Zoho Inventory vs Katana MRP

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Our analysts compared Zoho Inventory vs Katana MRP based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Inventory Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Zoho Inventory, an inventory management software, empowers businesses to centralize and streamline stock tracking across locations, warehouses, and sales channels. This cloud-based solution caters primarily to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in retail, distribution, and manufacturing. Zoho Inventory shines in its core functionalities: real-time stock level monitoring, automated workflows for orders and invoices, insightful inventory performance reports, and multi-channel selling support. Popular features include barcode scanning, serial number tracking, and low-stock alerts, praised by users for their ease of use and affordability. Standing out from competitors, Zoho Inventory offers a free plan, ideal for businesses starting their inventory management journey. Paid plans, priced per user per month, cater to businesses with more complex needs, offering additional features and scalability. In conclusion, Zoho Inventory presents a compelling solution for SMBs seeking a user-friendly and cost-effective platform to gain control of their inventory operations and make data-driven decisions.

Pros
  • Free plan available
  • User-friendly interface
  • Scalable for growing businesses
  • Multi-channel selling support
  • Integrations with other Zoho apps
Cons
  • Limited reporting features in free plan
  • Lacks advanced features for complex needs
  • Customer support can be slow at times
  • Mobile app not as feature-rich as desktop version
  • May not be suitable for very large businesses
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Katana MRP is a small-business cloud-based solution that streamlines production operations. Obtain complete visibility over local and outsourced operations. Establish reorder points and prioritize sales orders to supervise and boost inventory transfers.

Its top modules include production planning and scheduling, inventory management, order management and purchase management. It maintains batch tracking, expiration dates, locations and more. Leverage B2B and D2C protocols that align with multiple industries.
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$59 Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
$179 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Item Kitting Support: Bundle a group of items together to sell as a single unit. Update individual items and components as products are put together and sold. 
  • Barcode Scanning: Scan item barcodes to auto-populate fields every time an invoice, sales or purchase order is created. This streamlines and optimizes inventory management processes with quick access to vital product data. 
  • Enhanced Tracking: Identify each item in stock with a code and track its movement from the point of purchase to sale. Track different batches of items and monitor their expiry dates. 
  • Improved Packaging and Shipping: Create packages, print package slips and find real-time shipping rates for 30 different shipping services. Monitor the movement of packages post-shipment and keep customers updated with the item’s location. 
  • Helpful Dashboards: Get quick, central access to details like orders pending, invoiced, packaged and shipped. Provides an overview of all sales orders as well. 
  • Drop Shipping: Create a drop shipment when there is no stock left to fulfill the next order and ship packages directly to clients. 
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  • Leverage Total Centralization: Supervise numerous warehouse inventory levels, merchandise variants and materials in one place. This centralization reduces the use of disparate systems.
  • Use In-depth Planning: Perform automatic cost calculations from BOMs and production for better scheduling. Monitor manufacturing workflows based on available material data to enhance priorities.
  • Simplify Job Delegations: Allocate and reassign operator tasks that can begin, halt or resume duties to stay in the loop of production steps in real time.
  • Maintain Quality: Track defective batches, ingredients and goods to enhance quality and recall management. 
  • Make Better Pricing Choices: Develop multi-tiered BOMs with subassemblies for actual total costs. Implement product margin data to develop improved, well-informed expense decisions. 
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  • Inventory Control:  
    •  Offers centralized inventory that automatically updates inventory quantities across all selling channels whenever a sale is made. 
    •  Features include product listing, item kitting, re-ordering, stock adjustments and more. 
    •  Verify and approve transactions created before they’re reflected in accounts and reports. 
    •  Set an approval workflow for transfer orders, sales transactions and purchase transactions. 
  • Order Management:  
    •  Helps manage sales and purchase orders. Shares delivery updates from a single-source order management system. 
    •  Supports online order management and movement of packages post-shipment through a single platform. 
    •  Integrates with Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Shopify. 
    • Safety Stock and Reorder: Calculate reorder points and maintain safety stock in the business to prevent running out of stock. Set reorder points and get updates on vital stock-level information. Also optimizes holding costs and reduces the probability of overstocking. 
    • Reports:  
      •  Helps monitor purchases, study sales trends and identify top performing items using inventory reporting options. 
      •  Includes inventory reports, sales and customer reports, purchase and payment reports, and activity logs. 
      •  Enables finding the item volumes shipped in and out from each warehouse. 
    • Warehouse Management: Supports multiple warehouse environments and the transfer of stock between them. Leverage actionable insights provided by warehousing reports. Set the closest warehouse for customers when preparing sales orders to get products to their destinations as quickly as possible. 
    • Multichannel Selling: Manages, controls, measures and fulfills multi-channel selling with the help of a single inventory management application. Supports multiple currencies and uses multiple payment gateways to ensure quick and correct payments. Also shares insights for performance of multiple sales channels. 
    • Order Fulfillment: Manages workflows and fulfills orders. Offers a common dashboard, an overview of orders, automatic packing slips, over 40 integrated shipping carriers and more. Create shipping labels and find real-time shipping expenses for each order before dispatch. Make drop shipments and let vendors ship directly to the client. 
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  • Production Planning and Scheduling: Administer production tasks and schedules at various detail levels. Change all manufacturing orders and production operations statuses manually. Track material availability and defer risks for material supply lead times.
  • Integrations: Merge with online services, including Shopify, WooCommerce, QuickBooks and Xero, among others. Sync sales with e-commerce platforms and push sales orders to accounting for billing for better productivity. 
  • Inventory Management: Gain real-time inventory control while optimizing finished goods and raw ingredients. Upkeep inventory levels and establish reorder points. 
  • Sales Order Management: Sync sales orders from multiple pipelines into a centralized dashboard. Catch delivery delays and reprioritize tasks to meet deadlines adequately. 
  • Purchase Management: Work with on-time purchasing thanks to transparent material requirements. Track purchases of missing raw materials from suppliers. 
  • Costing: Track actual manufacturing fees based on BOMs and production activities. Draft multi-level BOMs with subassemblies and make pricing choices that align with vital product parameters. 
  • Shop Floor Control: Review manufacturing order tasks and material lists for every responsibility. Allocate and redistribute jobs to operators who can begin, stop and restart assignments to keep users aware of production consistently. 
  • Master Planning: Obtain task-level administration for maximized shop floor management. Conduct automatic production fee calculations according to BOMs and processes. 
  • Contract Manufacturing: Track partner location materials in real time. Detect and buy missing ingredients in contract supplier facilities. 
  • Traceability: Obtain up-to-date material and product batch tracking. Produce automatic batch and internal barcodes. 
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Product Ranking

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Zoho Inventory
Katana MRP
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Dashboards And Reports Inventory Control Inventory Valuation, Counts And Alerts Mobile Order Fulfillment Platform Capabilities Purchasing Returns Management 73 88 59 60 84 71 87 81 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 387 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 179 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

Zoho Inventory has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 387 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

93%
of users recommend this product

Katana MRP has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 179 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (15)
4.4 (12)
4.4 (48)
4.4 (25)
4.5 (321)
4.7 (139)
4.0 (3)
4.7 (3)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Zoho Inventory and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Integration and Extensibility. Zoho Inventory stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Integration and Extensibility Award

Katana MRP stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

User-friendly interface: Intuitive design and easy navigation make it simple to learn and use, even for those without extensive inventory management experience.
Real-time inventory visibility: Track stock levels across multiple locations and channels in real-time, ensuring accurate data for informed decision-making.
Automated workflows: Streamline tasks like purchase orders, sales orders, and invoicing to save time and reduce manual errors.
Customizable reporting: Generate detailed reports on inventory levels, sales performance, and other key metrics to gain insights and make data-driven decisions.
Multi-channel selling support: Manage inventory seamlessly across online stores, marketplaces, and physical outlets, preventing overselling and ensuring accurate stock levels.
Mobile app for on-the-go access: Manage inventory, track orders, and fulfill shipments from anywhere using the Zoho Inventory mobile app.
Integration with other Zoho apps: Connect with Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, and other Zoho apps for a unified business ecosystem and streamlined workflows.
Affordable pricing: Free plan for small businesses and affordable paid plans for growing businesses, making it a cost-effective solution.
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Intuitive Interface: Users praise Katana for its user-friendly design, making it easy to navigate and understand, even for those without prior experience with MRP systems.
Real-time Inventory Tracking: The software provides a clear, real-time view of inventory levels, allowing businesses to make informed decisions about production and purchasing.
Streamlined Production Planning: Katana helps optimize production scheduling, ensuring that materials are available when needed and minimizing production delays.
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Limited features in free plan: The free plan lacks advanced features like batch tracking, demand forecasting, and integration with third-party platforms.
Customization challenges: Some users find it challenging to customize certain aspects of the software, such as reports and workflows, to fit their specific needs.
Mobile app limitations: The mobile app lacks some features available in the desktop version, and some users report occasional glitches and slow performance.
Customer support variability: While Zoho Inventory offers various support options, response times and quality can vary, with some users reporting slow or unhelpful support experiences.
Scalability concerns: Very large businesses with complex inventory needs might find Zoho Inventory's features and scalability limited, requiring a more robust solution.
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Steep Learning Curve: Users have reported that Katana MRP can be difficult to learn and navigate, especially for those who are new to MRP systems. The software's complexity can lead to a longer onboarding process.
Limited Customization Options: Some users have expressed frustration with the limited customization options available in Katana MRP. This can make it challenging to tailor the software to specific business needs and workflows.
Occasional Performance Issues: A handful of users have mentioned experiencing occasional performance issues, such as slow loading times or system glitches. These issues can disrupt workflow and impact productivity.
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Zoho Inventory garners positive reviews for its user-friendly interface, real-time inventory tracking, and affordability, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Many appreciate its intuitive design, even for those new to inventory management, and its free plan, which caters to businesses starting out. Streamlined workflows and multi-channel selling support are frequently lauded, helping users automate tasks and manage inventory across various sales channels efficiently. However, some users find the free plan's feature set limiting, lacking advanced functionalities like demand forecasting and integrations with popular third-party platforms. Customization also presents challenges for some, desiring more flexibility in tailoring reports and workflows. While a mobile app exists, it occasionally encounters glitches and lacks the full feature range of the desktop version. Zoho Inventory stands out compared to competitors for its free plan and cost-effectiveness, attracting budget-conscious businesses. Users often praise its ease of use and intuitive interface, making it a suitable choice for those less tech-savvy. However, if extensive features, high customization, and robust mobile functionality are crucial, competitors like Square Online Store Inventory or Xero Inventory might be better suited for complex needs. Ultimately, Zoho Inventory shines for its user-friendliness, affordability, and core inventory management functionalities. While it may not cater to every business need, its strengths resonate with budget-conscious SMBs seeking a user-friendly platform to streamline their inventory operations.

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Is Katana MRP "sharp" enough to cut through the competition? Recent user reviews suggest that Katana MRP is a strong contender in the inventory management software arena, particularly for businesses with complex manufacturing processes. Users praise its intuitive interface and robust features, especially its ability to track raw materials, manage bills of materials, and set reorder points. This granular control over inventory has been a game-changer for many businesses, allowing them to optimize stock levels and avoid costly stockouts. However, some users have pointed out limitations with Katana MRP's reporting capabilities and its pricing structure, which can be prohibitive for smaller businesses. For example, some users have expressed a desire for more customizable reporting options to gain deeper insights into their inventory data. While Katana MRP integrates well with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, its compatibility with other business software may be limited. Overall, Katana MRP seems best suited for small to medium-sized businesses with complex manufacturing processes that require tight control over inventory and production. Its strengths lie in its user-friendly design, comprehensive inventory tracking features, and seamless integration with e-commerce platforms, making it a valuable tool for businesses looking to streamline their operations and gain a competitive edge.

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Screenshots

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