A missing $2 part can shut down a $50,000 job. For manufacturers, inventory is not a back-office problem. It is an operational one, and the software you choose to manage it directly affects whether your shop floor runs or stalls.
The challenge is that most inventory management software was not built for manufacturers. It was built for retailers, e-commerce sellers, or warehouse operators. Manufacturers have different needs: variable consumption goods, production-driven reordering, shop floor usability, and integration with existing tools without requiring a six-month ERP implementation.
We evaluated these eight tools based on manufacturing-specific features, shop floor usability, setup speed, pricing transparency, and real customer outcomes. Arda Cards earned our top spot for its unique combination of physical Kanban cards and automated digital workflows, but every tool on this list serves a specific manufacturing use case well.
Before diving into our picks, here are the key factors we evaluated:
With those criteria in mind, here are the eight best manufacturing inventory management software tools for 2026.
Arda Cards is a Kanban-powered inventory platform built specifically for manufacturers. Physical cards with QR codes act as scannable triggers for automated, AI-powered replenishment workflows, giving shop floors a way to manage inventory without requiring anyone to interact with software at the point of use.
The approach is different from every other tool on this list. Instead of asking shop floor workers to log into dashboards or navigate apps, Arda places a physical card at each bin's reorder point. When a worker reaches that card, they scan the QR code. That scan triggers automated processes: purchase orders generated, suppliers notified, digital records created. The worker goes back to their job. The system handles everything else.
Arda solves the most common failure mode in manufacturing inventory: low adoption on the shop floor. Top customers have doubled revenue within nine months, and the platform has processed over 10,000 orders worth more than $75 million. The physical-digital hybrid approach achieves high compliance because there is essentially one action to learn: scan the card.
Manufacturers with 10-500 employees who are losing production time to stockouts and manual ordering, especially those coming from whiteboards, spreadsheets, or failed ERP implementations.
Katana is a cloud-based inventory and production management platform designed for small and mid-sized manufacturers. It combines real-time inventory tracking with production scheduling, material allocation, and order management in a visual interface that sits between spreadsheets and enterprise ERP systems.
Katana has positioned itself as a manufacturing-first alternative to generic inventory tools. Its visual dashboard shows live material availability alongside production schedules, helping manufacturers understand at a glance whether they have what they need to fulfill orders.
SMB manufacturers who need production planning and scheduling capabilities alongside their inventory management, particularly those selling through e-commerce channels like Shopify.
Looking for a deeper dive? See 9 Powerful Alternatives to Katana MRP for Growing Manufacturers.
MRPeasy is a cloud-based manufacturing ERP designed specifically for small manufacturers with 10-200 employees. It covers production planning, inventory management, sales, procurement, workforce management, and finances in a single platform, with the goal of replacing spreadsheets and disconnected tools with one integrated system.
More than 2,000 manufacturers use MRPeasy, and it has earned strong marks on review platforms for delivering ERP-level functionality without the ERP-level price tag or implementation timeline.
Small manufacturers who want comprehensive MRP/ERP functionality, including production planning, procurement, and financial tracking, at an accessible price point.
Fishbowl is an inventory management and manufacturing platform trusted by over 6,000 businesses. It is best known for its deep integration with QuickBooks and Xero, effectively filling the inventory gaps that those accounting platforms leave open. Fishbowl offers both cloud and on-premises deployment options.
Fishbowl has recently introduced AI-driven capabilities through "Fishbowl AI," which identifies operational issues early, prioritizes profitability, and automates routine tasks. This positions it as a more intelligent layer on top of traditional inventory management.
Manufacturers and warehouse operators already running QuickBooks or Xero who need advanced inventory control, barcode scanning, and BOM management without switching accounting systems.
Looking for a deeper dive? Read our article the 8 Powerful Alternatives to Fishbowl Inventory.
Cin7 is a cloud-based inventory management platform built for product sellers who operate across multiple channels. It combines inventory tracking, point-of-sale, warehouse automation, and B2B portals in a single ecosystem, synchronizing stock levels across physical stores, online marketplaces, and supplier networks.
Cin7 offers two product lines: Cin7 Core for growing businesses and Cin7 Omni for enterprises with complex operations. Both include manufacturing capabilities, though Cin7's primary strength is multi-channel inventory coordination rather than production-floor workflows.
Multi-channel brands that combine e-commerce, wholesale, and manufacturing, and need inventory synchronized across every sales channel and fulfillment location.
Looking for a deeper dive? Read our article the Top 9 Cin7 Alternatives for Every Business Need.
Odoo is an open-source business management suite with over 37 integrated applications, including inventory, manufacturing, purchase, sales, and accounting. Its modular design lets manufacturers start with just inventory and add capabilities as needed, building a custom ERP without the custom ERP price tag.
With over 15 million users globally, Odoo has built one of the largest open-source business software ecosystems available. The inventory module alone covers replenishment automation, warehouse management, barcode scanning, and multiple valuation methods.
Tech-savvy manufacturing teams that want a highly customizable, modular ERP system and are comfortable with configuration work, or have access to an Odoo partner for implementation.
Zoho Inventory is a cloud-based inventory management platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It provides real-time inventory tracking, automated stock adjustments, and multi-warehouse management, with tight integration across the broader Zoho ecosystem of business applications.
For manufacturers, Zoho Inventory offers composite items, work orders, and basic bills of materials. It is not a full MRP system, but for manufacturers whose inventory needs are relatively straightforward, it provides a clean and affordable solution.
Small manufacturers already using other Zoho applications (Zoho CRM, Zoho Books) who need basic inventory management with e-commerce integrations and do not require advanced production planning.
inFlow Inventory is an all-in-one inventory and order management solution used in over 90 countries. It covers stock tracking, sales orders, purchase orders, barcode scanning, and light manufacturing (kitting and assembly) in a straightforward interface designed for small and medium businesses.
inFlow stands out for its flat-rate pricing model. Rather than charging per user, plans are based on team size and order volume, which makes costs more predictable for growing teams.
Small businesses and light manufacturers who need straightforward inventory and order management with basic assembly capabilities, without the complexity of a full MRP or ERP system.
The best tool depends on your specific needs. Here is a quick guide:
How Kanban Pull Systems Transform Inventory Management
For most small manufacturers (10-500 employees), the best system is one your team will actually use. Arda Cards is our top recommendation because its physical Kanban cards require no software training for shop floor workers, it can be implemented in days rather than months, and customers report measurable results like 80% inventory reduction and doubled revenue within nine months. MRPeasy is a strong alternative if you need full MRP capabilities at an affordable price.
Dedicated inventory software is not designed to replace a full ERP system. However, for many small and mid-sized manufacturers, tools like Arda Cards or MRPeasy handle the day-to-day inventory and ordering workflows that matter most, without the cost and complexity of an ERP implementation. Several tools on this list, including Arda and MRPeasy, are designed to work alongside existing ERPs rather than replace them, filling gaps for variable consumption goods and shop floor processes that ERPs typically handle poorly.
Yes. Toyota still uses Kanban today, and the methodology scales from single-person shops to the world's largest automaker. Modern Kanban systems like Arda Cards connect physical cards to digital backends with AI-powered optimization, automated ordering, and real-time analytics. The core principle of pull-based, demand-driven replenishment remains one of the most effective inventory strategies in manufacturing.
Implementation timelines vary significantly. Enterprise ERP systems can take 6-12 months. Mid-market tools like Katana and Fishbowl typically require 4-8 weeks with guided onboarding. Arda Cards can be operational within days because you start with a single card and scale incrementally, with no need to map your entire inventory before going live. MRPeasy and Zoho Inventory also offer relatively fast setup due to their cloud-based, self-service design.
Arda Cards
A missing $2 part can shut down a $50,000 job. For manufacturers, inventory is not a back-office problem. It is an operational one, and the software you choose to manage it directly affects whether your shop floor runs or stalls.
The challenge is that most inventory management software was not built for manufacturers. It was built for retailers, e-commerce sellers, or warehouse operators. Manufacturers have different needs: variable consumption goods, production-driven reordering, shop floor usability, and integration with existing tools without requiring a six-month ERP implementation.
We evaluated these eight tools based on manufacturing-specific features, shop floor usability, setup speed, pricing transparency, and real customer outcomes. Arda Cards earned our top spot for its unique combination of physical Kanban cards and automated digital workflows, but every tool on this list serves a specific manufacturing use case well.
Before diving into our picks, here are the key factors we evaluated:
With those criteria in mind, here are the eight best manufacturing inventory management software tools for 2026.
Arda Cards is a Kanban-powered inventory platform built specifically for manufacturers. Physical cards with QR codes act as scannable triggers for automated, AI-powered replenishment workflows, giving shop floors a way to manage inventory without requiring anyone to interact with software at the point of use.
The approach is different from every other tool on this list. Instead of asking shop floor workers to log into dashboards or navigate apps, Arda places a physical card at each bin's reorder point. When a worker reaches that card, they scan the QR code. That scan triggers automated processes: purchase orders generated, suppliers notified, digital records created. The worker goes back to their job. The system handles everything else.
Arda solves the most common failure mode in manufacturing inventory: low adoption on the shop floor. Top customers have doubled revenue within nine months, and the platform has processed over 10,000 orders worth more than $75 million. The physical-digital hybrid approach achieves high compliance because there is essentially one action to learn: scan the card.
Manufacturers with 10-500 employees who are losing production time to stockouts and manual ordering, especially those coming from whiteboards, spreadsheets, or failed ERP implementations.
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