4 Best Inventory Control Software for 2024

Inventory control software is a pivotal tool for managing stock levels efficiently.

It helps streamline the process of tracking, ordering, and distributing inventory to bring your carrying costs down and improve productivity.

However, every business has unique needs. It’s essential to carefully assess your requirements and explore various software solutions to find the most suitable option for your specific business requirements.

Here we have provided a curated list of the four best inventory control software solutions as a starting point to help you find the right fit for your business.

What makes the best inventory control software?

The best inventory control software is one that aligns with the specific needs of your business and helps facilitate accurate and efficient tracking of inventory goods.

It should provide essential features that address core stock control processes, such as:

• Inventory management
• Inventory optimisation
• Purchasing management
• Order fulfilment
• Inventory reporting and analytics

When selecting software to include on our list, we considered the problems it aims to solve – like streamlining inventory workflows, minimising downtime, and improving inventory accuracy – and the features that solve these problems.

Other factors considered are the reliability of the system, software pricing, and trustworthiness of the provider (gauged through online reviews and customer testimonials).

How we determined the best inventory control software

The key factors to consider when choosing the best inventory control software for your business include real-time stock information, cloud storage features, cost-effectiveness, reliability, customer support, and the software provider's reputation.

Features of the best inventory control software

When investing in inventory software, you need a solution that ensures accurate records of key inventory data. Features should therefore include:

• Real-time inventory tracking
• Automated reordering
• Integration with other business systems
• Reliable inventory reporting
• Purchase order management

Accessibility and scalability are also vital.

The software should be user-friendly, scalable to grow with your business, and customisable to fit unique business processes.

Consider the software's ability to support multi-channel sales and its compatibility with mobile devices for on-the-go management, and cloud storage for team projects.

Other critical factors to consider when choosing the best inventory control software include:

• Reliability: How well does it work, and is sufficient support available?
• Trust factor: The reputation of the provider, which can often be gauged through online reviews.
• Price: Does it fit into your budget, and will the software provide a positive ROI?
• Functionality: Are the features of the software the ones your business actually needs?

A quick summary of the 4 best inventory control software

In case you’re short on time, here are the results of our investigation:

• Unleashed: Best for small–medium manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors.
• inFlow: Best for field service businesses that require asset tracking.
• Cin7: Best for small retailers and ecommerce stores.
• Ordoro: Best for businesses selling across multiple sales channels.

Comparing the best inventory control software

These software solutions offer excellent capabilities to help businesses of various sizes manage and optimise their inventory processes efficiently in 2024.

Remember that what works well for one company may not be the best choice for another.

Carefully assess the individual needs of your business against the features and capabilities of each software option to make an informed decision.

Best inventory control software for B2B businesses

The best inventory control software for B2B businesses needs to address common inventory management challenges while catering to the unique needs of manufacturers and wholesalers.

These businesses face several inventory management challenges, including demand forecasting, stock level optimisation, production management, and real-time data access.

Unleashed

Unleashed is a robust inventory management software designed to provide real-time visibility into stock levels, sales, and order processes.

It addresses challenges in B2B product businesses with powerful features like automated stock adjustments, demand forecasting, bill of materials management, barcode scanning, and multi-warehouse management.

Unleashed pros

• A comprehensive suite of inventory management features
• Offers real-time tracking and detailed inventory reporting
• Enables multi-location inventory control
• Helps you accurately forecast demand based on trends and historical data
• Integrates with essential business tools like popular accounting software, eCommerce platforms, and CRM systems
• Easy-to-navigate, user-friendly interface with customisable dashboards that provide quick access to crucial data
• Reliable customer support for easy troubleshooting and guidance

Positive reviews of Unleashed:

Source: Capterra

Source: Trustpilot

Source: G2.com

Unleashed cons

• Better suited for small to medium-sized businesses rather than large-scale enterprises.
• Some users may find it challenging at first due to its extensive feature set.
• Does not currently offer shipping management or point-of-sale functionality.

Negative reviews of Unleashed:

Source: Capterra

Unleashed pricing

Unleashed operates on a monthly subscription model with several pricing tiers tailored to different business sizes and needs.

All plans come with the core Unleashed features such as:

• Real-time inventory control
• Purchase order control
• Bill of materials management
• Multi-user access
• Multiple warehouses and currencies
• Mobile sales app
• Multichannel inventory management
• Barcode scanning

The Medium plan starts at $359 per month. It includes three users and 125,000 API calls.

The Large plan starts at $649 per month. It includes eight users and 250,000 API calls.

The Large Plus plan starts at $999 per month. It includes up to 20 users and 500,000 API calls.

Unleashed offers a free 14-day trial, allowing businesses to explore the software’s capabilities without commitment. The pricing is structured to scale with business growth, ensuring that users only pay for the features and capacity they need.

Additional modules can be purchased separately as required. These include BI Vision for advanced reporting, Advanced Inventory Manager for inventory optimisation and demand planning, a B2B ecommerce portal, and integrations with popular ecommerce platforms.

• Note: Unleashed helps businesses unlock efficiency across all areas of the business. Minimise your production costs, slash administrative time, and achieve maximum manufacturing productivity with the world’s most-loved manufacturing inventory software. Start your free 14-day trial of Unleashed today.

Best inventory control software for field service companies

The best inventory control software for field service companies should provide specific functionality for working on various job sites. It should ensure that equipment can be signed in and out of a storage facility with ease while helping you track tools and materials across each field location.

inFlow

inFlow is an inventory control system designed to tackle the challenges faced by businesses working in the field. It offers robust inventory management capabilities, along with key features such as asset management, material cost tracking, and equipment sign-out.

inFlow pros

• Simplifies inventory management with an intuitive dashboard and real-time data.
• Enhances productivity through automated processes and easy integration with existing systems.
• Provides robust reporting tools for insightful business decision-making.

Positive reviews of inFlow:

Source: Capterra

inFlow cons

• The Web App version is reported to have limitations compared to the desktop version.
• The lack of direct integration with certain accounting software can be a drawback for some businesses.
• Concerns have been raised about the learning curve associated with the different versions of the product.

Negative reviews of inFlow:

Source: Capterra

inFlow pricing

inFlow offers a tiered pricing structure with monthly and annual subscription options, catering to different business sizes and needs. Each plan includes a set number of sales orders per year, with additional orders incurring a nominal fee.

The Entrepreneur plan starts at $110 per month for two users. It includes inventory control for one physical location, 100 sales orders, and one integration.

The Small Business plan starts at $279 per month for five users. It includes unlimited locations, 1,000 sales orders, two integrations, and two additional hours of setup assistance.

The Mid-Size plan starts at $549 per month for 10 users. It includes all the features of the Small Business plan, along with 5,000 sales orders per month, three integrations, six hours of setup assistance, and single sign-on (SSO).

A free trial is available, allowing businesses to explore the full range of features before committing to a subscription.

Best inventory control software for small retailers

The best inventory control software for small retail businesses must address key challenges such as synchronising customer purchase orders, multichannel order management, and warehouse management.

Cin7

Cin7 is a cloud-based solution that integrates inventory management, order processing, and multiple sales channels into a single platform. Basic warehouse management, point-of-sale, and 3PL integrations make it a versatile and powerful tool for modern omnichannel retail.

• Compare inventory software: Cin7 vs Unleashed

Cin7 pros

• Real-time inventory tracking helps businesses maintain optimal stock levels and avoid overstocking or understocking.
• Automated order processing and multichannel integration ensure that customer orders are synchronised across all sales channels.
• Enhances the shopping experience for customers while streamlining operations for retailers.

Positive reviews of Cin7:

Source: Capterra 

Cin7 cons

• Trustpilot reviews indicate a poor level of customer support and implementation guidance.
• Cin7 only integrates with QuickBooks and Xero for accounting, which may not be suitable for businesses using other accounting systems.
• Users report frequent bugs in the software that can take a long time to get fixed.

Negative reviews of Cin7:

Source: Trustpilot

Cin7 pricing

Cin7 offers a range of pricing plans starting with the Standard plan, priced at $349 per month. This option is ideal for businesses that need essential inventory management capabilities without advanced features.

The Pro plan starts at $599 per month. This plan includes everything in the Standard plan plus additional integrations, advanced warehouse management for multiple locations, and higher sales order volumes.

The Advanced and Omni plans, both starting at $999 per month, offer more comprehensive features, including advanced manufacturing capabilities, MRP, and customisable configurations.

Cin7 has a 14-day free trial for new users, allowing you to explore the software's features without any obligation.

Best inventory control software for multichannel sellers

When it comes to multichannel sales, the best inventory control software for the job is one that integrates inventory, order management, and reporting across all your sales mediums.

Keeping track of orders from multiple sources and ensuring timely fulfilment can be overwhelming without a centralised system. The right inventory software will ensure you have accurate data for every channel, preventing overselling and unexpected stockouts.

Ordoro

Ordoro is an order management and inventory control software designed to help multichannel sellers efficiently manage stock and sales orders. It integrates seamlessly with various sales channels, ensuring real-time synchronisation of inventory levels to prevent overstocking and sales discrepancies.

Ordoro pros

• Automated order routing, shipping label generation, and advanced analytics provide insights into sales performance.
• User-friendly interface, and exceptional customer support.
• Robust automation capabilities make it an invaluable asset for businesses looking to optimise their multichannel operations.

Positive reviews of Ordoro:

Source: Capterra 

Ordoro cons

• Users have reported that Ordoro has limitations on carrier integrations based on region.
• Ordoro updates sales and shipping data only once per hour, which can be problematic for businesses with high sales volumes and low inventory.
• The free version of Ordoro offers limited features compared to the paid plans.

Negative reviews of Ordoro:

Source: GetApp

Ordoro pricing

Ordoro offers a tiered pricing structure based on a monthly subscription. Its inventory management functionality comes in two subscription packages.

The Advanced plan starts at $349 per month and offers unlimited warehouses, sales channels, and users. It also provides advanced analytics and warehouse transfers.

The Premium plan starts at $499 per month and includes all the same features as Advanced, along with purchase order management, bill of materials, and manufacturing orders.

Both plans offer 1,000 orders per month, with a $100 charge for every additional 1,000 users.

Ordoro also offers a 15-day free trial with no credit card required, allowing you to test the software before committing to a paid plan.

What’s the best inventory control software overall?

We might be a bit biased, but we believe Unleashed is the best inventory control software for most small–medium businesses. However, we encourage you to read our reviews on Trustpilot, Capterra, and the Xero App Store to understand the general customer sentiment. (Hint: it’s overwhelmingly positive).

Unleashed offers cloud-based inventory management and real-time visibility over multiple warehouses to help you maintain accurate stock levels, reduce carrying costs, and prevent stockouts.

It also provides crucial functionality for lifting business performance, including:

• Manufacturing: Manage bills of materials with ease, track production inventory, and efficiently plan your production runs.
• Integrations: Seamlessly connect with accounting, ecommerce, and shipping platforms for accurate data across the business.
• Reporting and analytics: Access invaluable insights into inventory trends, sales performance, and operational efficiencies.
• Purchase order management: Automate reordering and streamline purchase order creation with smart min and max levels.
• Product traceability: Comply with regulations and maximise quality control with batch tracking, serial number tracking, and expiry date management.
• Holistic customer support: Access comprehensive training and support resources to ensure you make the most of the software’s capabilities.

All these features collectively enhance the operational efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of your operations – making Unleashed the standout choice for inventory control.

Inventory control software FAQs

What is inventory control software?

Inventory control software is a digital tool designed to manage, track, and document goods within a company's inventory. It automates key inventory management processes to improve fulfilment time, stock accuracy, and cost efficiency.

What are the core benefits of inventory control software?

The main benefits of inventory control software include reduced administrative time and labour costs, fewer carrying costs, and enhanced stock visibility. It can also aid in improving cash flow, profitability, and productivity with automated processes.

How does inventory control software implementation work?

Inventory control software implementation typically involves setting up the software, training staff, and importing historical data. The risks can include potential system crashes, reduced workplace efficiency while implementation takes place, and the challenges of adapting to a new system.

Integration with existing systems can be complex, requiring careful planning and execution. Data accuracy during the transition from old systems to your new software is critical to avoid disruptions.

How can I ensure effective support for my inventory control software?

When shopping for inventory control software, it’s essential to choose a provider that offers comprehensive support, including training, help desks, and regular updates. Look for software that comes with detailed documentation and user guides to assist with troubleshooting.

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