Do you still count the stock by hand and only discover shortages when a customer asks about a product? Inventory control in SMEs with a spreadsheet works at first, but fails as soon as the catalog grows. For this reason, many small businesses are only looking for an alternative when they have already sold a product that they did not actually have available. This guide on Excel alternatives summarizes the criteria that should be reviewed before choosing. Excel alternatives: This guide summarizes criteria, limits, and steps for choosing with context.
alternatives Excel allows you to compare functions, limits and context before deciding. alternatives Excel allows you to compare functions, limits and context before deciding.
Excel alternatives require comparing functions, limits and context before deciding.
Excel alternatives: criteria and guide
Official source: Zoho Inventory official site.
Before choosing, check if the problem is just the stock
Before adding a tool dedicated to inventory control in SMEs, it is worth reviewing the real origin of the disorder. Sometimes it comes from stock, but other times it comes from how you sell online. If you also run an online store, our guide on management tools for small online stores can add additional context. And if you're still using spreadsheets for everything, our guide on how to migrate from Excel to a CRM without losing data explains that first step in more detail.
Free tool: Inventory, Suppliers and Purchasing
Start by ordering stock, suppliers and replacement. You can then choose a specialized system with clear requirements.
Platform chosen: Zoho Inventory
Zoho Inventory replaces the spreadsheet with a dashboard where each product shows its stock updated in real time. In addition, it allows you to manage several warehouses or points of sale from the same account, something that a spreadsheet handles very poorly. On the other hand, it connects directly with Zoho Books so that billing and inventory share the same information.
How much does Zoho Inventory cost
Zoho Inventory offers a free plan with up to 50 orders per month, one user, and two warehouses, according to its official site verified today. The Standard plan, meanwhile, costs $29 per month billed annually, with up to 500 monthly orders and two users included. Therefore, a very small business can start for free before paying for more capacity.
What to look at besides the price
What to look at besides price matters as much as the monthly cost of your chosen platform. The number of orders included per month, for example, may fall short during peak sales seasons. Likewise, it is worth checking if the system automatically warns when a product is about to run out.
What this looks like in practice
A business with a single point of sale gains order almost immediately just by stopping writing down stock by hand. A business with several warehouses, on the other hand, makes better use of inventory tracking between different locations. However, no system replaces an occasional physical count of actual stock. In fact, it just reduces how much you rely on that manual counting.
How to choose according to the size of your catalog
If you handle few products and a single point of sale, the free plan is usually enough to get started. This way, you avoid paying for features that you don't need yet. If, on the other hand, you already manage several wineries or a larger catalogue, it is advisable to add the Standard plan as soon as possible. That is why this plan adds order capacity and users who better organize the operation when the business grows. Since each business grows at a different pace, it is a good idea to review this limit every few months.
Frequently asked questions about inventory control in SMEs
Can I migrate my current inventory from a spreadsheet? Yes, most of these platforms allow you to import the catalog from an Excel or CSV file.
Do I need a physical warehouse to use this type of software? Not necessarily, since it also works for businesses that sell from a single location or online.
Does the system warn when a product is about to run out? Yes, in fact that automatic alert is one of the main reasons to stop relying on a spreadsheet.
Can I use the free plan indefinitely? It depends on the volume of orders, although a very small business can stay on the free plan for quite some time.
Alternatives to Excel for Inventory Control in SMEs: in summary
Choosing inventory control well in SMEs depends on how many orders you handle per month and how many warehouses you operate. Zoho Inventory covers everything from a business with few orders to one with several warehouses. Plus, their paid plans start at $29 per month, with a free plan available to get you started. In the next article in the series we review how to automate the sending of invoices and payment reminders, another task that consumes unnecessary administrative time.
