As a business owner, you know that organization is key to successfully growing your business. This is especially true when dealing with inventory-based eCommerce companies, where the devil is truly in the details.
An inventory management platform can help you keep track of your stock, what needs to be ordered, and what items are running low. It can also help prevent costly mistakes and ensure that your business is always running smoothly.
There are many different inventory management apps available with a variety of features, so it can be hard to decide which one is right for your needs. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best software available today. Read on to learn more about each app and how it can benefit your business.
But first, let’s talk about why it’s important to have an inventory management app.
What is an inventory management app?
An inventory management app is a software application that helps businesses track their inventory levels, orders, and sales. It can be used to manage both physical and digital products, though sellers of physical goods often see more benefits.
Inventory management apps are beneficial for businesses of all sizes. They can help you save time and money by streamlining your inventory processes.
The best inventory management apps will offer features like:
- Tracking inventory levels in real-time
- Generating reports on sales and inventory
- Integrating with other business applications
- Automating tasks like ordering and reordering
Why is an inventory management app important?
There are many reasons why it’s important to have an inventory management app. First and foremost, it can help you save time.
Inventory management is a time-consuming task, but an app can automate many of the tedious tasks associated with it. This frees you up to work on other aspects of your business to continue scaling or growing your company.
An inventory management app can also help you save money. By tracking your inventory levels, you can avoid over-ordering or running out of stock. This can help you avoid costly mistakes that can negatively impact your bottom line.
In addition, an inventory management app can help you keep track of your sales. This information can be used to make informed decisions about future inventory levels and product offerings. Sometimes answering complex business questions is as simple as easily having access to your own historical data.
Finally, an inventory management app can help you improve your customer service. By having up-to-date information on your inventory levels, you can avoid frustrating customers with delays or backorders. You can also improve your customer return process to be more efficient. Curbing these mistakes helps your business avoid negative reviews that affect future sales opportunities.
Why do I need an app to manage my inventory?
If you’ve only got one or two products and a handful of customers, sure, you can probably get away with managing your inventory manually through spreadsheets. But if your business is growing, you’re going to want to invest in an inventory management app.
Let’s be honest, you got into business to run and grow a business, not to spend your week toiling away in a spreadsheet.
Here are a few more reasons why:
- You’ve got too much on your plate: If you’re trying to wear all the hats in your business, you’re going to end up dropping some balls. An inventory management app can take some of the load off of your plate by automating tasks like ordering and reordering.
- You need to be more organized: A good inventory management app can help you keep track of your stock levels, what needs to be ordered, and what’s selling well (so you can adjust your product mix accordingly). This level of organization is key to running a successful business.
- You want to save time and money: As we mentioned before, an inventory management app can help you avoid costly mistakes like over-ordering or running out of stock. It can also automate time-consuming tasks like ordering and reordering, so you can focus on other aspects of your business.
- You need to improve your customer service: If you’re constantly frustrating your customers with delays or backorders, it’s time to invest in an inventory management app. By keeping track of your inventory levels, you can avoid these issues and provide a better experience for your customers.
- An app gives you rock-solid records: Suppose a customer contacts you saying that they are supposed to have more inventory in your warehouse than your system is showing. With the right inventory app, you can go back to the beginning of receiving their goods and use the records of every warehouse transaction since then to sort things forward. Protect your business with a digital paper trail.
Best Inventory Management Apps
Now that you understand the “why” behind inventory management software, here are 12 of the best inventory management apps.
1. SkuVault
SkuVault has helped 1,000s of eCommerce businesses grow since 2011 with comprehensive inventory management software.
SkuVault’s cloud-based inventory management system helps small to medium-sized businesses track their inventory levels, orders, and sales. By increasing warehouse efficiency and reducing mistakes, SkuVaults helps businesses save time and money.
Some of the benefits of using SkuVault include:
- Real-time inventory tracking: SkuVault gives you up-to-the-minute information on your inventory levels, so you can mitigate stock-outs or overstocking.
- Generating reports on sales and inventory: SkuVault can generate reports on sales and inventory so that you can make informed decisions about future product offerings.
- Options for inventory kitting and bundling: Fulfillment centers that bundle and kit assemblies will find this feature useful.
- Integrating with other business applications: SkuVault integrates with other business applications so that you can streamline your inventory processes.
- Automating tasks like ordering and reordering: SkuVault automates tasks like ordering and reordering so that you can focus on other aspects of your business.
- Improving customer service: By keeping track of your inventory levels, you can avoid frustrating your customers with delays or backorders.
SkuVault features scale with your business, allowing you to streamline inventory management even as you grow with additional products or warehouses.
SkuVault Pricing
SkuVault’s pricing starts at $329 per month for up to 2 users and 2,000 monthly orders and goes up to $1,149 per month for up to 6 users and 12,500 orders.
2. ABC Inventory (Almyta Systems)
ABC Inventory is an open-source MRP platform that works best for repair shops and manufacturing operations that need leasing, repairs, and asset management functions.
It does have a couple of downsides, such as the fact that it has an older interface that can only be installed locally on PCs. This means you lose the advantages and flexibility of applications built on the cloud. If your needs are simple (or you’re not afraid of tinkering with some code), ABC is a suitable — albeit dated — way to track all the steps in the inventory lifecycle.
Some of the benefits of using ABC Inventory Software include:
- Modules for inventory control: Multiple functionalities are included in the platform, like multiple pick and packing list formats and multiple warehouse locations.
- Options for kitting and bundling: Fulfillment centers that bundle and kit assemblies will find this feature useful.
- Advanced features for manufacturing: There are scores of special features for manufacturing inventory, such as approval, work orders, repair and maintenance orders, and special serials for engineering and manufacturing.
- Automatic purchasing: This feature eliminates the time-intensive process and guessing game of purchasing, thereby increasing your profitability.
- Integrated barcode and scanning: These integrated functions make it easier and faster to track inventory levels.
Since ABC Inventory is open-source software, it requires some know-how to code to your specifications. Still, many budget-conscious organizations with simple needs will like the app’s price and the flexibility it offers in creating inventory systems.
ABC Inventory Pricing
ABC Inventory Software‘s paid plans start at $435/month. That amount is a one-time fee and includes one year of support.
3. Asset Tracker & Inventory Manager (Ventipix)
This cross-platform app from Ventipex enables warehouse or eCommerce business owners to record details about inventory and assets by scanning barcodes, QR Codes, or by tapping NFC tags.
The app is designed to track assets, inventory levels, locations, and people. You can also use it to manage work orders and service requests.
Some of the benefits of using Ventipix include:
- Improving customer service: By keeping track of your assets and inventory levels, you can avoid frustrating your customers with delays or backorders.
- No worries if you go offline: The app’s ability to work offline and sync up details about assets and inventory details later is a big plus, as it means you can continue to work.
- Importing purchase orders: Ventipix imports POs from QuickBooks Online and tracks the goods received.
- Staying in the know: The app tracks and updates things like Work in Progress (WIP) and delivery status.
- Easy record-keeping and check-out: The app saves all the details in a secure, centralized repository that is accessible from anywhere, allowing you to easily record and run critical inventory management services like asset check-in and check-out.
Ventipix is a good choice for organizations that need to track assets and inventory levels in real-time. Small businesses will like this app’s simple interface and how it lets you manage stock at a low price you only pay once.
Ventipix Pricing
There are two options for pricing: The Unix-based Server Version is $299, while the Windows OS Version for Vista 7, 8, and 10 is $199. Both prices are one-time charges.
4. Delivrd
Delivrd is a cloud-based inventory management software that helps growing businesses automate and streamline their inventory operations.
Its platform is robust enough to manage order fulfillment for anyone from eBay sellers to large industrial operations. The app includes features such as order management, 3rd-party integration, and full P&L analysis overviews.
Some of the benefits of using Delivrd include:
- Making the shipping process faster and easier: Extensive use of barcode labels and Delivrd’s address validation feature help you achieve dramatic accuracy and efficiency gains.
- Saving time and money: With Delivrd, you can automate many of the time-consuming tasks associated with inventory management, such as order tracking and stock replenishment.
- Integrating with popular eCommerce platforms: Delivrd integrates with popular eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento to easily fulfill customer orders.
- Selling directly to the customer: Delivrd’s built-in eCommerce features enable you to sell directly to customers from your inventory management platform.
- Reducing costly customer returns: Delivrd’s return management features help you keep track of returned items and ensure that they are properly processed.
Delivrd is a good choice for businesses that need a comprehensive, cloud-based inventory management solution to manage inventory for multiple sales channels.
Additionally, its eCommerce features make it a good choice for businesses that sell products directly to customers.
Delivrd Pricing
Delivrd offers a basic free inventory software plan, a paid plan, and a custom plan—their free plan is very limited, though, and only allows five products, one user, and a small collection of basic tools. If you want to upgrade to their paid plan, the most popular offering is priced at $59.99/month/user.
5. Fishbowl
Fishbowl is a top player in the inventory management software market, and for a good reason — it’s one of the most comprehensive solutions available with features such as manufacturing, barcoding, order tracking, and more.
However, these features come at a steep price — one that may be out of reach for most new or smaller eCommerce business owners.
Some of the benefits of using Fishbowl include:
- Knowing current inventory levels: Updates about real-time asset movement and inventory levels keep you informed when you need to be.
- Automatic reorder points: The software can automatically generate reorder points based on sales data, so you never have to worry about running out of stock.
- Eliminating data entry errors: Scanning barcodes eliminate data entry errors, so you can reorder and cycle count stock.
- Keeping track of production processes: Manufacturing modules help businesses keep track of production processes and manage finished goods inventory.
- Managing finances: Integrating with accounting software programs like Quickbooks makes it easy to manage your finances and inventory in one place.
Fishbowl is a good choice for businesses that need to track inventory for multiple sales channels, manufacturing, and/or accounting purposes.
Additionally, it’s barcoding and reorder point features make it a good choice for businesses that want to automate their inventory management processes.
Fishbowl Pricing
Fishbowl pricing, which starts at $4,395, can be cost-prohibitive for many small to medium businesses.
6. Salesbinder
Salesbinder is a simple-to-use inventory management platform used in over 100 countries. It has an intuitive interface that allows plenty of customization, so you can tailor it to your preferences. Salesbinder also supports an array of currencies, so it can be used no matter where you are.
Some of the benefits of using Salesbinder include:
- Importing to specific locations: You can import your inventory data into Salesbinder from a CSV file, so you can keep track of specific locations that are organized in different zones.
- Generating sales reports: Salesbinder’s reporting features help you track sales activity and generate reports to see what’s selling and what’s not.
- Using item variations: Salesbinder’s item variation feature lets you keep track of stock items by attributes like color, size, and location. Variation attributes are extremely useful when you have items with varying characteristics.
- Barcoded documents: You have the option to display an auto-generated barcode on all documents like purchase orders, invoices, and estimates. This is handy for quickly scanning and opening these orders.
- Knowing your actual unit cost: In addition to tracking inventory, the software tracks your actual unit cost so you can make more informed pricing decisions.
Salesbinder is a good choice for fashion or other clothing-based businesses, especially international ones that need to track inventory levels by units and attributes, monitor sales activity, and generate reports in multiple locations.
Additionally, its barcoding feature helps businesses keep track of inventory levels and ensure accuracy when receiving or shipping products.
Salesbinder Pricing
You can get started using Salesbinder in a few seconds, and they offer a 30-day free trial. Additionally, there are four tiers to their plans that start at a very affordable $9/month/user.
7. Sortly
Sortly is a full-featured inventory control app that is simple to use and easy to set up. The app helps small businesses in any industry stay on top of their inventory from a PC, tablet, iOS, or Android device.
Some of the benefits of using Sortly include:
- Barcode inventory tracking: The app can scan and track inventory with barcodes, so you never have to worry about losing track of items.
- Inventory alerts: The app can send alerts when inventory levels are low, so you can reorder stock before it runs out.
- Creating detailed, shareable reports: You can generate custom shareable PDF and CSV reports on your present status or past activities to give you insights into stock levels. Later, you can review them on your own or share them with team members.
- Tracking user and inventory levels: Sortly helps you remain secure by tracking what stock items were changed, who changed them, and when they were changed.
- Adding custom details: You can add custom fields to track any details you want about your inventory.
Sortly is a good choice for businesses that need an easy-to-use, full-featured inventory management solution.
Additionally, its barcode scanning and customizable fields make it a good choice for businesses that want to track their inventory in detail.
Sortly Pricing
Sortly offers a free plan for individuals and businesses with limited features. Additionally, they offer a paid plan for larger businesses that starts at $29/month/user and includes the tools small businesses need to manage assets and inventory.
8. Square
Square was initially launched in 2009 with the intention of helping small and medium-sized businesses accept credit cards.
By 2012, Starbucks had adopted the power of Square for payment processing. In 2015, the company updated its options by introducing a way to accept contactless payments, along with becoming able to read credit cards with a chip in them.
Some of the benefits of using Square include:
- Running things your way: There are certain things that every company must adhere to. For the most part, however, you can use flexible tools to decide what works for you and what doesn’t.
- Freedom of choice: Square doesn’t lock you into using its solutions. Instead, Square works seamlessly to provide you with access to hundreds of third-party options.
- Better management of everything from one place: No matter where you’re at, you’ll constantly remain updated with your company’s data. This makes it simple to manage your data and make changes whenever necessary.
- Managing your pickup and delivery items: You can even use your point-of-sale device to manage any pickup or delivery items you need. Alternatively, you may use an online page to place your orders.
- Powerful Point-of-Sale system: Your POS can be adjusted with quick modifiers. You can also include a favorites menu and intuitive order flows.
Square enables you to ship and track your goods. Therefore, you’ll always be aware of how much inventory is left. This option makes it super simple to stay on top of your inventory, including what items you need to replace.
It’s worth noting that Square is primarily a payment processor, so its inventory management features may fall short of some of the other dedicated IMS platforms on this list.
Square Pricing
Square offers three different price tiers: Free, $29 a month, and a custom price. There’s also a small processing fee per order.
9. Stock Control Inventory
Stock Control Inventory is an app that’s only available for iPhones and iPads. The Freemium version of this app allows you to process up to 15 items. Anything more and you’ll need to upgrade.
Some of the benefits of using Stock Control include:
- Built-in search tools: Find and retrieve each item’s location very quickly.
- Import/export your data: Use the spreadsheet (CSV file) to import or export your data at any time. iCloud and iTunes transfers are also supported.
- Make PDF catalogs: After you’ve made a PDF catalog, you can share it with your customers via email. You can also print a copy with AirPrint.
- Make different groups: Manage whatever you’d like. You may sort items into different inventory systems and manage them simultaneously.
Stock Control is a powerful little inventory control app and an easy introduction to the world of inventory management. But for businesses that want a more robust browser-based platform with reporting and analytics features, Stock Control Inventory won’t be a good fit.
Stock Control Pricing
After you’ve listed your first 15 items for free, you will have the option to upgrade to the paid version. For a one-time fee of $26.99, Stock Control is a limited but very budget-conscious option for small business owners.
10. Stockpile Reports
Stockpile management is a term generally exclusive to the construction industry, as most businesses do not need to maintain large inventories of raw materials.
Construction companies, on the other hand, often have to purchase and store large quantities of building materials, such as lumber, concrete, and stone, in order to complete a project.
Maintaining an accurate inventory of these materials is essential to ensuring that a construction project stays on schedule and within budget.
Stockpile Reports has been available since 2012. At that time, they were the world’s first iPhone stockpile measurement app. Since then, they’ve built a comprehensive platform that includes a fixed camera solution and a drone uploader to use with many off-the-shelf drones.
Some of the benefits of using Stockpile Reports include:
- Get rid of write-offs: Bring your error of margin to within 5% with Stockpile.
- Use vendor-managed inventory: Using vendor-managed inventory is a gamechanger. You’ll be able to disrupt your competitors while also improving insights, gaining additional supplier agreements, and increasing your profit and revenue.
- Use efficient and affordable scaling: You don’t have to worry about the cost of measuring your inventory anymore. Instead, you’ll be able to measure every pile at any time.
- You’re not limited to just one tool: Use whichever tools you’ve got to measure your inventory, including installed cameras, their iPhone app, and indoor and outdoor drones.
Stockpile Reports is a popular choice among construction materials companies, manufacturers, and distributors.
Stockpile Pricing:
Stockpile does not publish its pricing model publicly, and creates custom quotes on a business-by-business basis.
11. Veeqo
The Veeqo inventory management app is a powerful tool that can help business owners keep track of their inventory.
It offers a variety of inventory management features including the ability to track stock levels, create and manage orders, and view reports. The app also includes a built-in barcode scanner that makes it easy to scan and track products.
Founded in 2013, this Wales-based company has greatly expanded its reach, reportedly managing the delivery of over 28 million orders in 2021.
Some of the benefits of using Veeqo include:
- 4-in-1 system: You can use Veeqo to manage your inventory, pick your orders, ship orders, and provide reports.
- Integrations help you stay updated: Veeqo has a huge number of integrations that will work to your advantage. Whether you sold an item on Amazon or are shipping it via FedEx, you’ll be able to track everything from Veeqo.
- Amazon-like fulfillment tools: You’ll be able to ship your orders, print bulk labels, and track your inventory all from one place.
- Dynamic inventory forecasting tools: You’ll be able to use Veeqo to forecast what items you’ll need in the future.
Offering more than 21 integrations makes Veeqo easy to use, especially since it tracks your inventory no matter where you make a sale. It also offers automated workflows and puts vital inventory reports right at your fingertips.
Veeqo Pricing
There are four different price tiers available, and pricing ranges from $10 per month to $1,250 per month.
12. Zoho Inventory
Zoho Corporation has continued its history of innovation since 1996. They are still privately owned. Their Zoho Inventory management software gives each business owner the ability to oversee warehouses, control their inventory, streamline multiple sales channels, and manage and fulfill orders.
Some of the benefits of using Zoho Inventory include:
- Ability to increase sales: Having a multi-channel inventory system makes it easy to increase sales. Simply set up and integrate your accounts to make the most money possible.
- Manage warehouses remotely: You’ll have the ability to manage each warehouse from your fingertips. You can check your stock levels, generate reports, and manage inter-warehouse transfers.
- Track shipments end-to-end: Zoho gives you the option to track every batch or individual item thanks to its serial numbering system. Never have to worry again about not knowing where your packages ended up.
- Integrates with multiple shipping companies: Zoho provides updated information from each shipping company. This makes it easy to select the least expensive option.
- Order management: Whether your item was ordered online or offline, you can track it easily! Additionally, create purchase orders, drop shipments, and backorders from one easy place.
Zoho Inventory Pricing
There are five different price points for Zoho Inventory. You can track your inventory for anywhere from $0 to $239 per month. The free option allows you to ship 50 items per month. For $239, you can track up to 25,000 orders each month.
FAQs
How Do Inventory Management Apps Work?
An inventory management app typically uses algorithms to help you streamline your processes. This can include anything from figuring out what needs to be restocked to when you need to order more items.
Additionally, most apps will track your sales and inventory in real-time. This means that as soon as an item is sold, it’s removed from your inventory. You’ll never have to worry about overselling an item again!
How Can I Use an Inventory Management App?
There are several different ways you can use an inventory management app. Typically, you’ll use it to track your sales and inventory, make inventory movements, generate reports, and create purchase orders.
Is Inventory Management Software Expensive?
The short answers here are that they can be, but they don’t have to be. There are a few different pricing models for inventory management software. Typically, you’ll either pay a monthly subscription fee or a per-transaction fee.
The monthly subscription fees, on average, can range from $300 to over $1,000/month. The per-transaction fees are usually around $0.15 to $0.30/transaction. The key is to work with a reputable software provider that charges fair fees and matches your inventory management app to your volume, the type of operations you do, and, of course, your budget.
What’s the Difference Between an Inventory Management System and Inventory Management Software?
An inventory management system is a process and methodology that you use to manage your inventory. This can be as simple as a pen and paper or an Excel spreadsheet. However, inventory movements don’t update in real-time and this type of system is typically rife with human errors, all of which cost you time and money.
Inventory management software, on the other hand, is a digital solution that helps automate and streamline your inventory management processes.
This solution can include anything from tracking your sales and inventory in real-time to generating reports.
This type of software typically integrates with your existing systems (such as your eCommerce platform, accounting software, etc.) to make managing your inventory easier than ever before.
What’s the Best Way to Manage My Inventory?
The best way to manage your inventory will vary depending on the size of your business and your products. That said, there are a few key things you can do to ensure efficient inventory management:
- Keep track of your sales and inventory in real-time
- Use an inventory management system to automate your processes
- Stay organized and create a system that works for you
For more tips on getting started, check out our post on inventory management best practices.