Inventory Management Software

You have a choice: you could run your inventory management software on your desktop or laptop, just like it’s 2007. Or, you can join the modern age and run your software on your phone, thanks to apps.

Simple and easy to use, many top inventory management software packages also offer a mobile app. Whatever the size of your business, an app-based inventory management system lets you track your stock, sales, and order whenever you want and wherever you are. Whether your small business is online, brick-and-mortar, or both, you’ll have instant access to all of your inventory information.

Which apps are best? In this list, you’ll find some of the best-reviewed and well-received inventory management system that come in an app. If you’re looking for something to take your business to the next level, but are worried about drowning in Excel spreadsheets and sales reports, you’re sure to find an app on this list that will help you out.

Sortly

Suitable for desktops as well as mobile devices, Sortly can be used on your desktop, iPhone, or Android to keep control of your inventory. Sortly only allows one user per account, which somewhat limits it if you work as part of a team, but that one user gains access to a host of remote management tools.

You can survey current stock, and use the barcode lookup and in-app scanner to stay on top of your stock takes. While the app is fairly simple, you won’t find an in-depth tutorial; like many inventory management apps, the best way to learn Sortly is to use it. You can always access Sortly’s customer service if you require help.

On Shelf

Looking for an app only option? On Shelf definitely fits the best inventory app qualification. Not only does it cover your inventory management, but it also helps you track your customer history. Pretty nifty if you’re a small business looking to better engage with your customer base and keep your clients returning again and again.

Additionally, it tracks your most and least profitable items, keeping you in charge of what sells best to which customers. While the app costs $4.99 and a different app is required for iPad and iPhone, the overall monthly cost of using On Shelf is quite reasonable and allows you to back up information to the cloud. For a small business or a one-person show, OnShelf might provide all the features you need at an appealing price.

Cin7 and Pos

An iPad app, Cin7 integrates with your QuickBooks to give you a one-stop look at your current inventory. The QuickBooks integration also lets you use the app for basic accounting purposes. CIn7 can also be used in conjunction with Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce, to keep your ecommerce shops fully stocked as well. The app includes automated purchasing and forecasting tools to help you predict how much you have and when you’ll need more.

Odoo

Another Android- and iPhone-friendly app, Odoo is designed to follow your merchandise from your initial purchase to delivery. It also combines with a CRM to help you improve your customer base. Odoo is more than a simple inventory management app; it’s actually an entire platform, with apps that assist with everything from website development to productivity tools, making it a solid choice for the best inventory apps category.

The inventory management app fits in well with the rest of the Odoo family, giving you access to an entire range of potential business aides. With Odoo, you can keep track of your multi-warehouse stock if you’re drop-shipping, and take back control of your inventory management today.

Goods Order Inventory

If you’re not sure that you need an inventory management software, why not try Goods Order Inventory out for free? It works with a wide variety of other e-commerce supports, including Shopify and Quickbooks. Using Goods Order Inventory means you never have to worry about running out of items. The app supports barcode scanning and will help you reduce your stock loss and keep your online store well-stocked and ready for customers. Free makes Goods Order Inventory an excellent addition to best inventory apps selection.

Top Shelf Mobile Inventory

If you’re working towards making your business profitable online by combining CRM, accounting, and inventory management, Top Shelf is for you. This is a highly versatile cloud-based system that also works as a restaurant management tool, so you know what you have and what you need and when you’ll need it.

Top Shelf Mobile Inventory updates constantly and synchronizes data between different systems, so there’s no need to enter data multiple times. This is one of the best inventory apps that works on both iPhones and Androids.

Apps for an active owner

Many of these apps work for both ecommerce and brick-and-mortar stores, and for good reason. Business owners today are likely to have both, and app-based inventory management systems need to be able to switch seamlessly between either one - or better yet, to track all of your stock simultaneously. The apps listed above are some of the best inventory apps out there, but they also aren’t the only ones out there, so it pays to do your research and find one that best suits your needs. Not convinced you need an inventory management system at all?
Check out a full list of alternative inventory management tools here

Do you have an e-commerce store and struggle with staying on top of your current stock? Perhaps you’ve always relied on Excel sheets, but have a hard time finding the time to keep them up-to-date. There is a better way! Modern inventory management software programs exist for two main purposes: to make tracking your current inventory easier, and to give you a whole new suite of tools for your ecommerce site.

What inventory management software does for your e-commerce site. Not convinced you actually need ecommerce inventory management? Check out our resources here. Every retail business can benefit from inventory management software, whatever and wherever it’s selling. But e-commerce sites do require a slightly different set of features in their inventory management systems than the ones you’d find in a brick and mortar retail store.

What can an IMS do for you?

Whether you drop ship or ship everything out yourself, or do a combo of both, a good system for Shopify inventory management will help you avoid dead stock that’s just sitting in a warehouse. You’ll save money on storage costs and still be able to meet orders if demand increases. By minimizing excess stock while still meeting demand, a good IMS can improve your cash flow and save you money.

This article covers inventory management software for Shopify, so if your Shopify account is connected to your Shopify storefront, Amazon, or Etsy, here are some recommended apps for you! Of course, if you use Shopify, you may just want to use the in-house Shopify app for your e-commerce store to manage your inventory.. But if you have used it and are looking for something different, there are plenty of options available. These are some favorites.

Trade Gecko
If you’re looking to integrate inventory, sales, and multiple selling channels, Trade Gecko has you covered. It emphasizes automation to prevent your site from running out of stock. Additionally, Trade Gecko can also integrate with accounting apps such as QuickBooks, so your entire business can operate from one app.

Pros: Works with a myriad of different e-commerce sites like Shopify and Amazon.
Cons: Multiple complaints of tech help being unavailable or unable to assist.

Stock Sync
One of the top apps in the Shopify store, Shop Sync is popular with Shopify users for good reason. It not only updates inventory automatically when low but also can be used in conjunction with a brick and mortar storefront to ensure inventory is always there.

Pros: Can be used in conjunction with online and brick and mortar stores. Only costs $5 per month.
Cons: Not always the most user-friendly, with several complaints about the customer service.

ShipHero
If you’re looking for a Shopify inventory management software that integrates shipping and management of your inventory, ShipHere is your app. It integrates with multiple shipping companies and allows you to determine the cheapest shipping methods for your orders. Because it can also be integrated with Amazon, eBay, FedEx, UPS, and USPS, it offers plenty of flexibility to fulfill orders.

Pros: Wide range of features that integrate it with multiple systems, making it flexible to work for you.
Con: Cost begins at $1850 per month.

Etsy Marketplace Integration
If you are looking to integrate your Shopify and Etsy storefronts, this app is one of the highest-rated ones out there. By providing bulk uploading to Etsy and Shopify storefronts, it helps cut down on manual uploading and keeps products consistently in stock. It also notes errors in the Etsy shop and can convert the currency to specific countries.

Pros: Etsy-specific; if you rely on Etsy, this is a very useful, specialized app.
Cons: Multiple complaints of the app being buggy and deleting listings.

Ecommerce inventory management
Perhaps even more than brick-and-mortar stores, eCommerce shops require innovative inventory management software. There might not be a physical storeroom to inspect and verify stock amounts. Stock might be located in a warehouse in another city or another state, and many of the transactions can happen overnight and outside of “normal” business hours.

Ecommerce is a different type of business, so it requires creative approaches to managing inventory. Inventory management systems provide a method of tracking bestsellers and poor sellers outside of Shopify’s own tools, along with analysis and insights to give you the edge over your competitors.

Ecommerce inventory management, for Shopify, Etsy, or any other online storefront, is just as important to the success of your business as a manual month-end stock-take in a brick and mortar shop. Ecommerce and Shopify inventory management brings the ability to take stock of your virtual storefronts instantly and opens avenues for expansion down the line.