Published 11 Sep 2023

The Best Inventory Control Software of 2023

warehouse manager scanning barcode with inventory control app

What is an Inventory Management Software?

An inventory control software is a digital tool for handling, monitoring, and documenting goods from a company’s inventory. It streamlines the flow of products from manufacturing and production to shipping and distribution with the help of various recording, tracking, and forecasting tools. Companies can leverage the insights gathered from this software to identify bottlenecks across their supply chain and improve inefficient business processes.

Benefits

Inventory control involves several processes that can be simplified with the help of a digital platform. Discover the key advantages of having an inventory control software program for your stock management operations.

Inventory Optimization and Control

An inventory control software platform streamlines day-to-day tasks with a variety of process, management, and reporting tools. For one, it allows you to keep track of multiple warehouses and inventories in a single location. Moreover, it aligns your workflows with your business goals, so employees can focus on their tasks without worrying about the small details.

Process Efficiency

Digitizing your processes is an excellent way to optimize your operations. The program does the work for you, so you can accomplish more and save time on manual tasks. For example, barcode and QR code scanners prove to be more efficient for encoding inventory data instead of manually typing in details on a logbook.

Accurate Tracking of Goods

An inventory control software offers a reliable means of monitoring the movement of inventory items from production to shipment. Easily keep an eye on your stocks using the program’s unique product identifiers such as serial numbers, lot numbers, and barcodes.

Searching for specific items also becomes faster with the help of a unified inventory database. Simply insert a product’s identification code in the system and let the program search it for you. With a click, you can find all the relevant details about your searched item.

Quality and Quantity Control

Part of inventory control includes ensuring high-quality inventory at sufficient amounts. A handy software program can aid you in this aspect. Use this tool to keep tabs on your inventory levels and automatically designate reorder points to replenish items with low quantities before you run out of stock.

This software also allows you to set automatic alerts for detecting expiration dates in products. This way, you can provide your customers with the freshest products and reduce waste from spoilage or damage.

Expense Monitoring

Lastly, most inventory control programs include accounting software integrations to streamline financial monitoring processes. Connecting these platforms allows for more accurate expense tracking as purchase orders come in and out. It also collects and consolidates financial data in one place, so you can observe which areas of your inventory tend to overspend or underspend.

Features

An inventory control software often includes a wide range of tools and functionalities to facilitate smoother inventory operations. These functionalities will depend on the size and needs of your business.

Make the most out of your inventory app by knowing the following core features:

  • Purchase order and asset tracking
  • Unique identification and tracking labels (e.g., serial numbers, lot numbers, SKUs)
  • Built-in barcode and QR code scanners
  • Warehouse management functionalities
  • Inventory databases and history records
  • Reporting and analytics capabilities
  • Stock supply and demand forecasting
  • Product kitting and assemblies
  • Integrations with the Internet of Things (IoT) software and other digital platforms (e.g., accounting, marketplace, e-commerce)

Choosing the Right Inventory Control Software

Effective inventory control and management begin with the right platform. These software programs offer various tools to handle stocks for different products effectively and ensure they have adequate supplies at all times. To help you find a suitable tool for your business needs, here’s a quick round-up of our top inventory control software platforms.

  • Best for all sizes and industries: SafetyCulture
  • Best for simple inventory control processes: Sortly
  • Best for small- and medium-sized businesses: NetSuite
  • Best for large-scale inventory operations: inFlow
  • Best for B2B and B2C sales companies: Cin7
  • Best for manufacturing and warehousing companies: Fishbowl
  • Best for small- and medium-sized distributors: Acctivate
  • Best for retail businesses: Lightspeed Retail
  • Best for e-commerce and marketplace businesses: Extensiv Order Manager
  • Best for healthcare and allied businesses: Hybrent

Refer to the table below for an in-depth comparison of the ten best inventory control software.

App/Software Best For Free Version Lowest Paid Plan Monthly Price Free Trial Web Mobile
SafetyCulture All inventory sizes and industries Yes $19* Yes, 30 days Yes Yes
Sortly Simple inventory control processes Yes $29* Yes, 14 days Yes Yes
NetSuite Small- and medium-sized businesses None Not available** None Yes Yes
inFlow Large-scale inventory operations None Not available Yes, 14 days Yes Yes
Cin7 B2B and B2C sales companies None $325 None Yes Yes
Fishbowl Manufacturing and warehousing companies None Custom pricing None Yes Yes
Acctivate Small- and medium-sized distributors None $833*** Yes, 14 days Yes None
Lightspeed Retail Retail businesses None $119* Yes Yes None
Extensiv Order Manager Multi-channel e-commerce and marketplace businesses None Not available None Yes Yes
Hybrent Healthcare and allied businesses None Not available None Yes Yes

* billed annually
** contact sales team for more information
*** custom price quotes available

leizel estrellas safetyculture content specialist

SafetyCulture Content Specialist

Leizel Estrellas

Leizel Estrellas is a content writer and researcher for SafetyCulture. Her academic and professional training as a researcher allows her to write meaningful articles that create a lasting impact. As a content specialist, she strives to promote a culture of safety in the workplace through accessible and reader-friendly content. With her high-quality work, she is keen on helping businesses across industries identify issues and opportunities to improve every day.

Leizel Estrellas is a content writer and researcher for SafetyCulture. Her academic and professional training as a researcher allows her to write meaningful articles that create a lasting impact. As a content specialist, she strives to promote a culture of safety in the workplace through accessible and reader-friendly content. With her high-quality work, she is keen on helping businesses across industries identify issues and opportunities to improve every day.