Keeping track of the stock that comes in and out of your store is a fundamental task for any eCommerce business. To protect the longevity of your store, it’s vital to invest in efficient inventory management practices. You won’t have to worry about selling out, overstocking, or falling victim to unexpected inventory mishaps if you manage inventory efficiently at every stage of your business operations.
From innovative, all-in-one inventory management solutions to niche tools for specific sectors, you can easily select an option that matches your current needs and future growth plans. Choosing the right inventory management software for your store can mean the difference between losing customers due to stock issues and retaining happy, loyal customers.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best inventory management software for eCommerce sellers of all sizes and growth stages, including;
- Startups and new brands
- Growing businesses
- Enterprise merchants
Considerations when evaluating inventory management software
Constructing a robust inventory management system introduces a vast number of tools you can implement. While many look similar on the surface, they all feature varying capabilities and benefits. As such, choosing the right tool for your business requires you to pinpoint your needs.
Before selecting an inventory management tool (or several) for your eCommerce business, first consider your:
- Sector
- Sales channels
- Projected growth
- Budget
- Required integrations
- Technical experience
- Customization needs
You’ll also want to keep in mind whether you need a B2C inventory management tool or one that also allows for manufacturing and B2B management. If you’re a dropshipper, look at tools that predominantly focus on dropshipping. For eCommerce sellers with brick-and-mortar stores, you may want a tool that lets you manage inventory across online and offline sales channels.
Inventory management tools are a great asset to your eCommerce operations — if you choose the right ones. Implementing the wrong tool could cause more harm than good, so, do your research before picking a solution. It’s also worthwhile to speak to sales reps, request a demo, and read case studies before making a decision.
18 Inventory management software for all growth stages
Inventory management can be a tedious process, but it’s a crucial step that you need to take seriously. Whether you run a small eCommerce start-up, a brick-and-mortar store, or a well-established retail empire, your success relies on how well you oversee your stock.
Inventory management tools remove the stress of this chore. Some are simple solutions while others are full-suite options for sales and inventory management. Find the tool that best suits your store and you’ll be able to control inventory, meet customer expectations, and stay ahead of the competition.
Looking at the available features, usability, pricing, and suitability, let’s dive into some of the best inventory management tools for eCommerce sellers.
6 Inventory and order management tools for startups and new brands
4PSite
4PSite is a cloud-based omnichannel inventory management tool. It automatically pulls order information from multiple stores onto one minimalist interface to provide real-time analytics on cross-channel performance.
4PSite is predominantly an order management system. However, its integration with over 80 store platforms, marketplaces, retailers, and suppliers makes it a great choice for eCommerce sellers wanting to expand their sales channels.
With that said, its central inventory manager helps retailers effectively and accurately manage their stock levels. This makes it a strong contender for growing eCommerce sellers wanting to recoup lost time through efficient order and inventory automation.
Pricing starts at $300 per month, making 4PSite one of the more expensive tools for small eCommerce sellers.
InFlow Inventory
InFlow Inventory is an all-in-one inventory management software centered around helping eCommerce merchants balance stock and orders.
The company recognizes that staying on top of inventory and orders is a delicate operation, so its tool is designed to support easy inventory and order management. From receiving real-time updates to being able to fulfill orders from your phone, InFlow Inventory is a smart inventory management solution.
Other features include barcoding functionality, manufacturing software, and a portal that accepts B2B orders directly in the software.
InFlow Inventory offers four pricing options: the Entrepreneur option at $79 per month, Small Business for $219 per month, Mid-Size for $439 per month, and Enterprise for $1,319 per month.
Businesses of all sizes can take advantage of this tool thanks to its flexible suite of features. If you’re looking for an inventory management tool that’ll help you save time and cut costs, InFlow Inventory may be the right choice for you.
Pipe17
Pipe17 is an eCommerce connectivity platform that has intelligent order routing and automation features. It’s designed to operate as the command center of your logistics by connecting with your various suppliers and merchants, sales channels, warehouse management tools, and more to synchronize inventory across every platform.
This tool is an excellent option for small brands that want to unify their operations without needing too much developer support. They excel at engineering connections between your existing tech stack, so that orders are routed correctly, inventory is accounted for in near real-time, and complex packing instructions such as bundles are easily followed.
Pipe17 starts at $20 per month for up to 100 orders and goes up to $500 per month for up to 5,000 orders.
QuickBooks Commerce
QuickBook Commerce speeds up inventory management for eCommerce businesses. It helps online stores stay on top of orders, streamline inventory, and analyze real-time insights.
Although the platform lacks built-in accounting features, it can connect seamlessly to the QuickBooks accounting platform. Small eCommerce sellers using QuickBooks accounting to handle their finances may find QuickBooks Commerce a welcome addition.
Starting at $50 a month, the program connects with multiple sales channels so you can manage all your channels simultaneously and across various locations. Also, QuickBooks Commerce lets you set up reorder alerts so you avoid running out of stock.
While not the fanciest inventory management tool, QuickBooks Commerce’s simplistic nature makes it an ideal choice for small eCommerce retailers who want no-fuss inventory management support.
Square
Many recognize Square as a point of sale (POS) system provider for small businesses with retail stores. However, in 2020, Square acquired Stitch Labs, which added an operations management platform to the suite of tools.
With Square, retailers can streamline operations at every stage of their business, from inventory management to payments and team management. The inventory management component is free to use, and customers can even manage stock in bulk. Additionally, automatic low-stock alerts minimize the risk of selling out, while downloadable reports offer insights into inventory performance.
Retailers looking to add a payment solution to their eCommerce store should consider Square as a POS system that offers much more than payment management alone. With that said, the inventory management features are limited. Use Square if you’re a small retailer wanting a payment solution with easy inventory management.
One thing we love about Square is its ease of use. Everything connects to your phone so you can manage your eCommerce business on the go and receive automatic alerts wherever you are.
Trunk
Trunk specializes in multi-channel inventory management to lift the burden from eCommerce retailers.
Real-time, inventory-level syncing eliminates the process of manually updating product availability across numerous marketplaces. Whenever you sell a product on one platform, Trunk will update stock levels across all your channels. As a bonus, you can also build product bundles and kits.
Focused solely on inventory levels, Trunk is best for small retailers that want simple, omnichannel inventory control. However, it’s limited in that it lacks fulfillment management, order management, or product updates (outside of stock level updates). But, if your biggest problem as a retailer is juggling multiple sales channels, Trunk will help nip your overstocking and overselling issues in the bud.
Trunk’s pricing is based on order volume and starts at $35 per month for eCommerce sellers that receive up to 100 orders each month.
6 Inventory and order management tools for growing businesses
DEAR Systems
DEAR Systems is an inventory management tool owned by Cin7 that brings all the functions of an ERP at a fraction of the cost.
It boasts a multitude of features, making it suitable for a wide array of industries. As such, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers (among others) can reap the benefits of DEAR Systems’ intuitive platform.
The available features include the usual inventory, order, and warehouse management elements. However, DEAR Systems also allows its users to manage:
- Purchasing
- Manufacturing
- Accounting
- B2B sales
- POS
- Automation
- Planning
- Costing
Although bursting with valuable tools and features, these capabilities come with a steep learning curve. Also, DEAR Systems has a mid-range price starting at $325 per month. So, we recommend it for retailers and manufacturers interested in improving operations efficiency.
nChannel
nChannel is a cloud-based SaaS platform that connects your various supply chain systems together. Link your inventory, eCommerce, POS, and 3PL systems to automate processes and improve accuracy.
Focused on integration, nChannel helps retailers automate key processes across inventory management, order fulfillment, and supply chain control. These integrations minimize data processing time and eliminate costly information errors.
nChannel works best for large retailers and enterprises that already have several supply chain systems in place. Rather than moving all your systems to a new program, you can use it to connect your existing tools.
Pricing is quote-based.
Ordoro
Ordoro is a one-stop-shop platform that assists growing merchants with running their online store.
Like its competitors, Ordoro offers inventory and shipping management. However, its support extends much further: eCommerce merchants also receive the solution’s bundling features, dropshipping tools, returns capabilities, and supplier management.
Ordoro helps online merchants manage almost every aspect of their online business, from suppliers to shipping. These features make it a valuable inventory management tool for dropshippers looking to scale their eCommerce operations.
You can try Ordoro out for free with their starter package before committing to a paid plan. The free starter package lets you manage up to 1,000 orders per month. Though it has limited features, it’s a great introduction to the Ordoro interface and capabilities. From there, paid packages start at $59 per month, making Ordoro an affordable option for dropshippers.
Sellercloud
Sellercloud provides full-suite inventory management for eCommerce businesses spanning an array of industries, from apparel to pharmaceuticals.
As well as the usual features like inventory, omnichannel, orders, shipping, and warehouse management, Sellercloud also contains a stack of intuitive products. These allow eCommerce brands to build a unique inventory management tool tailored to their exact needs.
One such tool is Memaila, which lets you manage customer conversations and pull customer information from Sellercloud. The ability to connect multiple tools makes Sellercloud a powerful all-in-one solution.
However, linking all of these tools to turn Sellercloud into an inventory management powerhouse can be overwhelming for small merchants new to the technical aspects of eCommerce. As such, Sellercloud is best reserved for medium to large eCommerce businesses or those that need high-tech capabilities.
Pricing is based on order volume and starts at $1,000 per month. Sellercloud is one of the more expensive inventory management tools, reflecting its robust capabilities. Opt for Sellercloud if you need a smart, all-inclusive solution for your inventory management.
Veeqo
Veeqo is a full-suite eCommerce fulfillment solution that can manage inventory, shipping, and warehouse operations for eCommerce brands.
View your sales channels and inventory levels in real time. Digital picking lets retailers accurately manage high order volumes and reduce operational costs. Sellers also enjoy a streamlined operation from Veeqo’s warehouse management software.
It offers built-in shipping software and Amazon-like fulfillment tools, making it a great choice for small eCommerce sellers. With three pricing tiers, Veeqo has suitable inventory options for both small and medium-sized retailers experiencing growth.
Zoho Inventory
Zoho Inventory is an inventory management giant helping businesses of all sizes efficiently systemize their stock, sales, purchase orders, and shipments. The platform offers a wide range of inventory solutions so you can tackle any inventory problems that arise.
Zoho Inventory is geared toward growing businesses looking to control inventory, fulfill orders, oversee warehouses, and streamline multiple sales channels. It also allows you to transfer stock between warehouses, generate reports, and even add new warehouses as your business grows.
If you operate across more than one sales channel, we recommend looking into it as a potential go-to inventory management tool for your business.
Additionally, this tool is an affordable solution that offers a free option for small stores. Ranging from $0 to $239 per month, you can choose the package that best fits your store.
6 Inventory and order management tools for enterprise merchants
ChannelAdvisor
ChannelAdvisor is a multi-channel commerce solution that streamlines eCommerce business operations, manages inventory. It has an impressive list of retailers with large physical stores that launched eCommerce websites alongside their brick-and-mortar presence. Taking its solution one step further, ChannelAdvisor also offers marketing capabilities.
Brands can leverage ChannelAdvisor to regulate their inventory across multiple sales channels, easily expand to new ones, and optimize order fulfillment. Integrate ChannelAdvisor with over 300 marketplaces and your preferred distributed, third-party logistics provider (3PL) or warehouse management system to optimize your eCommerce operations.
With its focus on omnichannel inventory management, fully managed services, and digital marketing solutions, ChannelAdvisor is geared toward enterprise retail brands that want to launch eCommerce operations seeking hands-on support with amplifying their product reach and visibility.
Businesses have to request a quote, as pricing is based on your system design and features.
Cin7
Cin7 is a robust inventory management tool offering high-performance integrations and other essential eCommerce features.
Brands gain an advantage with Cin7’s multitude of capabilities ranging from production management to sales quoting, EDI integration, and, of course, inventory and order management. You can even manage 3PL partners and your Amazon Seller platform with this software.
The team behind Cin7 appreciates that not all businesses have strong foundations. With this in mind, they designed their inventory management to support businesses of all sizes, be they small start-ups or enterprise-level retailers. Whatever business stage you’re at, Cin7 will help you scale to the next level.
The cost of the software depends on your current business stage. The chosen tier also determines which features you have access to, ensuring you only pay for the tools you need. Pricing starts at $299 per month for the small business tier, while large enterprise customers need to request a quote to build a customizable inventory management tool for their business.
Fishbowl Inventory
Fishbowl Inventory is a manufacturing and warehouse inventory management software that integrates with accounting tools such as QuickBooks and Xero. The manufacturing management tool automatically generates work orders, calculates inventory needs to prevent over (or under) production, and tracks inventory from ordering to delivery.
The warehouse management element integrates with brands’ eCommerce sales channels and lets them set up automatic reorder points and use barcode scanning technology to cycle count inventory. Fishbowl Inventory also integrates with Salesforce, UPS Ready, and other eCommerce tools.
This software is a powerful inventory management tool for manufacturers and eCommerce sellers with manufacturing capabilities. However, starting at $4,395, it’s at the upper end of the price range.
Flxpoint
Flxpoint positions itself as a retail operations platform for high-volume eCommerce sellers and dropshippers.
The platform offers end-to-end dropshipping automation, integrates with suppliers, syncs inventory and orders, and can automatically map product information. Its intelligent order routing can also regulate the movement of orders from supplier to warehouse. Additionally, with B2B reseller management, you can further expand your business by working with distributors and resellers.
Other Flxpoint features include invoice reconciliation and real-time reporting. eCommerce sellers using this service will enjoy accurate insights into inventory and sales performance at all times.
Flxpoint starts at $999 per month. This higher monthly price reflects their ideal audience of enterprise merchants and larger sellers looking to scale an established flow of consistent orders.
Katana
Katana is a manufacturing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software offering visibility and control over your inventory, sales, and supply chain processes.
The company focuses on small to medium-sized manufacturers with its trove of valuable features, including live inventory control, production planning, omnichannel order management, and end-to-end traceability. As an ERP tool, it helps regulate all the moving parts of an eCommerce business.
Katana’s scaled-down solution for small manufacturers starts at $99 per month. As your manufacturing facilities grow, your subscription can adapt with them.
Everything in Katana works together seamlessly so you can easily manage your inventory, finances, sales, and production—all in one place.
NetSuite
NetSuite ERP is a cloud-based resource system that helps businesses scale, grow, and adapt. It’s a trusted solution for over 31,000 customers in 217 countries spanning manufacturers, retailers, and every industry on the spectrum.
NetSuite improves business efficiency by streamlining operations. With it, you can oversee finances, stay in control of inventory and sales, manage order fulfillment, and even handle production and procurement. NetSuite provides clear visibility of all business operations so you can make data-informed decisions that drive growth and maintain your competitive edge.
It’s a complex tool best suited for larger eCommerce sellers who operate across multiple sales channels. Retailers can use Netsuite to manage various arms of their supply chain process, not just inventory.
The system’s cost depends on your requirements, but pricing typically starts at a base rate of $999 per month.
Wrapping up — Find the best inventory management software for your eCommerce store
Whether you’re taking your first steps into the eCommerce world or are a seasoned seller, your store will benefit from implementing an inventory management tool (or several). The “best” tool for you, though, will depend on your business needs.
For small businesses, inventory management tools like Katana and Zoho Inventory are ideal; retailers with brick-and-mortar locations may want to look at Square and other POS systems; and larger retailers and manufacturers can experience the most gains from solutions like Cin7 or NetSuite ERP.
An inventory management tool can streamline your eCommerce operations and help you lower costs. In the long run, it’ll improve order accuracy and maintain adequate stock levels.