What is an Inventory Management App?
An inventory management app is any digital tool used by inventory managers and workers to monitor and manage inventory levels, ensuring that stocks, raw materials, and supplies meet production and consumer demands while addressing any related issues. Also known as inventory management software, a good inventory management app generates detailed reports and provides data analytics, enabling users to gain useful insights for better decision-making. It’s important to note that this type of app can not be limited to traditional inventory tasks; it can cater solutions that support overall inventory management processes, even if it is not exclusively designed for inventory control. This broader approach allows businesses to leverage tools that enhance visibility, streamline operations, and improve inventory oversight.
Importance
The value of efficient inventory management is integral to any goods-based business. It helps prevent operational issues such as stockouts, overstocking, and any other issues that can contribute to business loss or failure. Having a proper inventory management app can benefit the business in many ways, such as the following:
Effective inventory control
Better inventory planning and ordering
Better customer service
Reduce product loss from theft, spoilage and returns
Gain better insight on financial standing, customer behaviors and preferences, product and business opportunities, trends and more.
Mobile inventory management apps enhance these benefits by providing real-time access and updates, enabling workers to operate more efficiently. Using handheld devices also allows for capturing photo evidence and assigning corrective actions immediately to avoid overproduction, spoilage, or inadequate supplies.
Key Features
Organizations can get the most out of their inventory management software when it includes the following essential features:
Real-time tracking of inventory items
Support for customized reports
Pre-made inventory inspection templates
Stock management from one central location
Accessible on any desktop or mobile device
Cloud-based for easy access anywhere
Offline mode record-keeping capabilities
Keep Your Assets in Top Shape with SafetyCulture
The SafetyCulture platform is designed to improve asset management, maintenance, and inspections by enhancing the organization’s visibility and control over their physical work items. At the same, this solution also simplifies organizations’ day-to-day operations on the ground. Teams use it to digitize and streamline key parts of their asset management and maintenance process—such as inspections, audits, and reporting—while providing sensor integration for real-time monitoring and data collection, which they can access from all devices. These integrations enable workers to operate more efficiently by consolidating data and workflows into a single platform. Here is a list of features SafetyCulture supports:
Schedule and conduct regular asset inspections to catch issues early
Generate customized reports tailored to specific needs, audits, standards, and operational processes
Save time by using pre-made asset maintenance checklists and templates that simplify data entry and standardize procedures across teams
Access data anytime and anywhere through a cloud-based system accessible on both mobile and desktop.
Perform inspections offline when needed to continue recording asset details, and save your data for syncing once connection is available.
Explore SafetyCulture’s asset management capabilities here.
How to Choose the Right Inventory Management App
It’s important to focus on features that match your business’s specific inventory challenges and needs when choosing the right inventory management app. To help you decide which works best for you, here’s a summary of our top picks for the best inventory management apps:
Inventory Management App | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
Inflow | None | $149/user/month* | Yes |
QuickBooks | None | $35/user/month | Yes |
Zoho | Yes | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
Finale Inventory | None | $99/user/month | Yes |
Sortly | Yes | $24/user/month* | Yes |
Shopify | None | $19/user/month* | Yes |
Square | Yes | $29/user/month | Yes |
Lightspeed | Yes | $89/user/month* | Yes |
Odoo | Yes | $7.25/user/month* | Yes |
* billed annually
