[IMP] Sales: Invoicing project milestones

closes odoo/documentation#15545

Signed-off-by: Felicia Kuan (feku) <feku@odoo.com>
Co-authored-by: theRealThagomizer <96515928+theRealThagomizer@users.noreply.github.com>

content/applications/sales/sales/invoicing/milestone.rst

@@ -2,235 +2,111 @@
 Invoice project milestones
 ==========================
 
-Invoicing based on project milestones can be used for expensive or large-scale projects with
-discrete, measurable deliverables. The series of milestones in a project represent a clear sequence
-of work that will inevitably result in the completion of a project and/or contract.
+.. |SO| replace:: :abbr:`SO (Sales Order)`
+.. |SOs| replace:: :abbr:`SOs (Sales Orders)`
 
-This method of invoicing ensures the company gets a consistent flow of money throughout the lifetime
-of the project. Customers can closely monitor every phase of the project's development as it
-happens, in addition to paying a large bill in several installments, instead of all at once.
+Milestone-based invoicing is designed for companies that deliver work in clearly defined phases.
+Instead of invoicing an entire service upfront or at the very end, businesses can bill customers
+progressively as each stage of work is completed. This approach provides customers clearer
+visibility into progress and value delivered over time.
+
+In Odoo, milestone invoicing is configured at the product level in the **Sales** app, with milestone
+progress and completion managed in the **Projects** app. When a milestone is marked as reached, the
+delivered quantity on the sales order (SO) is updated and can be invoiced.
+
+How milestone invoicing works
+=============================
+
+Milestone invoicing follows a clear workflow involving multiple applications in Odoo:
+
+- A product is created in the **Sales** application, configured to be invoiced based on milestones.
+- A |SO| is created with the product.
+- A project in the **Projects** app is created with multiple milestones included.
+- A milestone is reached, and marked complete, causing the *Delivered* quantity on the |SO| line to
+  update.
+- An invoice is created for the completed milestone, which can be sent to the customer.
+
+.. important::
+   This document covers the **Sales** app configuration and invoicing flow for invoicing based on
+   project milestones. For more information on creating, managing, and marking milestones as
+   complete, and how to link them to tasks, see :doc:`Project milestones
+   <../../../services/project/project_management/project_milestones>`.
 
 Create milestone products
 =========================
 
-In Odoo, each milestone of a project is considered as an individual product.
+To begin, a service product must be configured specifically for milestone-based invoicing. Navigate
+to :menuselection:`Sales app --> Products --> Products` and click :guilabel:`New`. Enter the
+necessary information, including the product title and :guilabel:`Sales Price`.
 
-To create and/or configure products to work like this, first navigate to :menuselection:`Sales app
---> Products --> Products`. Then, click on a product, or create a new one by clicking
-:guilabel:`New`.
-
-The option to invoice based on milestones is only available for certain product types.
-
-On the product form, under the :guilabel:`General Information` tab, the :guilabel:`Product Type`
-field *must* be set on any of the following options: :guilabel:`Service`, :guilabel:`Event Ticket`,
-:guilabel:`Event Booth`, or :guilabel:`Course`.
-
-.. image:: milestone/product-type-field.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The invoicing policy field drop-down menu with options on product form.
-
-With any of those :guilabel:`Product Type` options selected, choose :guilabel:`Based on Milestones`
-from the :guilabel:`Invoicing Policy` drop-down menu.
-
-.. image:: milestone/invoicing-policy-field.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The invoicing policy field drop-down menu with options on product form.
-
-Beneath that is the :guilabel:`Create on Order` field.
-
-To ensure workflows are as seamless as possible, it is recommended that an option in the
-:guilabel:`Create on Order` field is selected.
+For the :guilabel:`Product Type`, select :guilabel:`Service`. Doing so reveals the :guilabel:`Create
+on Order` field. Select either :guilabel:`Project`, :guilabel:`Project and Task`, or
+:guilabel:`Task`, depending on how the product is to be tracked in the **Project** app.
 
 .. note::
-   Leaving it on the default :guilabel:`Nothing` option won't negatively affect the desired
-   workflow. However, a project *must* then be created directly from a sales order form with that
-   specific product. Once a project is created *then* milestones and tasks can be created and
-   configured.
+   A :guilabel:`Project Template` can also be selected for the product. See :doc:`Project templates
+   <../../../services/project/project_management/project_templates>` for more information. Project
+   templates can have milestones defined, however, the *Quantity (%)* field must be manually updated
+   on each newly created project.
 
-When the :guilabel:`Create on Order` default option of :guilabel:`Nothing` is clicked, a drop-down
-menu is revealed with the following options:
+For the :guilabel:`Invoicing Policy`, select :guilabel:`Based on Milestones`. This option ensures
+that the product's delivered quantities update automatically once a milestone is completed.
 
-- :guilabel:`Task`: Odoo creates a task related to this milestone product in the *Projects* app when
-  this specific product is ordered.
-- :guilabel:`Project \& Task`: Odoo creates a project and task related to this milestone product in
-  the *Projects* app when this specific product is ordered.
-- :guilabel:`Project`: Odoo creates a project related to this milestone product in the *Projects*
-  app when this specific product is ordered.
+.. important::
+   *Based on Milestones* is only available if there is at least one project with *Milestones*
+   enabled.
 
-When :guilabel:`Task` is selected, a :guilabel:`Project` field appears. In this field, select to
-which existing project in the *Projects* app this created task should be connected.
-
-.. image:: milestone/task-option-project-field.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The Project field appears when the Task option is selected in Create on Order field.
-
-When :guilabel:`Project \& Task` or :guilabel:`Project` is selected, two new fields appear:
-:guilabel:`Project Template` and :guilabel:`Workspace Template`.
-
-.. image:: milestone/project-task-option-project-workspace-fields.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The Project template and workspace template fields that appear on milestone product.
-
-The :guilabel:`Project Template` field provides template options to use for the project that will be
-created when this specific product is ordered.
-
-The :guilabel:`Workspace Template` field provides template options to use for the workspace (for the
-*Documents* app, not the *Projects* app) that will be automatically generated for the project when
-this specific product is ordered.
-
-.. tip::
-   For organizational purposes, click the :guilabel:`Sales` tab on the product form, and enter a
-   custom 'Milestone' related descriptor in the :guilabel:`Sales Description` field. This
-   information appears in the :guilabel:`Description` column on the :guilabel:`Order Lines` tab of
-   the sales order.
-
-   Or, directly edit/modify the :guilabel:`Description` field on the :guilabel:`Order Lines` tab of
-   the sales order.
-
-   This is *not* a requirement.
-
-Invoice milestones
-==================
+Defining milestones
+-------------------
 
 .. note::
-   The following flow features a trio of milestone products that have :guilabel:`Service` set as
-   their :guilabel:`Product Type`, and :guilabel:`Task` set on their :guilabel:`Create on Order`
-   field.
+   This document focuses on the process of selling and invoicing a milestone product in the
+   **Sales** app. For more information on creating milestones in the **Project** app, see
+   :doc:`Project milestones <../../../services/project/project_management/project_milestones>`.
 
-    .. image:: milestone/settings-for-workflow.png
-       :align: center
-       :alt: Product with Service "Product Type" and "Task" in the Create on Order field on form.
+After the milestone product has been sold, a  *Milestones* smart button is added to the |SO|. Click
+the smart button to view, edit, or create new milestones.
 
-   Those tasks are then attached to a pre-existing :guilabel:`Project`, which, in this case, is
-   titled, :guilabel:`Rebranding Projects`.
+From here, the :guilabel:`Delivered %` can be altered. This amount equates to the total cost of the
+|SO| that is billed when the milestone is reached.
 
-To invoice milestones, create a sales order with the milestone product(s). To do that, go to
-:menuselection:`Sales app --> New`. Doing so reveals a blank quotation form.
+.. example::
+   A company that provides pool installation services bills based on predefined milestones as the
+   work is completed. Each milestone equates to 25% of the total services:
 
-From this quotation form, add a :guilabel:`Customer`. Then, click :guilabel:`Add a product` in the
-:guilabel:`Order Lines` tab. Next, add the milestone product(s) to the :guilabel:`Order Lines` tab.
+    - Site Preparation & Excavation
+    - Structural Installation
+    - Plumbing & Equipment Installation
+    - Finishing & Final Inspection
 
-Once the corresponding milestone product(s) have been added, click :guilabel:`Confirm` to confirm
-the order, which turns the quotation into a sales order.
+   .. image:: milestone/view-milestones.png
+      :alt: The milestones for a sales order line.
 
-When the order is confirmed, new smart buttons appear at the top of the sales order based on what
-was selected in the :guilabel:`Create on Order` field on the product form.
+   The team uses a project template, called *Pool installation*, with these milestones defined. A
+   new project is created whenever a |SO| with the *Pool installation services* product is
+   confirmed.
 
-From the sales order, click the :guilabel:`Milestones` smart button. Doing so reveals a blank
-:guilabel:`Milestones` page. Click :guilabel:`New` to add milestones.
+Invoicing a completed milestone
+===============================
 
-.. image:: milestone/adding-milestones.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: Adding milestones to a sales order with milestone products.
+Milestones can be tracked through the **Project** app (see :ref:`Using milestones
+<project/using-milestones>`). Additionally, a milestone can be marked complete by navigating to the
+|SO|, and clicking the :guilabel:`Milestones` smart button. On the *Milestones* page, enable the
+checkbox in the :guilabel:`Reached` column for the milestone.
 
-Enter a :guilabel:`Name` for the milestone. Next, apply it to the corresponding :guilabel:`Sales
-Order Item`. Lastly, assign a :guilabel:`Deadline` to the milestone, if desired.
+Then, click :guilabel:`View Sales Order` or use the breadcrumbs to return to the |SO|. The
+:guilabel:`Delivered` column will be updated to reflect the *Delivered %* for the milestone reached.
 
-Repeat that process for all milestone sales order items.
+These steps can be repeated as additional milestones are reached until the |SO| has been fulfilled.
 
-Then, return to the sales order, via the breadcrumbs. From the sales order, click the
-:guilabel:`Tasks` smart button. Doing so reveals a :guilabel:`Tasks` page with a task for each sales
-order item with that option designated in the :guilabel:`Create on Order` field.
+.. important::
+   Reaching a milestone does *not* automatically create an invoice. Instead, it updates the |SO| to
+   reflect the amount of the total that is ready for invoicing.
 
-.. image:: milestone/tasks-page.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: Sample tasks page accessed via the smart button from a sales order with milestone products.
+Once one or more milestones have been reached, navigate to the |SO|, and confirm the
+:guilabel:`Delivered` column has updated correctly. Then, click :guilabel:`Create Invoice`.
 
-To manually assign a configured milestone to a task, click the desired task, which reveals the task
-form. On the task form, select the appropriate milestone to which this task should be connected, in
-the :guilabel:`Milestone` field.
-
-.. image:: milestone/milestone-field-on-task-form.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The milestone field on the task form when dealing with milestone products in Odoo Sales.
-
-Repeat this process for all milestone tasks.
-
-With those tasks properly configured, employees log in their progress as they work on the task, in
-addition to adding any notes related to the task.
-
-Then, when that task is complete, that means that milestone has been reached. At that point, it is
-time to invoice that milestone.
-
-To invoice a milestone, first return to the sales order — either via the breadcrumb links, or by
-navigating to :menuselection:`Sales app --> Orders --> Orders` and picking the appropriate sales
-order.
-
-Back on the sales order form, click the :guilabel:`Milestones` smart button, and check the box in
-the :guilabel:`Reached` column for that particular task.
-
-.. image:: milestone/reached-milestone.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: What it looks like to mark a milestone as reached via the milestone smart button.
-
-Next, return to the sales order — either by clicking :guilabel:`View Sales Order` on the
-:guilabel:`Milestones` page, or via the breadcrumb links.
-
-Back on the sales order, the line item for the milestone that's been reached has its
-:guilabel:`Delivered` column filled. That's because the milestone has been reached, and therefore
-delivered.
-
-.. image:: milestone/delivered-milestone-product-sales-order.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: A milestone product that's been reached marked as delivered on the sales order in Odoo.
-
-Click :guilabel:`Create Invoice` in the upper-left corner. Doing so reveals a :guilabel:`Create
-invoices` pop-up window.
-
-.. image:: milestone/create-invoices-pop-up.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The create invoices pop-up window that appears when create invoice button is clicked.
-
-On the :guilabel:`Create invoices` pop-up window, leave the :guilabel:`Create Invoice` option on the
-default :guilabel:`Regular Invoice` selection, and click the :guilabel:`Create Draft Invoice`
-button.
-
-Upon clicking :guilabel:`Create Draft Invoice`, Odoo reveals the :guilabel:`Customer Invoice Draft`,
-*only* showing that reached milestone in the :guilabel:`Invoice Lines` tab.
-
-.. image:: milestone/invoice-draft-milestone.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: A customer invoice draft showing only the milestone product that's been reached.
-
-From this invoice page, click the :guilabel:`Confirm` button to confirm the invoice. Then, when the
-customer has paid for this milestone, click :guilabel:`Register Payment`.
-
-When :guilabel:`Register Payment` is clicked, a :guilabel:`Register Payment` pop-up window appears.
-
-.. image:: milestone/register-payment-pop-up.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The Register Payment pop-up window that appears when Register Payment is clicked.
-
-On this pop-up window, confirm the accuracy of the auto-populated fields, then click
-:guilabel:`Create Payment`.
-
-When clicked, the pop-up window disappears, and Odoo returns to the invoice for that milestone,
-which now has a green :guilabel:`In Payment` banner in the upper-right corner. This banner signifies
-the invoice has been paid.
-
-.. image:: milestone/in-payment-invoice.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: An invoice with a milestone product that has been paid with an In Payment banner.
-
-Then, return to the sales order, via the breadcrumb links. Back on the sales order, in the
-:guilabel:`Order Lines` tab, the reached milestone that's been invoiced and paid for, now has its
-:guilabel:`Invoiced` column filled.
-
-.. image:: milestone/invoiced-column-filled-milestone.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The Invoiced column of a milestone product that's been paid for is filled.
-
-There is also a new :guilabel:`Invoices` smart button at the top of the sales order. Clicking that
-reveals all the invoices that are connected to this sales order.
-
-.. image:: milestone/invoices-smart-button.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: The invoices smart button that appears at the top of a sales order with milestones.
-
-Simply repeat the above process for each milestone as it is worked on, and subsequently, completed.
-
-Continue that process until the entire project has been completed, each milestone has been invoiced,
-and the entire order has been paid for in full.
+Additional milestones can be invoiced as they are completed, until all services are complete.
 
 .. seealso::
    - :doc:`time_materials`

content/applications/services/project/project_management/project_milestones.rst

@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ marked as :guilabel:`Reached` in the :menuselection:`Project --> Settings --> Mi
 also check the :guilabel:`Reached` box manually whenever the milestone is reached. Manual checking
 of the box will not impact the tasks linked to the milestone.
 
+.. _project/using-milestones:
+
 Using milestones
 ================