The significance of inventory management cannot be overstated.
With proper inventory management:
- You can make better plans
- Employees’ efficiency is optimal
- Inventory turnover increases
- There is a potential to lower costs
And so on. You can’t play second fiddle with it.
Tech advancement has now made inventory management easier than ever. There are quite a ton of inventory management apps than you could care about.
But with all these options, comes the grueling task of settling on a single app to use. How do you tell the best app from the numerous ones available?
Well, it’s a good thing you bumped into this article. By the end of it, you’ll not only be aware of the different nits and grits to consider when choosing an inventory management app, but you’ll also have a list of different inventory management apps to start with.
Let’s get started.
Choosing an Inventory Management App
Use the following 5-point checklist when deciding on the best app to use for your business:
1. Your Specific Needs
Yes, they’re generally referred to as inventory management apps. But they’re not one-size-fits-all solutions. They’re designed to meet particular business needs that may or may not include yours.
So to avoid going for a redundant solution, think about the issues you’d like addressed. Your choice may be guided by things like the type of inventory specific to you, the number of users you wish will access the app, and your inventory volume.
Are you just getting started on developing your business? Check out this article on 10 Things to Think About When Designing a Cafe Logo.
2. Your Budget
Pretty much like what you’ll consider in making any other purchase decision. You have to look at how much you have to spend on this new technology. And it all comes down to your needs.
Naturally, you’re going to get lots of shiny objects with these apps, which will come with additional cost. A wide range of features is good, but are they worth paying for if you’ll never use them? Having a few apps that serve your needs will make the whole price deliberation easier.
3. Complexity
An app is a tool. Tools should make our work easier. Does the inventory management solution live to this notion? No?
Then you might want to keep looking. A sound system should be easy to set up and run. Sure, there is a learning curve. But when it becomes too steep, the whole purpose of incorporating the app is lost.
4. Customer Support
So we’ve mentioned above about an inventory management app is easy to use. Do you still need help?
Yes, you do. Anything can happen, or you may miss a few steps. You don’t want to be left in the cold because the customer support is perpetually absent or engaged in other “important things.” Be sure to inquire if the said solution provider offers this support and training to get you started.
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5. Integrations
You’ll agree that no part of your business is a stand-alone. And if you’re throwing in some tech, like in this case, it’s only natural that whatever the app/software can be linked with others. It just makes your work even easier.
As already pointed, know what you need. What other software are you currently using in your business? Can the app integrate with the said software?
7 Inventory Management Apps for Small Businesses
1. Cin7
Cin7 can connect online POS systems, online sales warehouses, third-party logistics, and electronic Data. The support and training side of things gives it an edge.
First off, there is a considerable knowledge base of articles and videos (from their experts) walking you through every exceptional detail of this app. As if this wasn’t’ enough, you also get access to experts ready to address your concerns every step of the way. In addition to this, there is a whole lot of webinars, in-depth guides, and tutorials to walk you through – and an account manager to top it all off.
Not sure if this is the best solution for you? No worries, you can sign up for a free trial and see how you like it. Prices are only available upon request.
2. inFlow
inFlow has amassed trust from leading brands like Google, AT&T, Volvo, and even NASA. It’s easy to see why when you look at some of its features and the affordable price they come at.
With inFlow, you can set email alerts for when the stock is low, track your inventory in multiple locations, and implement bulk price changes. A robust collection of inventory management features at a considerably small fee, compared to the other players.
Plans start at $69 a month, though you can opt for a 2-week free trial. Of course, for every additional team member per plan, you’ll have to pay an extra fee.
Learn more about inFlow on their website, here!
3. Fishbowl Inventory
The best thing about Fishbowl Inventory is its easy integration with QuickBooks and a setup wizard for data exchange between the two. So, you won’t have to go through mounds of text and video trying to figure out stuff. Not a QuickBooks fan? If you use Xero, you’re just as sorted as far as integration goes.
A few more features from Fishbowl include:
- Real-time inventory updates — you’ll know how much you have left at any given time.
- Bar code scanning — leaves no room for any errors due to manual entry
- Integration with a host of business solutions.
You’ll have to shell out quite an amount before you can enjoy the full benefits of Fishbowl. A year’s license costs $4,395 — no monthly payment plans. You can take advantage of their 14-day free trial before jumping in.
Learn more about Fishbowl Inventory, here!
4. Veeqo
Veeqo does stand out with the sheer number of integrations it supports across different segments of your business. For instance, need integration with the accounting side? Which bookkeeping software do you use – QuickBooks or Xero? You can easily link them up with Veeqo. Even more, you can easily access all the stats that matter on its dashboard – revenues, sales, the average value of each sale, and so on.
The lowest Veeqo subscription starts at $160. You can request for a demo and see how you like it before considering the different plans as per your business needs.
5. Unleashed
This is your go-to inventory management solution if you’re operating in multiple locations. With this app, you get to monitor your inventory in real-time and other accompanying tidbits, like profit. This way, you’re in a better position to make decisions as per the stats above.
Integration with other vital apps, like Xero and QuickBooks, is super-seamless. Got stuck along the way? Unleashed’s support team is readily available to get you going.
Primarily, Unleashed offers four subscription plans, with the smallest going for $135 if you were to pay for a whole year ($150 if you pay per month). The plans will cost you more if you wish to include a few more users.
Do you have cold feet? You can test the waters using their 14-day free trial— no credit card information required.
6. TradeGecko
You’ll find TradeGecko very useful if you’re using QuickBooks. The two are easy to integrate, and TradeGecko updates invoices to QuickBooks. This means you can fully automate this whole process and use the time you’d have spent on handling invoices to solve more problems in your business.
Other app integrations possible with TradeGecko include Xero, Google Drive, Inventory Planner, Zapier, to mention a few. And the price for all these? It starts at $39 per month. And as with a couple of other app options above, you can choose to test it out for 14 days completely free of charge.
If you’re not much of a techie and don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up, you can enlist services of one of TradeGecko’s many partners. Otherwise, you can always reach out to customer support for any issues.
Learn more about TradeGecko, here!
7. Sortly
Sortly offers you an opportunity to stay on top of your inventory using either your desktop or mobile devices (or both).
Here are a few other features that you might find interesting:
- Decide who can access the app – and the extent of this access (read-only and editing).
- Low stock notifications via the app and email.
- Tailored PDF and CSV reports
If you prefer to keep it lean, Sortly offers an entirely free plan that you can go for. Otherwise, paid plans are two, going for $39 and $99 per month. It’s all about knowing your needs and going for a plan that serves those needs best.
Inventory management apps come with a range of features, as you’ve seen above, and the option you decide to go with depends on the problems specific to your business. So no one app can be touted as the ultimate solution for all businesses.
If you’ve figured out your needs, you can filter out this list, remaining only with those you think will be right for you. The next step is to take advantage of the free trial periods to see how each one of them measures up before taking the plunge with a paid plan!
Thanks for reading with us today. Check out these additional Brand My Cafe articles for more small business tips: Are Coffee Bag Valves Important?, 5 Brand Tips for Small Businesses, and Invaluable Restaurant Cleaning Tips You Need to Know Now!
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