise | Requires Odoo Enterprise | Best suited to on-premise or hybrid |
| Network setup | Outbound only. No VPN, inbound ports or static IP. | IoT system on the local network, paired with the database | Odoo, CUPS and printers must reach each other. Cloud CUPS needs a forwarded port per printer. |
| Security | Fernet-encrypted jobs; code-based pairing | Managed by Odoo | Depends on your configuration |
| Event-based auto printing | No-code rules on events, methods and domains | Printer assigned per report or operation | Printer assigned per report |
| Multi-site | Independent device pool per site, building or region | One IoT system per location | One server per network |
| Workstation setup | None. Install once per site. | None | Driver and PPD management on the server |
| Label design | ZPL Designer, drag and drop inside Odoo | Standard Odoo report templates | Standard Odoo report templates |
| Custom workflows | Extended by Bista for your devices and processes | Standard supported devices | DIY |
Already using Odoo IoT Boxes? Bista can run alongside them, for example adding event-based ZPL printing or connecting sites where you can't change network or firewall settings.
Three ways to connect cloud Odoo to local printers
The rule is simple: Odoo, the print service and the printer must be able to reach each other. How you arrange that decides how much network work each site needs.
Cloud Odoo + cloud CUPS
Both Odoo and the CUPS print server run in the cloud and send jobs over the internet to printers on site.
Cloud Odoo + local CUPS
Odoo runs in the cloud and a CUPS server runs on the local network next to the printers.
Bista IoT Device
The device checks the Odoo server for new jobs, fetches them and sends them to the right printer or device.
Setup guides for IT teams
Reference steps for the self-managed CUPS approach (Options A and B). The Bista IoT Device doesn't need these steps; our team handles pairing and device discovery.
1. Install a CUPS print server on Ubuntu Install, allow remote access, share printers
- Install CUPS. The service starts automatically.sudo apt update sudo apt install cups
- Add your user to the lpadmin group, then log out and back in.sudo usermod -aG lpadmin $USER
- Edit /etc/cups/cupsd.conf: add Listen 0.0.0.0:631, and allow access in <Location /> and <Location /admin>. Prefer a specific range such as Allow 192.168.1.0/24 over Allow all. Set DefaultAuthType Basic, DefaultEncryption IfRequested and Browsing On.
- Restart CUPS and enable sharing.sudo systemctl restart cups sudo cupsctl --share-printers
- Open http://<server-ip>:631 and sign in with administrator credentials. Install specific drivers if needed with
sudo apt install printer-driver-<name>. - Test with
lpstat -porlp -d <printer-name> <file>.
2. Add a printer to CUPS Network, USB and Windows print server printers
Prerequisites: CUPS is running on a static IP with the web interface enabled, you have admin credentials, and the printer is reachable by IP or hostname.
- Go to http://<cups-server-ip>:631 → Administration → Add Printer.
- Network printers: select a detected printer, or enter
socket://<printer-ip>:9100. - USB printers: detected automatically. If one isn't listed, check the cable and power.
- Windows print server: use
http://<username>:<password>@print_server_url/printer_pathwith Active Directory credentials. - Select a driver or upload the manufacturer's PPD file. Set paper size, resolution and duplex defaults.
- Tick "Share this printer," otherwise it won't appear in Odoo. Print a test page from the Printers tab.
3. Connect CUPS printers to Odoo OCA report-print-send, fetch printers, map reports
- Install the OCA report-print-send modules in Odoo.
- Go to Settings → Printers → CUPS Servers and create a server with its name, IP address, port (default 631), username, password and authentication method.
- Under Settings → Printers, click "Fetch Printers."
- Under Settings → Technical → Reports, open a report and assign the printer.
From device survey to a connected site
Survey
We list the printers, scales, scanners and equipment at each site, along with the Odoo workflows each one should support.
Pilot
We connect one work center, dock or register first: pair the device, discover equipment, design labels and set up event rules.
Roll out
We extend to every station and site, each with its own device pool, managed from your Odoo database.
Support
We add devices, adjust labels and automations, and keep integrations working through Odoo upgrades.
Printing & IoT questions
What are Bista's Printing & IoT Solutions for Odoo?
They combine Bista's own IoT device (Bista Cloud Server) with Odoo modules such as Bista ZPL Designer. Together they connect Odoo to on-site hardware, including label and receipt printers, scales, barcode scanners and manufacturing equipment, so events in Odoo trigger printing and device actions automatically on the manufacturing floor, in the warehouse and at the point of sale.
Is the Bista IoT Device the same as the Odoo IoT Box?
No. Bista's device is designed and supported by Bista Solutions. It connects outbound to Odoo using Fernet encryption and code-based pairing, so it needs no VPN, no inbound firewall ports and no static IP. It works with Odoo Online, Odoo.sh and on-premise, and it supports no-code event-based printing and separate device pools per site.
Can Bista's IoT device connect equipment on the manufacturing floor?
Yes. Manufacturing is one of its main uses. It connects work-center label and traveler printers, production and packing scales, measuring gauges, barcode scanners and footswitches to Odoo Manufacturing. Networked machines, counters and sensors can be connected as project-based integrations to report output and status.
Can I print from Odoo Online to a local printer without a VPN?
Yes. The Bista IoT Device sits on your local network and connects outbound to Odoo. It fetches print jobs and sends them to local printers over IP and port, so you don't need a VPN, port forwarding, a static IP or drivers on each workstation.
Which printers are supported?
Zebra and other ZPL thermal printers (ZPL RAW), generic PCL office and shipping printers, Star TSP raster and EPSON receipt printers, dot matrix printers, and any printer addressable by IP address and port on the local network.
Can Odoo print labels automatically?
Yes. Using no-code rules in Odoo, print jobs can run automatically on events such as lot creation, transfer validation and sales order confirmation, or on custom Odoo events, method calls and domain conditions.
What is Bista ZPL Designer and how much does it cost?
Bista ZPL Designer is a drag-and-drop thermal label designer built inside Odoo. It supports dynamic Odoo field binding, live ZPL preview, 152–600 dpi, and barcodes including Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, PDF417 and QR Code. It costs $129 as a one-time purchase with a perpetual license and no per-label fees, and supports Odoo 17.0, 18.0 and 19.0 on Odoo Online, Odoo.sh and on-premise.
Which Point of Sale devices can connect?
EPSON and Star receipt printers, kitchen and order printers, cash drawers, customer displays, scales and barcode scanners, with one device per store serving that location's hardware.
Is the connection secure?
Yes. All communication between Odoo and the device uses Fernet symmetric encryption, and the device pairs with Odoo using a pairing code, so credentials are never transmitted in plain text. Because the connection is outbound-only, no inbound ports are exposed on your network.
Can we use it across multiple plants, warehouses or stores?
Yes. Each site, building or region runs its own device with its own device pool, and all of them are managed from a single Odoo database.
Connect your first work center, dock or register.
Tell us what equipment you run and where Odoo is hosted. We'll show you how Bista's IoT device connects it, starting with a live demo.