Katana vs MRPeasy: Manufacturing Software Comparison

Selecting the right manufacturing software can be challenging. You need to account for your needs, your budget, and which workflows you’d like to optimise. Then you must carefully consider which software system is best suited to your unique business requirements.

To make things easier, we’ve analysed two of the leading manufacturing solutions – Katana vs MRPeasy – to help you find the right solution. We’ll also look at a third option offering additional manufacturing benefits these tools lack.

Let's dive into what sets these platforms apart and how they might meet your business needs.

What is Katana MRP?

Katana, also known as Katana Cloud Inventory or Katana MRP, is a manufacturing and inventory management software aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. Its main strengths lie in its modern, intuitive interface and real-time inventory and production management capabilities.

Katana simplifies complex manufacturing processes, providing clear insights into production statuses and inventory levels. It's popular among businesses that need a straightforward, easy-to-implement solution to manage their manufacturing workflows efficiently.

• Compare manufacturing software: Katana MRP vs Unleashed

What is MRPeasy?

MRPeasy is a cloud-based MRP software. It is designed to help small and mid-sized manufacturers efficiently manage their production, inventory, supply chain, and customers. With core features like inventory control, production scheduling, procurement management, and CRM, MRPeasy enables businesses to streamline operations and improve overall efficiency.

The platform is highly scalable and can accommodate growing business needs, making it one of the best manufacturing systems for companies looking to expand their operations.

• Compare MRP software: Unleashed vs MRPeasy

Katana vs MRPeasy: What’s the difference?

When comparing Katana MRP and MRPeasy, both platforms are designed to streamline manufacturing processes but differ in several key areas.

Katana is a Materials Resource Planning (MRP) system that focuses on streamlining inventory and production planning, while MRPeasy is a multipurpose manufacturing software offering full-scale production management functionality that extends to manufacturing CRM and procurement.

While both solutions are designed for small–medium enterprises, MRPeasy’s broader suite of manufacturing features also makes it useful for larger or more complex businesses.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the areas in which Katana and MRPeasy differ:

Functionality

Katana and MRPeasy both offer inventory management, production planning, and reporting features.

However, there are a couple differences in their functionality:

• Katana stands out with its intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for small to medium-sized businesses to adopt and use.
• MRPeasy, on the other hand, offers more advanced functionalities like CRM and purchasing modules that can benefit larger businesses with more complex needs.

Industries served

Katana and MRPeasy both serve similar audiences, but some sectors seem to prefer one solution over another.

Here’s what our research taught us about the industries using Katana and MRPeasy:

• Katana generally targets small to medium-sized manufacturers in food and beverage, electronics, and apparel.
• Katana also caters to industries such as cosmetics, furniture, and home goods.
• MRPeasy also serves a wide range of industries but is particularly known for its suitability for small to mid-sized manufacturers in electronics, machinery, and medical devices.
• MRPeasy is well-regarded in the automotive, metal fabrication, and plastics industries.
• Katana primarily focuses on small to medium-sized enterprises, aiming to provide an accessible, cost-effective solution.
• MRPeasy caters to the same market but is robust enough to support slightly larger operations with more complex requirements.

Online ratings

Both platforms receive favourable online ratings from users of the software.

Here’s what users are saying about Katana and MRPeasy in reviews posted online:

• Katana is often praised for its usability and excellent customer support.
• Users appreciate Katana’s seamless integration with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.
• MRPeasy is noted for its comprehensive feature set and robust performance.
• Users commend MRPeasy for its competitive pricing that offers great value for small to medium-sized manufacturers.

A third alternative: Introducing Unleashed

Unleashed is a powerful manufacturing software tool that is a viable alternative to Katana and MRPeasy.

It combines robust manufacturing inventory management, order management, and reporting tools with practical MRP features to provide a comprehensive manufacturing software solution.

Unleashed differentiates itself from Katana and MRPeasy with a strong focus on stock control, inventory planning, and production planning tools. Additionally, it has advanced integrations with various eCommerce platforms, accounting software, and point-of-sale systems.

Unleashed is well-suited for wholesale, distribution, and manufacturing businesses, providing easy-to-use tools for managing complex product lines and supply chains. Its flexible pricing plans and scalability appeal to varying business sizes, from startups to larger enterprises.

Like Katana, Unleashed’s user interface is straightforward and intuitive. It also provides advanced functionalities comparable to MRPeasy. Unleashed has the highest user ratings of any solution on the market on both Trustpilot and the Xero App Store.

• Note: If you’re looking to streamline your production processes and automate manufacturing inventory control, Unleashed is the right solution for you. See why 1000s of businesses love using Unleashed to boost efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs: Start a risk-free 14-day trial today (no credit card required).

Katana vs MRPeasy: Ratings and reviews

Here’s a quick summary of the average ratings for Katana and MRPeasy from popular manufacturing software review platforms: Capterra, Trustpilot, Xero App Store, and G2.

Katana ratings:

• Capterra: ★★★★★ 4.7/5
• Trustpilot: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
• G2: ★★★★★ 4.6/5
• Xero App Store: ★★★★★ 4.6/5

MRPeasy ratings:

• Capterra: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5
• Trustpilot: ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
• G2: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
• Xero App Store: ★★★★★ 4.6/5

Both platforms have strong reputations for user satisfaction. Katana edges out slightly higher in user-friendliness and customer support, while MRPeasy is praised for its extensive functionality.

MRPeasy customer reviews:

MRPeasy users appreciate its comprehensive feature set, reliability, and scalability. It is highly rated for its robust performance and detailed reporting capabilities.

Source: G2.com

Katana MRP customer reviews:

Katana consistently receives high marks for its user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and efficiency in managing small to medium-sized manufacturing operations.

Source: Capterra

Unleashed ratings and reviews

Now let's examine Unleashed’s ratings on various online review platforms:

• Capterra: ★★★★★ 4.4/5
• Trustpilot: ★★★★★ 4.9/5
• G2: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
• Xero App Store: ★★★★★ 4.6/5

Unleashed is well-regarded across these platforms, with users highlighting its strong inventory control features, seamless integrations with other business tools, and excellent customer support.

The software gets positive feedback for its comprehensive functionality, which is particularly beneficial for businesses with complex supply chains and diverse product lines.

Unleashed reviews:

Unleashed has slightly higher and slightly lower ratings in some areas compared to Katana and MRPeasy. This may be due to its learning curve and the depth of features that can be initially overwhelming for smaller businesses. However, it is praised for its robust performance and advanced inventory management – and has the best ratings on Trustpilot due to its above-and-beyond approach to customer support.

Source: Capterra

Katana vs MRPeasy features

Both Katana and MRPeasy offer a range of core features designed to streamline the manufacturing process.

The core problems both solutions solve include:

• Inventory management: Helping to track raw materials and finished products in real-time, reducing the risk of stockouts and overstocking.
• Production planning: Streamlining scheduling and workflows, ensuring optimal use of resources and timely completion of tasks.
• Order management: Facilitating seamless order tracking, processing, and fulfilment, enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Purchase order management: Simplifying the procurement process by efficiently managing supplier relationships and purchase orders.
• Reports and analytics: Providing insights into manufacturing performance and key metrics, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Let’s dive a little deeper into the specific features of each solution.

MRPeasy features:

• Inventory management with real-time tracking of inventory levels, materials, and goods
• Production planning and scheduling with Gantt charts for better visibility and control
• Customer relationship management tools to track communications and customer data
• Purchase management tools for managing supplier information and purchase orders
• Basic accounting features, including financial reports
• Real-time insights into shop floor activities
• Human resources management of employee data and roles
• Quality control tools for tracking and ensuring product quality.

Note: Some advanced features like CRM and accounting may be available as paid add-ons or part of higher-tier plans.

Katana MRP features:

• Real-time inventory management to track raw materials and finished goods
• Visual production planning with drag-and-drop capabilities
• Sales and order management integration with eCommerce platforms for order fulfilment
• Purchase order management with automated purchase order creation and tracking
• Shop floor mobile app for tracking and managing production tasks on the shop floor
• API Integration that connects with other tools for seamless data integration
• Barcode scanning for faster inventory management and tracking.

Note: Features like API integration and advanced reporting may require higher-tier subscription plans or add-ons.

Unleashed features

Unleashed offers a robust set of features tailored to optimise the manufacturing and inventory management processes.

Key features that set Unleashed apart include:

Advanced inventory management

Unleashed provides dynamic inventory management with real-time visibility, encompassing multiple warehouses and stock locations. This makes it a great choice for manufacturers with complex supply chains, as it ensures accurate inventory levels and reduces carrying costs.

Comprehensive product traceability

Unleashed offers extensive batch and serial number tracking features that work in tandem with its built-in barcode inventory system. This allows manufacturers to trace every product to its origin, facilitating compliance and quality control.

Bill of Materials (BOM) management

Advanced BOM management allows for multi-level BOMs and subassemblies. This enables manufacturers to manage complex production processes efficiently and reduce errors in product assembly.

Integration capabilities

Unleashed offers seamless integrations with various accounting, eCommerce, and shipping platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, Shopify, and Amazon. This interoperability streamlines operations and centralises data, leading to better cross-functional efficiency.

Extensive reporting and analytics

Advanced analytics and reporting tools provide deep insights into inventory trends, sales performance, and operational efficiencies. Customisable dashboards and real-time data aid manufacturers in making informed, data-driven decisions.

Multichannel sales order management

Enhanced sales order management with functionalities for tracking sales from order to fulfilment. Integrations with CRM tools ensure customer relationships are well-managed and orders are processed accurately and promptly.

With Unleashed, you can sync all your sales data from various online, offline, and B2B channels to enable accurate multichannel reporting and inventory management.

Automated purchase order system

You can create, manage, and track purchase orders directly within Unleashed. Unleashed's reordering system can automatically generate purchase orders based on predefined parameters, ensuring optimal stock levels are maintained without manual intervention.

Katana vs MRPeasy vs Unleashed: Pricing

Katana vs MRPeasy: Customer support

Good customer support is vital when it comes to manufacturing software. Because of the complexity of the solutions available and the need for customisable experiences, a tool that has all the right features and pricing may still be undesirable if it takes days or weeks to troubleshoot a problem (see Cin7 reviews).

Katana customer support

Katana offers multiple tiers of customer service based on the subscription level.

For basic plans, users get standard email support. Pro and Enterprise plan customers receive priority support, including live chat and dedicated account management.

Users have widely reported positive experiences, with reviews highlighting Katana's timely and effective responses.

One user shared: "Katana’s support team is helpful and always quick to resolve issues. Their dedicated account managers make a difference for our business."

MRPeasy customer support

MRPeasy also offers varying levels of customer support depending on the subscription.

The basic plan includes email support and access to a help centre. Premium and higher subscriptions have fast response times and additional support channels, including live chat and phone support.

Feedback from users is generally positive, though some have noted the time it took to resolve certain issues.

A typical review reads: "MRPeasy’s customer service is decent, especially with the premium plan. The response times are reasonable, and the support team is friendly and knowledgeable.”

Why Unleashed has the top-rated customer support in the industry

With 700+ 5-star reviews on Trustpilot, it’s clear that customers favour Unleashed’s helpful approach to troubleshooting and software implementation.

One user shared: “I have to say, the level of customer service is outstanding. Super-efficient, knowledgeable and friendly ... So glad we went with Unleashed. P.S., definitely worth paying extra for the premium support.”

Unleashed is renowned for its top-rated customer support in the industry due to its comprehensive support levels and well-structured onboarding plans.

Unleashed tiered support packages include:

• Standard Support
• • Availability: 24/7 email support.
  • Features: Essential assistance for everyday queries and issues. Users can submit tickets and receive responses within a reasonable timeframe.
• Priority Support
• • Availability: 24/7 email support; phone support during business hours.
  • Features: Priority handling of support tickets, ensuring quicker response times; more detailed assistance and quicker resolution for complex issues.
• Premium Support
• • Availability: 24/7 email, phone, and chat support.
  • Features: Offers the fastest response times and access to a dedicated customer success manager. Premium support users benefit from proactive monitoring of their accounts and more personalised, in-depth technical assistance.

Unleashed onboarding plans include:

• Basic Onboarding
• • Duration: Approximately 2 weeks.
  • Includes: Initial setup assistance, importing data, basic training on core functionalities, and access to self-paced learning resources like webinars and documentation.
• Standard Onboarding
• • Duration: Approximately 1 month.
  • Includes: Everything in Basic Onboarding plus more personalised training sessions, help setting up integrations, and tailored workflow adjustments. Users get guided tutorials and hands-on training to ensure they are comfortable with all essential features.
• Advanced Onboarding
• • Duration: 1-3 months, customisable based on user needs.
  • Includes: Comprehensive setup and configuration support, advanced customisation, detailed workflow mapping, and extensive training sessions for all team members. This plan often involves regular check-ins with a dedicated account manager to ensure seamless adoption and performance.

Looking for a better alternative to MRPeasy and Katana MRP?

It would be untruthful to claim that Katana or MRPeasy are bad manufacturing software solutions. Both products offer robust production management features and have received largely positive online reviews from users of the software.

That doesn’t mean they’re necessarily the right solution for your business and your needs.

If you’re weighing up your cloud manufacturing software options, consider adding Unleashed to your list. It offers many of the same functionalities as Katana and MRPeasy, at a similar price, with additional benefits that may be more in line with your company’s requirements.

When you choose Unleashed, you get:

• Operational efficiency: The advanced inventory management and reordering system ensures that manufacturers can maintain optimal stock levels with minimal effort, reducing downtime and improving production efficiency.
• Quality and compliance: Batch and serial number tracking provides comprehensive traceability, making it easier to ensure product quality and regulatory compliance, a crucial aspect for industries like food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and electronics.
• Scalability: With multi-warehouse support and seamless integrations, Unleashed can scale with a growing business, supporting increasing complexity and volume without compromising performance.
• Enhanced decision-making: The extensive reporting and analytics tools offer insights into critical manufacturing KPIs, facilitating strategic planning and operational improvements.

Discover how Unleashed can transform and streamline your manufacturing operations. Start your free 14-day trial today and experience the benefits of superior inventory management and world-class customer support.