Inventory control is a vital part of business management. Being off by even the slightest amount can negatively impact efficiency and customer satisfaction. Imagine how you would feel if you were told an item you really wanted was in stock, and then later learn that the company’s inventory system was incorrect. The item you thought you were getting now has to be ordered from a competitor. If you are the business in this situation, you end up losing a sale. You may also have to hire extra staff or pay overtime to current workers to make sure inventory counts are correct for all of your stock.
Choose the best small business inventory management software and prevent costly inventory mistakes. We’ve compiled a list of six inventory management programs that other business professionals feel are easy to use, offer a range of helpful options, and get the job done accurately.
Fishbowl
Fishbowl partners with Quickbooks to help manage inventory for small businesses. Key features include quick access to the number of items you have in stock, information on what is on order or in manufacturing at that moment, and where the items that are in stock are located. It sorts by serial number, lot number, or even expiration date. This software can also make sure the orders you receive from vendors match your original orders.
NetSuite ERP
Earning a 2013 Editor’s Choice Award from PC Magazine, NetSuite has just one flaw and that is that it doesn’t offer any payroll management. The inventory tracking is exceptional, though, and the user interface is easy to use. NetSuite allows you to track inventory, accounts receivable and payable, assets, and your company’s general ledger. One of the highlights of this small business software is the key performance indicator dashboard, which allows you to track your company’s daily performance easily and quickly. There are also dashboards to track deadlines and meetings.
Peachtree
Peachtree is another leading name in small business management programs. Known for its accounting software, Peachtree is also a powerful inventory management system. It also tracks employee payroll, tracks your business contacts, and creates custom reports. Note that there is no OS X version available.
QuickBooks Enterprise
QuickBooks tends to be a popular business software for all aspects of a business. Enterprise is especially handy for small businesses with more than one warehouse. It can track inventory that’s in each warehouse or even inventory that is on different trucks on the way to customers.
QuickBooks Plus Online
If your company does not use barcode scanners, QuickBooks Plus Online is an extremely affordable inventory program for small businesses. The information is stored in the cloud, so you can access inventory from your office, home, or mobile device. You can be miles away at a conference and still have immediate access to the information you need. In addition to managing inventory, QuickBooks Plus Online tracks your expenses, does your invoicing, and even handles payroll. It’s an all-in-one package that suits any small business’s needs.
Santrio Open for Business
If you want a powerful inventory software that doesn’t take up much space on your computer, Santrio Open for Business is ideal. It’s a cloud-based program, so you can access it from any computer, smartphone, or tablet. This makes it easy to stay up to date when you’re at home, in meetings, or away from your office.
Byline
Thomas Maxwell is a freelance writer focusing on business management, financial analysis, business software, corporate culture and other kindred topics. Thomas is very much aware of the many benefits of dealer management software for dealers, and that’s why he recommends that readers look into the software from carxrm.com.
Image credit goes to MobileWorxs.