The technique sellers use to transport, store, and ship inventory after it leaves the manufacturer’s warehouse all the way to customers’ doorsteps is called inventory management.
As far as an inventory management strategy is concerned, it varies based on product type, the storage facility, the quantity of goods, and the order fulfillment method.
Although these strategies differ from one seller to another, one thing remains certain: the destructive potential poor inventory management practices have on an online business. Protect your Amazon store by using the best Amazon inventory management software mentioned in this blog.
You can manage your Amazon inventory by going to Inventory and then selecting Manage FBA Inventory. Here, you can control pricing, create and edit listings, view, and sort your products. To make life easier, subscribe to a reputable Amazon FBA seller toolkit for greater control over every aspect of your Amazon business.
Now, let’s go through some of the best Amazon inventory management software (in no particular order) available to sellers.
Brightpearl is a retail inventory management software suitable for both small-scale, single channel sellers and complex multichannel retailers. Created specifically for wholesale and retail businesses, the brand positions itself as a “Digital Operations Platform”.
A peek inside reveals a centralized and well-designed dashboard equipped with warehouse and FBA inventory management tools. Users have a real-time view of the financials and access to an advanced business intelligence tool capable of accurately forecasting demand.
Brightpearl is also famous for supporting numerous eCommerce integrations including Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, OpenCart, Magneto, BigCommerce, personal websites, and even brick and mortar (offline) stores.
Powerful workflow automation, sales order management, and live training and support are core features responsible for bringing in positive reviews. A cloud-based ERP system, Brightpearl makes for a handy inventory management software, but is better suited for large merchants and brands making upwards of a million dollars in sales, something it recommends on its pricing page.
Given how complex the entire software is, upon subscribing, you’ll be assigned an implementation consultant along with a team to get you up to speed on how to best manage the inventory side of things. The entire process can last up to three months.
In summary, unless you run a successful business that sprawls across multiple eCommerce marketplaces and can afford a few hundred dollars in subscription fees, try going with some of the other names mentioned on this list.
Moving onto the more modest side of things, Sellbrite appeals to the majority of Amazon FBA sellers who need affordable Amazon inventory management solutions. A simple software with an intuitive interface, pricing options start from $19/mo. for the Shopify-exclusive package (2,000 orders/mo.) up to $99/mo.
The FBA integration is included in the PRO package series which starts from $29 to $179/mo., depending on your needs. If the sales pitch doesn’t seem all too convincing, try the ‘free forever’ version, but keep in mind that it comes with drastically fewer features. Going for a paid plan lets you manage inventory across multiple channels like Shopify Plus, Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Walmart, and more.
Upload bulk listings to save time and automatically sync inventories for all stores to prevent overselling and other costly disasters. What’s more, you can easily print shipping labels and ship orders from a simplified and easy-to-use dashboard.
Sellbrite is an everyman’s inventory management software that’s particularly useful during the initial stages of business growth and development. Once things start getting serious, existing features will begin to feel underwhelming, and you’ll most likely have to move onto more complex software.
QuickBooks Commerce is a good inventory management software for Amazon sellers wanting a birds-eye view of their stock.
Formerly known as TradeGecko, QuickBooks Commerce comes equipped with essential inventory management features and like all previous entrants, supports integrations across multiple eCommerce platforms. The list includes names like WooCommerce, ShipStation, Squarespace, Etsy, Shopify, eBay, and of course, Amazon.
Users benefit from intelligent insights, automated inventory management, price list management, multi-currency functionality, and the ability to sync online apps. There isn’t much that sets QuickBooks Commerce apart from its competitors—a decent inventory and accounting software that gets the job done.
In case you’re heading over to their website right now, you should know that QuickBooks Commerce is not a standalone subscription; you must also subscribe to QuickBooks Online which will set you back $100 in monthly fee expense.
Amazon sellers searching for a tool with inventory forecasting capabilities, this one’s for you. Unlike the previous software, Forecastly only supports Amazon. A demand forecasting and predictive analytics tool, sellers don’t need to worry about over or understocking thanks to advanced algorithms that keep a track of all shipments.
Software functionality is also limited to the US, UK, Canadian, and Mexican Amazon marketplaces. Inventory forecasting forte aside, Forecastly also does a good job of simplifying the reordering process and makes accessing shipping information easier.
Pricing plans start from $80 per month and become progressively more expensive depending on your monthly orders. So, is Forecastly the ideal inventory management software? Well, if it’s predictive analytics you’re interested in then yes, but if we’re talking about value for money and breadth of features, then not quite. Try exploring other options.
Veeqo is yet another comprehensive Amazon inventory management software that deserves its spot on our list. Founded in 2013, the tool seamlessly unifies all processes and applications to facilitate growth. With one of the most extensive lists of integrations of any inventory management tool, Veeqo proves equally effective for both fast-growing startups and established businesses alike.
A simple dashboard allows for total control over inventory irrespective of the number of warehouses or sales channels in use. Demand forecasting and real-time inventory synchronization let you know exactly how many units remain and are expected to sell in the coming days.
On the Amazon side of things, all pending orders are listed along with automatic updates for each new sale. FBM sellers—especially those looking to expand internationally—can leverage more than 20 unique carrier integrations. Direct tasks such as bulk printing labels, updating customers, and tracking shipments are equally straightforward.
Veeqo does a good job of simplifying complex inventory management processes. For example, with regards to fulfilling orders via FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), you can transfer your inventory between different warehouses with minimal effort. Also, if the reviews are anything to go by, then the customer support is really good.
In spite of such an impressive list of features, no tool is perfect, and Veeqo is no exception. Beneath the sleek dashboard lie a few noticeable drawbacks.
Although it advertises itself as an inventory management tool suitable for businesses of all sizes, the basic package starts from £150/mo. with the premium package rate going as high as £250/mo. Small sellers have no option but to forgo Veeqo in favor of more affordable inventory management software like, let’s say, Sellbrite.
Secondly, tool functionality starts becoming increasingly restrictive as operations expand and the performance feels sluggish once you start managing larger product catalogs.
A promising tool that’s unfortunately out of reach for the average seller.
Orderhive built its reputation as a top inventory management software owing to its ability to automate workflows across multiple platforms including Amazon. Being no stranger to the Amazon inventory management software game, Orderhive wins favor with sellers due to solid features including:
Aside from these points, every single Orderhive user, irrespective of pricing plan, benefits from unlimited basic integrations and SKU management. Amazon sellers still skeptical about inventory management tools can start with the free plan (available only to Shopify sellers).
A common point of criticism is the price. Seeing as how Amazon sellers cannot benefit from the free plan, they’ll have to dish out $44.99 per month to determine whether Orderhive is as great of an Amazon inventory management system as it claims. Some customers have also complained of lackluster customer services post-purchase.
Consider reading up on more customer reviews and weighing both pros and cons before you make the final decision.
While virtually every other inventory software on this list claims to be an all-in-one inventory management solution, SoStocked does the opposite. Their main focus is to customize inventory forecasting based on your needs.
Featuring a spreadsheet-like interface, SoStocked claims to be the “first fully customizable amazon inventory management and forecasting software” powered by a unique forecast algorithm. Amazon sellers can easily anticipate demand-shifts caused by holidays like Prime Day—an essential tool for startups that have yet to weather the seasonality storms on Amazon.
Easy order tracking capabilities let you locate your inventory with pin-point accuracy. Worrying about data-migration costs when shifting to new systems? The people over at SoStocked are generous enough to offer free data migration services saving you $200 in migration costs.
What makes SoStocked unique is the option to set personalized KPIs and variables. Overall, It’s a breath of fresh air in a marketplace filled with ‘one-size-fits-all’ inventory software that compromises on customizability.
Amazon sellers whose priorities include multi-platform support and tons of integrations would best look elsewhere. SoStocked focuses on just a few aspects of inventory management, which means you’ll either love it or regret making the purchase.
Linnworks is the answer for sellers looking for an inexpensive Amazon inventory management system. The software automates essential processes and enables businesses to scale particularly during the early stages of growth.
As is expected of any well-reputed Amazon inventory management software, Linnworks lets users combine their eCommerce sales channels and synchronize inventory resulting in effective stock management. Smooth supply chain management and minimal out of stock instances also lead to considerable cost savings.
A robust customized reporting feature provides key insights needed to improve existing management practices and also compare performance across multiple eCommerce platforms. Multichannel listing, inventory, and shipping management are also part of the subscription plan.
As far as pricing is concerned, there are no basic or premium packages, you’ll have to get in touch with their team to solicit quotations that vary based on sellers’ requirements. The website has a good chunk of resources including whitepapers, blogs, webinars, and case studies for those who want to get up to speed with everything related to the world of Amazon inventory management.
Overall, Linnworks lacks the same depth of features as other tool providers on this list but considering the price, is still a viable solution.
Expandly is a welcome addition for any multi-channel online retailer who wants a reliable inventory management software. A comprehensive tool, it helps businesses better manage areas of online selling like listing and order management, report generation, accounting, demand forecast, etc.
Users can integrate popular marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, Wish, and Amazon whereas the shopping cart integration list exceeds 25 names including WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magneto. The rapid onboarding service provided by their UK customer support team means minimal disruptions--a quality that sets Expandly apart from its competitors.
Their support team is also known to go the extra-mile to resolve issues for both new and old customers.
Centralized inventory management capabilities mean that whenever a sale is made on one channel, stock levels get updated across the board. Expandly also has a unique feature whereby you can sell items as products and bundles and not have to worry about manually updating stock levels.
Sellers with fast moving goods often point to slow inventory management software as a bottleneck, but with Expandly, that’s no longer an issue. View inventory in real-time, manage returns easily from a single dashboard, and print invoice, shipping labels, and other paperwork in bulk to ensure there are no delays. Plus, the option to integrate Amazon with Xero is a big upside.
The obvious downside, however, is the price tag. The standard package costs $228 a month, the premium is set at $468, whereas the enterprise package caters to big sellers. We recommend testing the waters with the cheaper tools mentioned on this list especially if you’re a new seller. If you feel as though your needs are still unfulfilled, it might be worth giving Expandly a shot.
Zonguru is not your conventional inventory management software. It’s a holisting Amazon FBA seller toolkit consisting of 16 unique tools that facilitate the selling process from start to finish. One of these tools is called MyProducts.
MyProducts is an Amazon inventory management tool that keeps track of your products across different marketplaces simultaneously. It lets you know your cost of goods sold (COGS) for accurate profit reporting and--based on the information you feed into the tool--keeps you updated about shipping times.
It also takes into account historical data and issues inventory reorder prompts so you never run out of stock again. You can also categorize ASINs based on the marketplace and current inventory status allowing for much-needed customization.
Not many sellers are aware of the advantages of effective inventory management practices for Amazon businesses. Despite that fact, even the best Amazon inventory management software by itself isn’t enough to succeed on the platform.
Selling on Amazon is multi-faceted i.e. there’s inventory management, keyword research, product sourcing, listing optimization, competitor research, customer engagement, and much, much more. An Amazon inventory management tool or software is highly useful in one domain, sure. But can the average seller afford multiple seller tools subscriptions?
The answer has to be an Amazon seller toolkit comprising various features that help sellers through each stage of FBA selling. Fortunately, Zonguru fits the bill perfectly—it consists of 16 tools that help create an Amazon business from the ground up.
Considering how access to all of Zonguru’s features costs half (or even a quarter in some cases) compared to tools that solely focus on inventory management, Zonguru is a must-have for every FBA seller!
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Let’s dispel a few doubts surrounding Amazon inventory management software.
Amazon does not manufacture products. What it does, however, is purchase inventory in bulk from large manufacturers and resell it on the platform under the name AmazonBasics. For such products, Amazon maintains inventory and benefits from the lack of FBA fees.
As a side note: product niches that feature AmazonBasics products are often avoided by new sellers. That’s because you’ll have to sacrifice a good chunk of your profits in order to compete with Amazon on price.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to managing inventory. The answer depends on the type of product, sales velocity, warehouse and storage facilities, shipping methods, and so on. As a rule of thumb, make sure you:
Meeting set benchmarks ensures your Inventory Performance Index (IPI) score remains high and mitigates the risk of an account suspension.
Amazon owns a vast logistics network spanning continents like North and South America, Europe, and Asia. The company has more than a decade’s worth of experience shipping goods and is in a position to challenge big carrier companies like FedEx and UPS. For FBM sellers, there’s also the option of selecting third-party delivery services via the Seller Central dashboard.
Fulfilled by Amazon is worth it for most sellers operating on the platform. That’s because in most cases, the cost of shipping orders yourself exceeds that of the FBA fees. It’s more economical to let Amazon pick, pack, and ship your products to your customers on your behalf, letting you focus your energies on growing your business.
Some tell-tale signs of poor inventory management are high storage costs, a low IPI (Inventory Performance Index) score, broken or damaged items, consistently delayed shipping times, stockouts, lost items, and difficulty forecasting demand. Great inventory tracking and warehouse management software help resolve such issues.
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