What is the best inventory software for your business? It seems like a pretty straightforward question, but it opens up a lot of possibilities that can be explored in order to properly answer it. As such, we are going to delve into this question to determine what inventory software can best serve your business in the short term and the long term.
Always on the Lookout
It is a good idea to always be on the lookout for a good deal and to never settle for anything less than the best. For many small businesses with limited funds, they can’t always get everything they want, but that does not mean that they should have to put up with inferior inventory software. They just need to make sure they get the best they can. And this is not always the most expensive option, but the one that is the best fit.
Pursuing Excellence
All too often, you can find businesses getting stuck with a “grass is always green on the other side of the fence” attitude about inventory software. Once you are in the habit of pursuing excellence, it can be difficult to settle in with a solution that you are using and make the most of it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could find inventory software that you do not have to exchange all the time for something better? Imagine being able to find something that works well for you today and that will also be able to perfectly fill your requirements far into the future. That would be quite helpful. This does not have to be a pipe dream. You can make the most of your time and money by selecting the right software the first time and not having to change it out every few years just because something new comes along.
Finding the Best Inventory Software
The way to find the best inventory software is to define three main criteria:
The amount of money you are willing and able to spend on it, i.e., your budget.
The features that you need in order to do the jobs you require it to help you do.
The results you expect from using the software, such as monetary savings, time savings, etc.
Let’s dig into each of these points a little deeper to make sure we really understand what they mean.
Budgeting – Keep in mind that it is not just the amount of money that you are paying right now, but it is also the amount of money that you will have to spend in the future if you pick a cheap solution and then have to abandon it in the future for something better. This not only wastes money, but it wastes a lot of your employees’ time on learning a new system just to have to switch to an entirely different one not long after.
Feature Set – Make sure that the inventory software is not only able to do everything that you need it to right now, but that it offers room for growth so you can move up to additional features without having to switch software platforms in the process. For example, you might just need the ability to integrate with QuickBooks Online, scan parts and products in and out of your inventory with a barcode scanner, and track inventory in multiple locations. But later you want the ability to generate sales orders, work with vendors, and assign sales representatives to customers. A little later, you want to add purchase orders, unit of measure conversions, payments, and inventory tracking by expiration date, lot number, and batch number. If you choose a good inventory solution, you might just be able to add those other features to the previous ones without having to switch software.
Results – Set specific parameters on what you want to see happen as a result of using the best inventory software accessible to you. This can be measurements of changes to your inventory turnover, carrying costs, order fulfillment times, number of warehouse workers, and more. Carefully measure your performance over time and see if things improve at the rate you expect. If you picked wisely, you should be able to see a healthy return on investment from your purchase and implementation of the software.
Nothing But the Best
Boxstorm might just be the best inventory software for you. It comes in 2 versions: Boxstorm Free, Boxstorm Pro. The first version offers a great many inventory management features, and it is the first free online inventory solution to integrate with QuickBooks Online. Try it out and if you wish to expand its feature set to include even more tools that your business can use, consider using one of the other Boxstorm versions that are currently available.
Start by getting a free account with Boxstorm Free today! After all, you deserve nothing but the best.
TL;DR SUMMARY
The best inventory software is one that is robust enough to last for many years instead of needing to be traded in for a better one after it has been outgrown. To find the best inventory software, consider these three criteria:
- If it fits within your budget
- If it has the features you need
- If it can generate the results you expect