This allows to . . .

There is nothing particularly special about this construction. It is what it is.

In English, whether to use a gerund or an infinitive depends on the verb, and there does not seem to be a set rule. It just becomes a habit.

A general trend however is that gerunds are used more often than infinitives, and infinitives tend to be used to express abstract or potential ideas.

For example, you would use an infinitive for "I want to obtain" or "I need to obtain" while you would use a gerund for "I like obtaining" or "I enjoy obtaining".

It sounds awkward because “allows” carries the idea of granting permission, but you haven’t specified who you are granting that permission to. Compare:

• This allows (?) to work.
• This allows one to work.
• I am allowed to work.

When you change the infinitive to a participle/gerund, the sense changes subtly from ‘granting permission’ to ‘enabling a function’. It can still feel slightly awkward at times, and can be improved by going all the way to using the noun form in place of the participle. Compare:

• This allows Fred to enter.
• This allows (his) entering.
• This allows entry.