Do you own a small business? If you do, you probably already know how important it is to manage your inventory. But do you know what the best inventory software for small business is? This article is designed to give you some clues on how to answer this question for your business moving forward.

Inventory is a priority in every business, but not every small business uses an inventory management system. With an inventory management system, businesses can avoid losing profits by having a better control of their stock. When this is implemented, the business owners can adjust their inventory with efficiency and ease. In this article I’m going to introduce you to some of the best inventory software for small business.

Best Inventory Control Software for Small Businesses

Products classified in the overall Inventory Control category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business Inventory Control to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2’s buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business Inventory Control category.

In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Inventory Control Software category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business Inventory Control Software category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business.

Top 10 Inventory Control Software for Small Businesses

• QuickBooks Online
• Webgility
• Fishbowl Inventory
• Zoho Inventory
• ShipMonk
• NETSTOCK
• Linnworks
• Veeqo
• inFlow Inventory
• Vin eRetail

Compare Small Business Inventory Control Software

G2 takes pride in showing unbiased reviews on user satisfaction in our ratings and reports. We do not allow paid placements in any of our ratings, rankings, or reports. Learn about our scoring methodologies.Sort By:AlphabeticalSatisfactionPopularityG2 ScoreResults: 26QuickBooks Online(2,669)4.0 out of 5Optimized for quick responseEntry Level Price:$20 per monthFavorite

Easy Online Accounting to Organize Your Finances in One Place. Run your entire business with the #1 small business cloud accounting solution!Read QuickBooks Online ReviewsCompareWebgility(199)4.4 out of 5Entry Level Price:Starting at $39.00Favorite

Webgility is the most flexible, powerful, and easy to use software to automate accounting for online businesses. Data is synchronized automatically and securely across all your sales channels. Your books are always up to date. Cash flow and profitability are at your fingertips. It’s easy to file sales taxes. And our team of experts is here to assist you every step of the way. Do Less Accounting Work — Reduce Errors and Inefficiencies — Take Control and Grow Faster >> Accounting is… Show MoreRead Webgility ReviewsCompareGet a quoteFishbowl Inventory(113)3.8 out of 5Entry Level Price:$4,395 Favorite

Fishbowl is the ideal manufacturing and warehouse management solution designed for small to medium size businesses. Key features include inventory management, material requirements planning (MRP), job shop floor control, work order management, manufacturer orders and bills of materials, barcoding and so much more. The solution can either be deployed on-premise or hosted in the cloud. Fishbowl’s extensive inventory management features include: • Barcode printing and scanning • Tracking items i… Show MoreRead Fishbowl Inventory ReviewsCompareGet a quoteZoho Inventory(52)4.4 out of 5Entry Level Price:$0 per organization / per month billed annuallyFavorite

Zoho Inventory is cloud-based inventory management software that helps you create and manage both your sales and purchase orders, and track your inventory. You can integrate it with online sales channels like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, as well as shopping carts like Shopify and many more.   Here’s what we have in store:   Stay updated on your stock levels at all times.   Get instant updates on your inventory levels and get notified wherever your stock goes below re-order level. Keep… Show MoreRead Zoho Inventory ReviewsCompareGet a quoteShipMonk(16)3.9 out of 5Favorite

ShipMonk is a multichannel order fulfillment services and inventory management software that enables companies to focus on achieving scalable growth.Read ShipMonk ReviewsCompareGet a quoteNETSTOCK(39)4.8 out of 5Optimized for quick responseFavorite

NETSTOCK is an affordable cloud-based inventory management solution that connects to your ERP, providing additional functionality to optimize your inventory. The intelligent data does the hard work for you – helping you classify items, providing reliable forecasts, and order recommendations. NETSTOCK gives you full visibility and control of your inventory. The easy-to-use dashboard highlights critical items needing attention. You can calculate your safety stock levels and supplier lead times,… Show MoreRead NETSTOCK ReviewsCompareGet a quoteLinnworks(17)4.5 out of 5Favorite

Linnworks connects, manages and automates commerce operations, powering businesses like you to sell wherever your customers are and capture every revenue opportunity. With Linnworks, you can manage your multichannel inventory, orders and fulfilment from a centralized platform and access insights across sales channels and operations. Linnworks gives you one platform with Total Commerce control.Read Linnworks ReviewsCompareGet a quoteVeeqo(16)4.7 out of 5Entry Level Price:$195.00 per monthFavorite

At Veeqo, we are on a mission to help ecommerce sellers deliver on their promises. Built on 30+ ecommerce and shipping integrations, Veeqo is an all-in-one platform that gives sellers unprecedented visibility and control over their orders, inventory, picking, shipping, purchasing and reporting. We offer all the tools ecommerce sellers need to ship high volumes without a huge team – and without compromising on customer experience. Veeqo was founded by Matt Warren, an experienced ecommerce owner… Show MoreRead Veeqo ReviewsCompareinFlow Inventory(30)3.9 out of 5Entry Level Price:$89.00Favorite

inFlow inventory software keeps costs down so you can increase your profits. Our cloud-based inventory management system helps you stay on top of the business, no matter what team you’re on, and no matter where you are. Inventory Management: • Track stock and costs across multiple locations • Set reorder points to prevent stockouts • Pick/pack/ship and manage orders from any device • Generate and scan barcodes to speed up work • Assemble kits or products from bill of materials Order manageme… Show MoreRead inFlow Inventory ReviewsCompareGet a quoteVin eRetail(34)4.4 out of 5Entry Level Price:.15 USD Per OrderFavorite

Vin eRetail is a powerful SaaS-based Order Fulfillment, Inventory Management & Warehouse Management suite enabling omnichannel retailing for brands, retailers, 3PLs, marketplaces, and distributors. The system is modular, highly flexible, and cost-effective. Our solution is trusted by leading global brands including Nykaa, Titan, Jockey, SKECHERS, and Bata. It provides a unified dashboard to help you track orders from multiple sources in real-time and fulfill both B2B and B2C orders, helpi… Show MoreRead Vin eRetail ReviewsCompareTry for freeKintone(115)4.6 out of 5Optimized for quick responseFavorite

Kintone is a no-code business application platform that allows non-technical users to create powerful apps, workflows, and databases for their teams and organizations. Using clicks instead of code, Kintone users can build apps that automate business processes, collaborate on projects/tasks, and quickly report on complex data. For business users that need to get started right away, Kintone also provides dozens of pre-built applications for a variety of use cases such as CRM, project management… Show MoreRead Kintone ReviewsCompareTry for freeKatana Manufacturing ERP(12)4.5 out of 5Entry Level Price:$99 per month billed annuallyFavorite

Katana is a manufacturing ERP that gives you a live look at your business, including live inventory and manufacturing management, batch tracking for end-to-end traceability, a Shop Floor App for total floor-level control, open API, and a growing channel partner network. Real-time master planning features automate resource allocation based on prioritized sales orders and integrations with e-commerce, accounting, CRM, and reporting services to centralize your operations in one visual platform.Read Katana Manufacturing ERP ReviewsCompareGet a quoteSkubana(60)4.5 out of 5Favorite

Cloud based, all-in-one operations software to handle and automate order management, inventory, analytics, purchase orders, and accountingRead Skubana ReviewsCompareGet a quoteAcctivate Inventory Software(69)3.8 out of 5Optimized for quick responseEntry Level Price:Starting at $7,995.00Favorite

Acctivate Inventory Software is an operational hub for growing small to mid-sized distributors, online retailers, and manufacturers using QuickBooks®. The sophisticated solution promotes collaboration across the entire company with tools that deliver comprehensive business management, including real-time visibility of inventory, multi-channel sales, purchasing, order fulfillment + more. Operations are accelerated from customer service to the warehouse and key insights enable strategic decision… Show MoreRead Acctivate Inventory Software ReviewsCompareTry for freeCin7(25)3.6 out of 5Entry Level Price:$299 Per MonthFavorite

Cin7 is connected inventory management, simplified. It gives retailers, wholesalers and simple manufacturers one solution to keep orders in line with inventory for every stock location and sales channel they use. Cin7 integrates with 450+ platforms and services including eCommerce, online marketplaces, 3PL warehouses, shipping, accounting, sales and marketing, and inventory forecasting solutions. It also includes built-in POS, warehouse management, B2B eCommerce and EDI for selling to major ret… Show MoreRead Cin7 ReviewsCompareGet a quoteFinale Inventory(29)4.8 out of 5Entry Level Price:75/mo Favorite

Finale Inventory is an intuitive cloud-based inventory management system that is easy to use while designed to scale to the demands of a growing business. Handle all your stock movements from purchasing through to sales. From the ShipStation inventory management integration, QuickBooks integration, and Kitting (Product Bundling) feature, Finale offers a comprehensive solution for multi-channel ecommerce retailers. Finale Inventory makes it a snap to manage your inventory across all the market… Show MoreRead Finale Inventory ReviewsCompareGet a quoteUnleashed(24)3.8 out of 5Entry Level Price:$259 per month (billed annually)Favorite

Unleashed Software is a powerful, integrated platform that allows businesses real-time visibility of accurate inventory information. Reduce costs and increase profits with precise tracking data on all stock items. As a cloud-based software, Unleashed partners with a range of eCommerce, point of sales and accounting software to provide an end-to-end business management solution. Unleashed Software was one of the first business applications to adopt cloud technology. Today, we have thousands of… Show MoreRead Unleashed ReviewsCompareGet a quoteAccountingSuite™(64)4.4 out of 5Entry Level Price:$19 monthFavorite

AccountingSuite™ is a powerful, all-in-one business application for accounting, cloud banking, order management, inventory management, project and time tracking into one cloud-driven platform. Our mission is to provide easy-to-use, no-nonsense, scalable business software for startups, entrepreneurs, and growing companies to manage their finances and day-to-day operations. Our vision for AccountingSuite™ is to give you, your employees and business partners easy, secure access to company i… Show MoreRead AccountingSuite™ ReviewsCompareMegaventory(17)4.3 out of 5Favorite

Web-based software for online inventory management, order fulfillment and manufacturing using bills of materials.Read Megaventory ReviewsCompareGet a quoteHandiFox Desktop(13)4.4 out of 5Optimized for quick responseEntry Level Price:$1,195.00Favorite

HandiFox Desktop is an award-winning Inventory Tracking and Sales Management System designed for seamless QuickBooks data integration across mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, and ruggedized industrial handhelds. The software takes the best of both worlds – the power of desktop in the office and the flexibility of using mobile devices in the field. With HandiFox on your mobile device, you can: track inventory across multiple sites, scan, record, generate, and print product barcod… Show MoreRead HandiFox Desktop ReviewsCompareGet a quoteStitch Labs(22)4.1 out of 5Entry Level Price:$449 per monthFavorite

Stitch Labs is an inventory and order management solution built for the fastest-growing brands in retail. Stitch helps brands sell across multiple channels, respond quickly to operational demands, and control their inventory from one place. Stitch provides a partner and a platform focused on forward-thinking retail, with a cloud-based platform that helps retailers and wholesalers reduce costs, maximize profitability, and intelligently scale their omnichannel operations to meet customers needs. … Show MoreRead Stitch Labs ReviewsCompareGet a quoteEZOfficeInventory(85)4.4 out of 5Entry Level Price:$40.00 per monthFavorite

Our leading asset lifecycle management software enables you to create POs, schedule services and manage vendors effortlessly. Easy depreciation management and custom reports help you make well-informed business decisions. Use our mobile app for RFID, Barcode and QR Code scan; gain compliance with regulatory bodies. Location and maintenance histories make this a must for fixed asset management. We are also integrated with Zendesk. Try Us Out For Free!Read EZOfficeInventory ReviewsCompareGet a quoteMultiorders(47)4.8 out of 5Entry Level Price:$49 500 Orders/monthFavorite

Integrate all sales channels and manage Your orders with Multiorders – multichannel inventory and shipping management software – a perfect workflow optimising solution. Connect all of Your shipping carriers and print labels with just one click, manage pricing and stock levels of all sales channels from the same place.Read Multiorders ReviewsCompareGet a quoteOrderhive(23)3.7 out of 5Entry Level Price:$49.99 per monthFavorite

Orderhive is a simple inventory management and shipping software for online retailers. Integrate channels such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, BigCommerce, QuickBooks Online, Etsy, QuickBooks Online, Magento, etc. to automate inventory control and streamline shipping process. With Orderhive, retailers can manage inventory across multiple warehouses and locations seamlessly. The software integrates with leading shipping providers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. so that you can check rates, print lab… Show MoreRead Orderhive ReviewsCompareGet a quoteecomdash(12)3.1 out of 5Entry Level Price:0 up to 30 sales orders/mo.Favorite

Ecomdash is an inventory management and order fulfillment platform that gives the user the option of managing all online sales channels via the one application. It is designed for small to mid-sized multi-channel online retailers. With ecomdash, users can automatically sync inventory levels across all channels and customize their inventory rules for each channel. Ecomdash integrates with Amazon and eBay, allowing users to easily list products for sale on both channels. The platform sends and r… Show MoreRead ecomdash ReviewsCompareGet a quoteSolid Commerce(10)3.2 out of 5Favorite

Solid Commerce helps merchants and brands increase profits by easily listing on global online marketplaces and unifying the management of their operations all within a single all-in-one Software as a Service platform.Read Solid Commerce ReviewsCompareGet a quote

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Inventory Control Topics

• What is Inventory Control Software?
• What are the Common Features of Inventory Control Softwares?
• What are the Benefits of Inventory Control Software? 
• Who Uses Inventory Control Software?
• Challenges with Inventory Control Software
• Which Companies Should Buy Inventory Control Software?
• How to Buy Inventory Control Software
• What Does Inventory Control Software Cost?
• Implementation of Inventory Control Software
• Inventory Control Software Trends

Learn More About Inventory Control Software

What is Inventory Control Software?

Inventory control software optimizes the economic order quantity (EOQ) of businesses. The EOQ is the optimal inventory a business should purchase to minimize the cost of ordering and holding. This type of software helps regulate inventory stored in the warehouse, understand how to maximize inventory layout, and ensure there’s enough product to sell at every point.  

Inventory control software falls under the overarching category of inventory management, which also includes software that helps organize warehouses, scan barcodes, and print shipping labels. Inventory, or stock control solutions, automate the order fulfillment and shipping process, thus allowing vendors to instead focus on maximizing their inventory levels.

The ultimate goal of managing stock levels is to eliminate any inefficiencies that may incur economic costs on vendors or cause inconveniences for consumers. Effective stock control gives businesses a competitive advantage to streamline a speedy shipping process. For businesses with perishable inventory, managing inventory is particularly important to prevent spoilage with the implementation of a first-in, first-out policy. In addition, these solutions prevent the accumulation of dead stock (or unsellable inventory) and excessive amounts of a product that may not ever be sold.

What Types of Inventory Control Software Exist?

Barcode inventory systems

Barcode inventory systems update inventory levels in real time at the point of sale when workers scan an item. With barcode technology, inventory managers can eliminate time-consuming data errors that occur frequently with manual or paper systems for inventory counts.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) inventory systems

RFID inventory systems use fixed tag readers for inventory tracking. Similar to barcode systems, RFID tags update inventory levels in real time when they are scanned. However, the difference between RFID and barcode systems is that with the former, multiple products can be counted simultaneously, while products can only be counted one at a time with barcode systems. While RFID technology systems might be pricier, they are dramatically faster than barcode scanning and can be very useful for managing large inventories.

What are the Common Features of Inventory Control Softwares?

Below are key features of inventory control software that help replenish physical inventory in real time, eliminate inefficiencies, and optimize customer satisfaction: 

Barcodes: Barcodes are an essential feature that can help maximize the efficiency of inventory management techniques. By labeling barcodes on every product, inventory managers can scan a product, which automatically categorizes the product and accounts for it in the inventory. The other option is manually counting each product, which is not only time consuming but can also result in human errors.

Automated ordering: Inventory management systems can automatically detect when a particular product is running low on stock and will instantly update the product quantity for the inventory. As a result, the software will prompt reordering of new stock. This can help businesses maintain the right inventory and respond to customer needs if a particular product is in high demand.

Order management: Retailers can manage all of their sales and purchases from within the software. This allows retailers to create packages and shipments, and can even send delivery updates to customers through the software.

Reporting: Inventory control software can provide businesses with reports on which products are the most profitable, how quickly workers are stocking products, and how often purchase orders are being fulfilled on time. These reports can point to any inefficiencies in the warehouse or supply chain.

Forecasting: Proper management of inventory levels helps forecast when products will be going out of stock and when there is an abundance. Proper forecasting metrics allow for efficient spending of a company’s resources.

Serial number tracking: Serial number tracking allows inventory managers to attach a code to each product and monitor its movement from the point of purchase up until the time of sale. If orders are delayed or a customer would like to find out where their shipment is, this feature can give them insight and reassurance that the shipment is on its way.

Product kitting: Product kitting is the process of bundling separate inventory items into one package. Inventory control software can help identify each item that needs to be packaged together to form the bundle and assign those packaged kits in a central location within the warehouse. This saves warehouse workers plenty of time by not having to walk around to different areas of the warehouse to package these items together.

Cloud-based inventory management: Cloud-based inventory management is a way of tracking inventory through a web browser. A stock system that can be managed through the cloud allows businesses to access inventory on any device. Real-time access to the amount of inventory enhances coordination among staff for quick and smart business decisions.

Internet of things (IoT) integrations: The connection of consumer devices with manufacturing machines helps supply chains excel. Inventory control software enables firms to generate insights, business intelligence, and cost-effective strategies. For example, IoT devices can be put on actual inventory or RFID labels.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI): E-commerce chatbots share the availability of products to shoppers. These virtual agents use algorithms to inform customers of stock shortages and recommend other products based on their carts.  

What are the Benefits of Inventory Control Software? 

Inventory control software improves the management of current inventory and eliminates any major inefficiencies in the supply chain. By accurately accounting for every product, businesses can lower costs, speed up fulfillment, and improve the overall production.

Optimize inventory levels at all times: Having excess stock costs companies a hefty sum. Warehouses can combat this issue by using inventory management software to only purchase products when they are in high demand. The alternative option is using manual labor to count each product and use conjecture on whether more stock should be ordered.

Track inventory numbers accurately: Real-time updates of inventory levels allow for more precise reports on available stock. Barcode scanning and RFID systems make this process seamless.

Fulfill orders on time to increase customer satisfaction: Issues such as inaccurate inventory records can cause higher lead times, which result in slower response to demand. Once this happens, stock inventory runs out and customers cannot place orders. This may cause customer disapproval and even a loss of business. Inventory control software will eliminate this issue by automatically alerting inventory managers when stock is running low, as well as automatically restocking these products. Therefore, shorter lead times will get more customers their products on time and increase overall customer approval.

Identify sales and losses by tracking sales patterns: Tracking stock is one of the best ways to keep track of sales patterns. This software provides an overview of which products are in high demand and which products are not selling as well. This will allow businesses to respond to customer demand by supplying more items that are frequently purchased and potentially discontinuing items that are hurting the business’ bottom line.

Who Uses Inventory Control Software?

Retailers: Retailers use inventory control software to categorize products, import item barcodes, and manage item price points across their inventory. Managing product levels will also provide retailers with analytics on which products are performing well and are in high demand. These analytics will alert retailers to autofill orders on items that are selling quickly so the product is always in stock. Additionally, if a product is overstocked at another retail outlet, the software can suggest stock transfers so each outlet can have a more balanced inventory level.

Manufacturers: Inventory control is a critical tool for day-to-day operations in the manufacturing industry. When a customer orders a bulk shipment of a certain product, the manufacturers must assess whether they have enough raw materials in stock to complete the order. Oftentimes, these orders consist of a variety of raw materials that the manufacturer must combine to create one final product. An order might require the manufacturer to obtain more stock from a variety of other suppliers so it can be completed. 

Historically, manufacturers would take stock by spreadsheets, which was a very rudimentary system often prone to error. With specialized software, however, each item has a barcode attached to it that is linked to the software. The manufacturer can then accurately assess if they have enough material, track orders from suppliers, and fulfill orders in a more timely manner.

E-commerce sellers: Stock control is important for businesses that sell products through online marketplaces. E-commerce sellers especially use software to handle returns, automate re-stocking, shipping, and virtual stock inventory.

Wholesale distributors: Wholesalers who use online distribution channels use stock control software to track bulk inventory, manage suppliers and customers, and automate the fulfillment process. Wholesalers frequently use software features such as kitting, sales order and warehouse fulfillment, lot tracking for perishable products, and bin management.

Software Related to Inventory Control Software

Related solutions that can be used together with inventory control software include:

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software: Integrating inventory control software with an ERP system is key to maximizing its potential. Integration between these two systems will allow managers to see all data that relates to manufacturing, supply chain, and shipping all in one place. This will ultimately lead to more visibility of how business processes are connected.

Accounting software: Integrating inventory management software with accounting software will allow businesses to accurately present inventory in financial reports. Important documents such as tax returns can then accurately reflect inventory value. If the stated assets from the warehouse don’t match with bookkeeping, then the company can get audited. The best way to maintain the financial integrity of a warehouse is by integrating inventory control system with accounting software.

Warehouse management software: Insight into the daily operations of a business’ warehouse is provided through warehouse management software. Such visibility includes monitoring the movement of products between warehouses to improve shipping and handling procedures.

Barcode software: Barcodes are the building blocks of the shipment process, so barcode software is necessary to print unique codes for each product. Each country and company may mandate different barcode styles, and software dedicated to this service will allow customizable styles for identifying labels.

Label printing software: Labels are a logistical necessity for the fulfillment process. Label printing software help businesses print unique labels for products to ensure an accurate transfer of products during the shipping process.

E-commerce Platforms: Integrating inventory control software with a business’s e-commerce platform is critical for keeping track of inventory. Without it, managers must instead manually track orders on their e-commerce platform and then adjust the stock in a spreadsheet. When these two are integrated, every sale made online will automatically be reflected in the inventory management software. The result is more visibility and accuracy, which will translate to fewer inventory errors.

Challenges with Inventory Control Software

No software is free of challenges, and inventory control products come with their own set of difficulties. 

Lack of supply chain functionality: Some systems are scaled down in comparison to ERP or other supply chain systems. Inventory control software can lack support when it comes to functions such as procurement and route optimization. In this sense, most stock-level software will need additional integrations to make it a more complete tool that can assist with managing the supply chain. Users should be aware of this before purchasing this software.

Complexity: Learning how to operate this software can take countless hours of training. While some functions are more intuitive than others, it will still take specialized training and patience to master functions like RFID tracking and product kitting.

Which Companies Should Buy Inventory Control Software?

Food distributors: When perishable goods are a staple of a business’ product portfolio, inventory management is crucial to prevent the spoilage of goods. First-in, first-out policies allow food at risk for expiration to be sold before other products. 

E-commerce: Online retailers rely heavily on inventory control since the purchase of goods occurs exclusively on the internet. Real-time updates in inventory are necessary to prevent sellouts, transactions for products that aren’t actually in stock, and to alert customers of low stock thresholds. Automated inventory management allows for instantaneous updates in stock levels to ensure smooth, reliable functioning of business processes. 

Consumer goods: For physical retailers of consumer packaged goods, stock control is needed when there are seasonal products that can complicate the process of forecasting. Effective inventory management software helps simplify this process and provide more accurate predictions.

COnclusion

There are a lot of options for small businesses looking to find the best inventory software but it can be overwhelming. There are thousands of choices out there on the market and you’ll need to decide which system is right for your business. In this article, we’ll review what you want from your inventory software.