Is your small business still using a spreadsheet to track inventory and orders? If so, you’re likely feeling the pain of system inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
In today’s market, it’s essential to have a robust warehouse management system (WMS) in place to help you compete and grow.
But with so many systems on the market, how do you know which one is right for your business? To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the 12 top warehouse management systems for small businesses based on our analysis of industry trends and customer feedback.
Today we’ll discuss:
- What a warehouse management system is
- Some of the problems that small businesses face with warehouse operations, and
- Highlight some of the top warehouse management systems that specifically benefit small businesses.
Let’s dive in.
What is a Warehouse Management System?
A warehouse management system is a complex, multi-faceted software program that helps businesses manage and streamline warehouse operations.
Typically, warehouse management systems are designed to scale up to suit the needs of larger, more established companies. However, many small businesses can also benefit from using them as well.
In particular, these systems can help to optimize warehouse processes such as receiving, picking, and shipping.
Additionally, warehouse management systems offer real-time tracking capabilities to help small businesses stay on top of their inventory levels and improve efficiency.
Overall, warehouse management systems are essential for any business looking to optimize its warehouse operations and boost its bottom line.
What Problems Are Solved with a WMS?
A warehouse management system can be an invaluable investment for small businesses in particular.
Automating warehouse processes and streamlining warehouse operations allows small business owners to focus their time and energy on growing the business instead of getting bogged down by paperwork and logistical tasks.
If you’re looking for a way to improve efficiency and increase productivity in your warehouse, a warehouse management system is definitely worth considering.
Some of the problems your small business can solve with a WMS include:
- Poor inventory visibility
- Manual reporting and tracking, and
- Inefficiencies in picking and packing
What are the Benefits of a WMS?
There are numerous benefits of using a warehouse management system for small businesses.
Not only does a WMS allow you to streamline your warehouse operations with features such as automated inventory tracking and real-time order updates, but it can also help you improve overall business practices. By keeping track of warehouse functions like shipping and receiving in one centralized system, a WMS enables small businesses to provide more responsive customer service and reduce costs associated with labor and transportation.
Additionally, a warehouse management system makes it easier to identify issues and opportunities for improvement, giving your company an edge in today’s fast-paced business environment.
So whether you’re looking to optimize warehouse operations or simply want to stay ahead in the game, a WMS can make a big difference for a small business.
Benefits of a WMS include:
Saving Money
Tools including demand reporting, forecasting, and inventory management help you improve operations and increase efficiency, reducing labor and mis-ship costs.
Reducing Errors
A WMS helps to reduce human error by using barcoding to streamline warehouse operations, including picking, packing, and receiving.
Helping Customers
A warehouse management system reduces the time it takes to pick, pack, and ship products to your customers, meaning they receive their orders faster – and are more likely to receive the correct order.
Increasing Visibility
A WMS gives you real-time inventory insights, which helps you estimate the supplies you will need and eliminate backorders. In addition, increased visibility reduces lost inventory.
WMS Features to Look For
When considering a warehouse management system for your small business, there are some essential features you’ll want to consider:
Inventory Management
Small businesses have many challenges when managing their inventory. Because retailers like Amazon and Walmart have set customer expectations so high that small businesses have to work twice as hard just to keep up. Carefully managing your inventory and helping you to minimize errors are important features to look for in warehouse management software for your small business.
Inbound and Outbound Operations
Your business needs both inbound and outbound capabilities to avoid many common warehouse problems. This includes an efficient system for inventory check-in and put away. In addition, an effective outbound system helps to prevent returns and increase your customers’ satisfaction.
Integrations
Your WMS must integrate seamlessly with your current software. Most systems are designed to work with other small business platforms and applications.
Labor Management
A WMS can help you save money and utilize your labor efficiency by reducing redundancies in your warehouse.
Analytics and Reporting
Up-to-the-minute data allows your small business to make better decisions and more accurate predictions.
Simplified Pick and Pack Process
The ability to simplify your small business’s pick and pack process helps reduce errors and labor costs.
Top Warehouse Management Systems for Your Small Business
Now that we’ve explored how warehouse management software can help your small business, here are some recommendations that may fit your company’s needs.
Fishbowl
If your small business uses QuickBooks, you may want to consider Fishbowl for your inventory management. Fishbowl touts itself as “the #1 inventory management software for Quickbooks.”
Software is critical for any business that needs to track inventory levels and keep goods moving smoothly through the warehouse. But for small businesses, the price tag for these systems can be prohibitive.
That’s where Fishbowl comes in. Fishbowl is a software specifically designed for small businesses. It offers all the features of a traditional WMS with a one-time fee. In addition, Fishbowl is easy to set up and use, so you can be up and running quickly without hours of training.
This software is especially popular for small and mid-sized businesses that already utilize QuickBooks for accounting and are interested in integrating warehouse management software.
Key features that Fishbowl provides include:
- Wireless barcoding
- Auto-reordering
- Both shipping and manufacturing integration
- Advanced inventory features
- Consignment
- GPS tracking
- Online support during business hours
- In-person and live online training to get you up and running
In addition to offering a 14-day free trial, Fishbowl charges a one-time, flat fee which is generally more appealing than a recurring subscription model.
QuickBooks Commerce
Quickbooks Commerce (formerly TradeGecko) is a warehouse management software that integrates effectively with Quickbooks, an appealing feature for many small wholesale businesses with fewer than 30,000 orders each month.
Quickbooks Commerce promises you can “manage your multi-channel and wholesale business in one place” with the service, and it’s got some valuable features to back up that claim.
As with most WMS offerings, this system prides itself on its ability to streamline warehouse operations, making the warehouse process more efficient and productive. With comprehensive inventory management tools and real-time data dashboards, your small business can monitor product levels and quickly identify potential stock issues.
That said, Quickbooks Commerce is not for every business. Your business must be based in the United States to utilize Quickbooks Commerce. In addition, if your business includes drop shipping or you have more than 20,000 SKUs, you’ll need to look elsewhere for your warehouse management software. This is also the case if you make custom products, use serial numbers to track your inventory, or if you need to track raw manufacturing materials.
That said, QuickBooks Commerce warehouse management software is worth checking out if your small business or small wholesale operation is looking to keep your warehouse running smoothly and efficiently.
QuickBooks Commerce offers the following features:
- Accessible B2B dashboard
- Inventory automation
- Supply chain management
- Optimized inventory warehouse placement
- Operational data visibility
- Manufacturing support module
- Push product data to multiple channels at once
- Simplified price management
- Omni-channel capabilities
- Reorder alerts
Quickbooks Commerce has several limited support options, and the service frequently offers promotional pricing that will run you about $100 per month if you pair it with QuickBooks Online. Overall, it’s a good value for smaller, US-based small businesses.
Cin7
Cin7 calls itself “the inventory management platform for modern product sellers.”
The company offers an automated inventory management platform that provides real-time inventory synchronization and order automation to boost efficiency.
Cin7 also provides businesses with the ability to track trends and forecast future demand. This helps companies stock the right products at the right time, ensuring that they can meet customer needs and avoid lost sales.
In short, Cin7 is an effective tool for any business that wants to optimize its inventory management.
Additional features include:
- Omni-channel inventory
- Powerful Integrations
- Order management
- EDI testing
- Barcoding RFID
- Fully customizable
Zoho Inventory
Zoho Inventory provides inventory management software that enables businesses to control inventory, manage and fulfill orders, oversee warehouses, and streamline multiple sales channels.
Zoho Inventory offers a host of benefits for small businesses. Perhaps most importantly, Zoho Inventory can help save time and money by automating many of the tasks associated with warehouse management, from tracking inventory levels to processing orders.
Additionally, Zoho Inventory is highly customizable, meaning that it can be adapted to meet the specific needs of many businesses. And because it is cloud-based, it can be accessed from anywhere, at any time.
Zoho Inventory’s features include:
- FIFO (First In, First Out) method to sell the older stock first
- End-to-end tracking
- Multiple shipping integrations
- Seamless integration with Zoho CRM and Zoho Books
- Warehouse management
- Data reporting
Zoho Inventory offers a free trial period to test drive the software before you commit.
SkuVault
SkuVault offers full-featured inventory and warehouse management software ideal for small businesses.
SkuVault has many features that can be extremely helpful for small businesses, including tracking inventory levels, setting reorder points, and generating reports. In addition, SkuVault integrates with many popular eCommerce platforms, making it easy to manage inventory across multiple sales channels.
As a result, SkuVault can help to streamline warehouse operations and improve efficiency.
SkuVault’s WMS helps eCommerce businesses create simplified workflows and automate many manual tasks that bog down employees.
This results in both faster order fulfillment and improved order accuracy.
SkuVault’s robust features include:
- Quantity syncing across all your marketplaces
- Detailed, in-depth reporting
- Barcode scanning functionality
- Real-time reporting of inventory levels across locations
- More efficient, simplified picking and packing
SkuVault provides full customer support via telephone, email, and client dashboards. Depending on your preference, they offer both on-site and remote training to help your team get up to speed quickly.
SkuVault reports that their average customer has a 100% return on their investment within the first 90 days after implementing their warehouse management software.
Veeqo
Veeqo’s cloud-based WMS is a good fit for omni-channel eCommerce businesses. This software solution effectively manages shipping, order fulfillment, warehouse operations, and inventory across multiple channels.
With its powerful warehouse management system, users gain real-time control over their inventory and order fulfillment process, ensuring that stock levels are always accurate. What’s more, Veeqo offers a range of other valuable features that can help boost efficiency and productivity for eCommerce businesses.
Veeqo’s features include:
- Mobile app for both IOS and Android
- Warehouse automation
- Multi-warehouse routing
- Inventory forecasting
- Inventory sync across multiple locations and marketplaces
Veeqo offers a 14-day free trial, so you can see if the software solution is a good fit for your small business.
Sortly
Sortly is a reasonably simple inventory management software allowing small businesses to stay on top of their inventory and assets. The company promises to “streamline and modernize every aspect of managing inventory.”
Sortly makes it easy to keep track of all your warehouse’s inventory in one place. It allows you to create accurate inventory counts, set up reorder alerts, and track where your inventory is located.
Sortly features include:
- Ability to group items by category, location, and more
- Custom barcode and Q are label generation
- Simple data import
- Multi-user access
- Auto-sync data via the cloud
- Automatic low stock alerts
- Customized customer dashboard
Sortly offers a free 14-day trial, and monthly plans start at $49.
Brightpearl
Brightpearl claims to be “ideal for multichannel retailers of finished goods selling in-store, online, or via online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.”
This functional WMS is designed specifically for small businesses, making it an intuitive and user-friendly solution that can streamline your operations and keep track of all your products with ease.
Whether you’re managing a warehouse full of stock or simply need a better way to track the items in your eCommerce store, Brightpearl has much of what you need to stay on top of your inventory in one convenient place.
With advanced tracking features and real-time data collection, this WMS will help you keep an eye on your stock levels and increase your overall efficiency.
Their full-featured WMS software includes inventory and order management solutions that integrate with CRM software, point-of-sale, warehouse management, fulfillment, shipping, and accounting software.
Additional features Brightpearl offers include:
- Built for higher transaction volumes
- Decreased fulfillment errors
- Barcoding/ RFID functionality
- Omni-channel management
- Reporting/Analytics
- Improved order processing and tracking
Brightpearl provides 24/7 customer support as well as online support.
InFlow
InFlow is a budget-friendly inventory and order management software to streamline your inventory operations, emphasizing B2b distributors and wholesalers.
This WMS was designed for retail businesses with omni-channel sales. One of InFlow’s most unique aspects is its built-in B2B portal.
InFlow offers real-time data tracking, so businesses can always see how much inventory they have on hand. This is especially beneficial for companies that sell products online, as it allows them to avoid oversold items and stockouts. Overall, InFlow is an affordable and effective solution for small businesses to improve their warehouse management.
InFlow’s features include:
- Barcode scanning
- Warehouse management
- Robust reporting
- Inventory control software
- Integration with over 3,000 apps
InFlow offers a 14-day free trial, and paid plans start at $71 per month.
Netsuite
If your small business isn’t so small anymore, Oracle’s NetSuite may be the warehouse management solution for you.
Netsuite inventory management system offers many benefits for small to large businesses. It helps control inventory levels and provides accurate real-time information about stock levels.
Additionally, it can be used to track orders and monitor warehouse operations. As a result, it can help to improve warehouse efficiency and reduce operational costs. In addition, Netsuite inventory management system offers features that help to improve customer service.
Netsuite is undoubtedly one of the pricier WMS options and is an effective modular solution that integrates easily with NetSuite ERP.
NetSuite’s many features include:
- Warehouse in shipping management
- Sales and inventory forecasting
- Robust order management tools
- Enterprise Resource Planning options
- Supply chain optimization and management
NetSuite Offers 24/7 live support and remote and in-person training to get your business fully up to speed with the software.
Odoo
Odoo (formerly OpenERP) Is a cloud-based inventory management software. This free WMS offers a smooth and straightforward user experience.
Odoo is a unique WMS that can help small businesses manage their inventory more effectively.
With its advanced tracking capabilities, users can quickly identify which products are selling well and which are not.
In addition, Odoo’s sophisticated reporting features make it easy to stay on top of trends in customer demand, allowing businesses to identify popular products and respond accordingly.
Overall, Odoo’s innovative inventory management system has many benefits for small businesses looking to streamline their operations and increase sales.
In addition, Odoo’s solution allows users to automate transactions and decrease order processing time.
Features offered by Odoo include:
- Multiple warehouse support
- Automated inventory adjustment
- Delivery scheduling
- Customer dashboard
- Barcoding supported
Odoo’s free, open-source option does not come with customer support. Their paid option, Odoo Inventory, is priced at just $36 per month and includes customer support.
Logiwa
Logiwa is a cloud-based warehouse management software specialized for omni-channel businesses. It connects shopping sites with third-party carriers and simplifies the supply chain process from picking and packing to returns.
Logiwa helps small business owners and warehouse managers to control and monitor warehouse inventory, track shipments, and manage warehouse labor.
Logiwa is a cloud-based WMS designed to be user-friendly and easy to implement, making it an ideal solution for small businesses.
In addition, Logiwa offers real-time visibility into warehouse operations, which helps to improve accuracy and efficiency.
Logiwa’s many features include:
- Allowing rule-based Solutions for 3PL clients
- Generating customer reports
- Adding and removing users
- Multiple-location Inventory management
- Customer dashboards for self-serve reporting
Final Thoughts
When running a successful small business, having the right tools is essential.
One area that can be particularly challenging for small and mid-sized companies is inventory management – it can be challenging to oversee stock levels, reordering processes, and order fulfillment in the midst of day-to-day operations.
That’s where warehouse management systems come in. Designed specifically to help you streamline warehouse operations and improve efficiency, these powerful tools put vital information you need at your fingertips and allow you to track all aspects of your inventory levels with ease.
Because many available solutions are surprisingly affordable, even small businesses can take advantage of this technology.
Whether you’re looking for ways to improve warehouse operations or simply want reliable insights into your company’s performance, warehouse management software can be an invaluable tool that helps you stay ahead of the game no matter what size business you run.
