Top 6 Best Inventory Management Software & Tracking Systems

2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND TRACKING SYSTEMS

2017 Guide to the Best Inventory Software (Who Uses Inventory Management Software?)

Inventory management software and inventory tracking software are products designed to help businesses that have physical products.

An inventory system simplifies how businesses track everything from the levels of inventory they have on hand, to their orders and sales.

An inventory tracking system can also be used to quickly show the deliveries that have been made, and in a general sense, an inventory system will serve as an organizational tool for a broad data set.

In the past, before the widespread implementation of inventory tracking software and even inventory management apps, businesses had to do many of these tasks manually, and they were stored in hard copy documents and files.

Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Inventory Management Software & Tracking Systems

Inventory control software and inventory management systems are put in place by businesses to not only simplify their daily operations and streamline how they do business but also to reduce costs.

Inventory software gives a greater level of visibility and control over what’s happening in the business, which can not only improve efficiency but can also prevent potential problems from occurring, such as running out of stock.

Inventory control software can also be used by manufacturing companies, and it can include features to create work orders, bills of materials, and more.

The following ranking and review of the top inventory management software and inventory management system products are designed to offer not only an overview of the features and benefits of these products but also to specifically highlight the best in the industry.

AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Inventory Management Software

This list is sorted alphabetically (click any of the below names to go directly to the detailed review for that inventory tracking software).

Cin7
InFlow
Ordoro
Stitch Labs
TradeGecko
Unleashed

What are the features of inventory tracking software?

Before you select an inventory tracking system, it’s important to know the features that are must-haves for you as well as what you might be able to live without.

To determine that, identifying the standard features found with most inventory software products is a good idea.

The following are some of the usual features most inventory control software products offer:

Product Categories: Small business inventory software may not necessarily need features that break products down into categories, but larger companies and manufacturing facilities likely will. A company can have hundreds or thousands of products they need to manage, and they may all be relatively similar, making the ability to categorize products important.

Inventory Monitoring: This is perhaps the most important thing you’ll need with inventory software. Monitoring inventory levels should be simple, and easily accessible. Many companies are now looking for inventory management app options that allow them to see this information from anywhere and on-the-go.

Order Management: Order management features in an inventory management system will include details about what’s been ordered and what should be reordered. Inventory management software helps strike a balance between running out of something or having too much inventory.

Service Management: An inventory system isn’t necessarily only for use by a product-driven business. An inventory tracking system can also be used by service companies to manage the materials they require to do business. This is a good way to not only make sure they constantly have what they need, but they can also use their inventory control software to accurately determine how much they should be charging for their services, based on the cost of their materials.

What are the advantages of an inventory management system?

Whether you’re searching for small business inventory software, free inventory management software, or a more complex inventory system, some common advantages are going to come along with most of these products.

One of the biggest benefits of relying on inventory tracking system is the ability it provides to help businesses of all sizes have the right balance of inventory. It’s important, in a financial and logistical sense, to balance having too little and too much inventory, and that’s one of the primary goals of most inventory tracking systems.

Image Source: Best Inventory Tracking Systems

Inventory management software can also improve levels of organization and the accuracy of inventory orders.

In a general sense, many businesses also rely on inventory tracking software to help them remain as efficient and productive as possible.

When inventory software is used, it can ensure all records are accurate, and it saves time and money and avoids waste in an organization.

What are the disadvantages of inventory management software?

As with almost any product, there are many advantages of inventory management software, but there are also a few possible disadvantages. It’s important for buyers to know these potential disadvantages of an inventory management system before making a selection, so they can possibly avoid them altogether.

With inventory control software and inventory tracking systems, the advantages do greatly outweigh the potential pitfalls, however.

Image Source: Best Inventory Management Software

The first hurdle a business may have when selecting inventory management software is the cost. It can be something that’s more realistic for large companies to use, but luckily, there are increasingly becoming more small business inventory software options available that are in-line with smaller budgets. There are even some free inventory software options available, and while they have more limited features, they can work well for the needs of smaller organizations.

The other potential problem to keep in mind when choosing inventory control software is complexity and the learning curve that may come with implementing it in your business.

A simple inventory software product may not have this problem, but when you get into the more large-scale inventory tracking software options, it’s important to understand the time and financial requirements that may be needed in order to fully implement the use of the software.

Methodology for Selecting the Inventory Management Software

What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the companies, services, and products that are ranked on its various top rated lists?

Please click here to see “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies,” a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top rated companies, products, and services.

Top Inventory Management Software

Software	Websites
Cin7	https://www.cin7.com/
InFlow	https://www.inflowinventory.com/
Ordoro	https://www.ordoro.com/
Stitch Labs	http://www.stitchlabs.com/
TradeGecko	https://www.tradegecko.com/
Unleashed	https://www.unleashedsoftware.com/

Table: Top 6 Best Inventory Management Software and Tracking Systems | Above list is sorted alphabetically

Detailed Review—Inventory Tracking Software

After carefully considering inventory management software, we compiled the following list of the top six best inventory software products.

As you continue reading, you’ll find detailed reviews of each of our picks, as well as an outline of the factors used in the decision-making process.

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Cin7 Review

Cin7 describes itself as the “world’s most integrated inventory software,” and an all-in-one cloud inventory system. This connected inventory system is designed to create a bridge between suppliers and sales channels, with end-to-end visibility.

Datum Connect is the parent company of Cin7, and this company has more than ten years’ experience in eCommerce. Datum Connect has built more than 1,000 websites, and it won the 2009 Vero Award for Excellence in Business Support. The development of Cin7 aimed to bring mid-tier, multi-channel companies a single system to integrate all of their channels.

Key Factors That Enabled This to Rank as a Top Inventory Control Software Solution

Primary features of Cin7 that make it a top pick among inventory management systems are below.

Centralized Reporting Features

Reporting is an important consideration for most people when they’re selecting inventory tracking software, and Cin7 has excellent reporting features. Reports are consolidated, and data are centralized, for clear viewing and easier decision-making.

With Cin7, customers can add and remove reports from a customizable dashboard, so they can decide what data is most relevant to them. The reporting is cloud-based, and up-to-date reports can be viewed on any device.

Reporting also includes the ability to set and track relevant KPIs in real time, and there is a reports library that lets users drag information in and out to discover valuable insights.

POS Integration

Uniquely, Cin7 offers point-of-sale integration, so that users can assess their inventory from their POS software directly. The benefit of having inventory control software with this capability is that it’s easy to track stock, generate the correct cost of the goods that are sold, and sales can be made directly from the warehouse.

Cin7 also aims to cut down on 50% of the processes that come with selling and fulfilling orders from a warehouse, without needing to check multiple systems or make branch transfer requests.

Cin7 POS can be used online and offline, making it flexible even if the Internet is down, and it’s designed for practical use, without a huge learning curve.

Inventory Management Features

Along with being an integrated POS and eCommerce solution, Cin7 is an inventory tracking software solution that also offers the fundamentals of an inventory system.

These features include:

Stock value is based on the exact landed cost, which helps provide accurate prices for the goods sold and accuracy in the reporting of gross profits
The Open to Sell feature is exclusive to Cin7, and it lets users of this inventory management system know where their stock is, what’s committed, and when it should arrive.
For businesses with multiple branches, this inventory tracking system offers real-time visibility over many locations, instantly.
Users of this inventory management system have the ability to make purchase orders that are based on sales orders, and then group them based on the preferred supplier.

Scalability

When choosing any business-related, cloud-based software, including inventory management software, scalability can be a big priority. Cin7’s scalability makes it a good small business inventory software solution, but it can also be ideal for much larger organizations. For example, there are starter and basic business plans, with a limited number of users but plenty of features.

This inventory software then goes up to include the Professional version, which is their most popular, and the Premium version.

For the largest organizations, there is the Enterprise plan.

This inventory tracking system is great because businesses can start small and as they grow or their needs change, they can also easily expand their subscription plan, which is a big benefit of going with a cloud-based inventory system.

InFlow Review

A popular inventory software option, InFlow strives to offer robust features and functionalities that are simple to use. InFlow is part of the Archon Systems company, which works on a mission of helping businesses “thrive through technology.” InFlow is designed with a straightforward purpose: to help people more easily manage their inventory.

InFlow was first released in 2007, and since then, it has grown to become the most downloaded small business inventory software, and it’s also popular among mid-sized businesses. It has nearly 900,000 users and website visitors and serves the inventory software needs of customers in 121 countries.

Key Factors That Led Us to Rank This as Leading Inventory Tracking Software

InFlow was included as part of this ranking and review of inventory management systems for the following reasons.

User-Friendly

As mentioned at the start of this review and ranking, often one of the biggest problems people deal with when it comes to an inventory management system and inventory tracking software is the fact that it isn’t user-friendly. It can cost a lot of time and money to train employees on how to use the inventory system, and even then there may be significant bumps along the way.

InFlow was designed with one big priority in mind, and that was to create an inventory software solution that was people-centric, and user-friendly. There isn’t a shortage of compelling features, but it’s an inventory management system that’s designed for people, which improves productivity and overall engagement for the employees using it on a daily basis.

Free Edition

InFlow does offer a download option that’s excellent for anyone seeking free inventory software. The free InFlow edition can quickly be downloaded directly from their website, and it includes many of the same features available with paid versions.

Then, if a user of this version of free inventory software decides they’d like to expand the product and its capabilities or the number of users they can include, it’s also easy to do that.

Having a free inventory software download option can be important for businesses that want to give the software a trial run before investing more heavily in it.

Customizable

For most businesses, there is often the goal of finding inventory management software that’s very customizable, because every organization has unique needs, and they need an inventory control software solution that can adapt to their requirements.

InFlow meets this requirement incredibly well.

Users can create fully customizable fields and rename labels or messages within the software. This small business inventory software also offers the option to add your own custom fields.

This inventory management system can be integrated with Excel, as well as websites, and there are options to set things like currencies and languages.

Support

With any inventory management software, or business software in general, having a high level of support is important, and this is offered by InFlow. Some of the different methods users can take to receive help and support include the following:

There is an online community of other InFlow users, so they can come together and talk to one another and ask questions if necessary.
There is a knowledge base of articles that can provide the answers to common questions users may have.
InFlow operates a live chat during business hours.
InFlow Academy includes step-by-step lessons on how to use this inventory management system.
If necessary, users can email a member of the InFlow team.
There is also a pool of resources including documents, templates, language files, and more that people can browse for information.

Ordoro Review

Ordoro is an inventory control software platform that strives to fill the deficiency left by most e-commerce platforms. Ordoro was designed to offer a user-friendly software platform for merchants who value efficiency in how they manage what happens after an order is placed. Some of the focus areas of Ordoro include shipping, drop shipping, and inventory management.

Investors in Ordoro include Emerge, Capital Factory, 500 Startups, and more. The company was founded in 2010 and has processed nearly seven million orders and tracked nearly 26 million products since then.

Key Factors That Enabled This to Rank as a Leading Inventory Management System

When reviewing inventory management software and inventory tracking software, below are some primary reasons Ordoro was included in this ranking.

Integrations

As an e-Commerce driven approach to inventory tracking software, Ordoro brings together all of a user’s shopping carts, shipping accounts, and marketplaces into one centralized location. This means that users don’t have to go through the time-consuming hassle of logging into multiple sites, and there isn’t any copying and pasting required, which can reduce accuracy.

Integrations that work with Ordoro include Shopify, Bigcommerce, eBay, Amazon, 3dcart, Shopsite, FedEx, UPS, and DYMO Endicia, which is used for USPS shipping.

Ordoro is also always working to add new integrations and expand their offerings in this area, which is an essential part of why they’re a well-ranked inventory system.

Easy Resupply

With this inventory management app, users can create their suppliers and also restock their inventory directly in Ordoro. Using the Batch Supplier Setup feature, multiple products can be assigned to a vendor and new suppliers can be added directly from the Products page.

After the products and suppliers are entered and setup, restocking is as simple as clicking the “Order More” button. This then creates a purchase order that can be sent out from within the platform.

Ordoro also offers the option to see how restocking is going with goods receipts that are associated with every purchase order.

Free Trial

Ordoro isn’t a free inventory management software product, but they do offer a free 15-day trial. This provides an excellent opportunity to see how this product works, with no risk to you.

Some of the features included with the free inventory management software trial available from Ordoro include the ability to print shipping labels in batch, get the best USPS rates, and manage inventory across multiple sales channels.

During the free trial period, users can also automatically re-route drop shipments and restock requests to suppliers, and customers are notified in real-time when their order ships.

Bundle

One of the distinctive features and capabilities of Ordoro that might not necessary be seen with other inventory control software and inventory management app platforms is the ability to create kits easily.

Ordoro boasts a built-in kitting feature that makes it completely easy for users to create bundled product packages.

Then, after a kit is created, new items can be added through that individual kit’s product page. Ordoro also looks at product lists to suggest different products.

Stitch Labs Review

A reputable inventory software platform, Stitch Labs features connected commerce for retailers. Stitch Labs defines their mission as a desire to add democracy to commerce and to empower retailers through the delivery of resources that improve their businesses and their lives.

This online inventory system is designed to streamline multichannel retail business. The result for retailers is that they can save time, improve their decision-making, and expand. It has been recognized by IMA, Tech Cocktail, and more.

Key Factors That Allowed This to Rank as a Best Inventory Management System

Some of the important features of Stitch that allowed it to rank on this inventory tracking system list are below.

Company Values

Stitch Labs doesn’t just offer an excellent inventory control software and inventory management app solution. They are a company driven by a set of values that set them apart from many other software providers.

These core values include the following:

Act with integrity
Build trust every day
Love your neighbor and act with compassion and respect
Be curious, take risks and keep learning
Have grit by working hard and holding yourself accountable
Accelerate as one, meaning the team and the whole of the company all come together and share successes in failures
“Own your impact” means the Stitch team takes pride in their work and believes in their vision

Reporting Features

During the process of selecting inventory software, it’s important that the business is able to derive insights and actionable data from the platform. Stitch excels in the area of reporting, with detailed product reports showing things like which products and channels are top performers.

Other reporting features available to users of this small business inventory software include:

Exportable data via CSV, Google Drive, and/or PDFs
Product drill-down reports
Sales forecast reports
Sales channel reporting
COGs and profit tracking
COGs and profit
Historic stock log
Order history report
Customer report
Amazon fees reports
30+ reports

Custom Demo

Stitch is not a free inventory management software product, but there is the option for potential new users to sign up for a free trial. This free trial includes a custom demo, and users will get to work with a Stitch Expert who will walk them through the process, show them the functionality of their customized version, and ultimately help them decide if it’s the right product for them.

Once a user has taken advantage of the demo and free trial, they can then choose which version of the product is right for them.

For example, there is a low-cost start version of this inventory system with three integrated sales channels. The most popular option is the business version, with unlimited sales channels, and there’s also an enterprise version of the inventory management app.

Users can also work with a Stitch member to create a completely customized product to suit their own needs.

Inventory Management Features

Since Stitch is an integrated, robust inventory system, some features and functions extend well beyond the basics of inventory management (though, of course, the basics are covered by this product as well).

For example, the centralized inventory tracking lets the user bring all of their inventory together with shopping carts, marketplaces, POS, payment process, and accounting solutions.

Transparent inventory stages allow businesses to keep track of their inventory availability at any time, so they’ll know what they have, what’s been ordered and what is waiting for delivery.

Other features of this inventory control software include low stock alerts, sales forecasting, multi-warehousing, product bundling and auto-build channel products.

TradeGecko Review

An inventory tracking system, TradeGecko is designed to help retailers and wholesalers maximize the speed and efficiency levels at which they work. It’s an integration of not only an inventory management system, but this small business inventory software also features business apps and online commerce functions.

TradeGecko is a cloud-based platform, and it’s primarily aimed at the needs of not only small businesses, but also medium-sized organizations. The goal of everything TradeGecko delivers is to make wholesale transactions as effortless as shopping Amazon.

Key Factors That Enabled Us to Rank This as a Top Inventory Tracking Software Solution

Critical reasons TradeGecko is on this list of the best inventory management apps and inventory control software products are highlighted in the following list.

Mobile App

Not only is TradeGecko a convenient, cloud-based inventory management software platform, but it also features an inventory management app called TradeGecko Mobile. With TradeGecko Mobile, users can manage their products as well as their customers and orders from anywhere. It’s free for all TradeGecko users.

The app offers the following features:

Mobile catalog features the entire product catalog, and product photos can be updated anytime with the inventory management app
Customers can create, edit, and manage sales orders from anywhere
All CRM data is instantly within reach, so users can capture leads and reach contacts through the inventory management app
Orders can be created and edited even when offline, and then they’re synced when the inventory management app is back online

B2B eCommerce Site

One unique thing users of this inventory software can take advantage of is a B2B e-Commerce platform. With this feature, users can invite customers and start selling on their private B2B e-commerce and ordering platform that’s fully customized.

This platform can be designed with custom pricing lists for different retailers, and users can expand their selling internationally.

The site can be branded, and it’s a generally simple-to-use feature that’s unique to this particular inventory tracking software platform.

Add-Ons

One of the many strengths of relying on TradeGecko as an inventory control software solution are the available add-ons. These integrations and apps allow users to have a complete system that will sync everything from inventory and sales channels to account and shipping information.

Some of the most popular integrations available with TradeGecko include Shopify, WooCommerce, and Xero.

Apps and add-ons that can also be used with this inventory management app and inventory tracking system include Magento, Salesforce, Amazon, Intuit QuickBooks, Ship Station, ShipIt, and the recently added Inventory Planner.

Support and Training

The TradeGecko Knowledge Base is a comprehensive resource for any customer using this inventory system. Users can go here to find everything they need to know on topics such as how to get started with TradeGecko, how to manage their stock, how to handle relationships, and how to create and utilize intelligence reports.

In addition to guides on popular and commonly researched topics, the Knowledge Base also features documents and videos, and a community of other TradeGecko users, which allows them to come together and get information from one another.

This Knowledge Base is one of the most in-depth available with any inventory management software product.

Unleashed Review

Unleashed is an inventory software platform used by thousands of manufacturers, at locations in 80 different countries. Unleashed has been leading the way in terms of inventory software since 2009, with the ultimate goal of helping businesses grow. Unleashed is a privately-owned company, with a diverse and multi-talented group of employees.

The primary business models that use this inventory control software include manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, and retail. The core of the business is about disruptive innovations that challenge what already exists and help customers deliver the highest possible levels of customer service.

Key Factors That Enabled Us to Rank This as One of 2016’s Leading Inventory Tracking Software Platforms

When reviewing the available inventory control software products, whether that be free inventory management software or enterprise-level systems, the following are some main reasons Unleashed was included on this list.

Mobile App

Part of working with Unleashed is access to an inventory management app that delivers powerful inventory management tools wherever you are. The Unleashed Sales App is designed to empower sales teams to have the information they need when it’s relevant. Information that can be accessed through the app includes data on customers, sales, and products.

The interface allows for easy swipe and tap motions that create sales orders in a matter of seconds. These orders can not only be created but also edited and saved on an iPhone and then automatically synced to the desktop account of Unleashed.

All of the inventory information is readily available so customers can see product images, check stock levels, and add items to a sales order with a left swipe.

All inventory updates are also in real-time.

Manufacturing Tools

Not every inventory software named on this ranking includes features just for manufacturers, but Unleashed does. Manufacturers can manage their entire process with options including bills of materials, assemblies, and production planning.

Unleashed serves as a central place to manage everything, and assembly can be adjusted quickly and easily as well.

Functionalities include production planning, third-party assembly costs, kit-set products, disassembly, and more.

Free Trial

Unleashed is not a free inventory management software platform, but they do offer a free inventory software trial, like many of the names on this ranking. The availability of a free inventory software trial is important, and it weighed heavily in the consideration of the names on this list.

The free inventory management software trial lasts for 14 days, and what’s unique about this is that users can experience each and every feature of the software, with no exceptions during that two-week period.

Also, to take advantage of the free inventory software trial, users only have to enter their first name, last name, and email address to begin the process. There is no credit card required to take advantage of this offer.

Pricing Flexibility

Something that really stood out about Unleashed as compared to other inventory management systems is their low prices and flexibility in how they charge users. First of all, while Unleashed may not be free inventory management software, this product does feature a “Small” plan, which is currently $54 per month when paid annually.

Even the “large” plan, which includes five users and unlimited features and support, is only $365 when paid per month on an annual basis.

Also, there aren’t limitations placed on customers of this small business inventory software. For example, there are no minimum contract terms, locked-in periods, or penalties for the number of products, customers, or transactions a user has. All of these things are unlimited, which lets the user grow their business in the way they want.

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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Inventory Management Software Platforms and Inventory Management Apps

An inventory management system is an invaluable component of business for many modern organizations, whether they’re searching for the best small business inventory software, the best free inventory software, or the ideal enterprise option packed with powerful features.

The above list represents some of the best available inventory tracking software solutions. This inventory control software is advanced and innovative, offering unique integrations, tools with real-world applications, and excellent service and support. Many of these inventory management systems also feature free inventory software trials or, in some cases, even free versions.

Each of the names on this review and ranking of inventory tracking software has the potential to add value to a business and keep them productive and efficient.

AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:

Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.

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Top 6 Best Inventory Management Software & Tracking Systems | 2017 Ranking