Zoho Inventory vs inFlow

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Our analysts compared Zoho Inventory vs inFlow 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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inFlow provides a stock control platform that’s available in the cloud or on-premise. It’s designed for small to medium-sized companies but has been implemented in some very large and complex enterprises. It streamlines and organizes critical management processes to create a more accurate operation.

It puts organization, purchasing and control at the forefront to help operations quickly track inventory, attach barcodes and fulfill customer expectations accurately. Users can create custom documents, deal with multi-currency transactions and more.
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$59 Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
$89 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Chromebook
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Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
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Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
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FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

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 the Cloud: Ensure constant upgrades that don’t interrupt service, secure access, storage for important documents and a collaborative work environment. 
  • Mobile Accessibility: Use from anywhere with iOS, Android and web companion apps. Phones can also be used as mobile barcode scanners. 
  • Reduce Errors: Track, transfer, assign barcodes and serial numbers and create helpful product lists using built-in organizational tools. Fewer errors mean more satisfied customers and less time spent on rectifying problems. 
  • Detailed Inventory: Stay on top of stock as it travels in, around and out of inventory. Designate specific locations for certain products to maintain a properly organized inventory management operation. 
  • Stay Organized: Keep products organized and in the right place by leveraging product lists, product photos, serial numbers and units of measure. 
  • Increase Profits: Maintain optimal inventory levels and create a perfect balance of available stock to prevent running out of stock and losing revenue as a result. 
  • Restock On Time: Create custom reorder points and leverage automatic emails to send out low-stock alerts. Included vendor management features make submitting purchase orders hassle-free. 
  • Free Version: Available for the on-premise solution and suitable for smaller businesses, it supports up to 100 products and customers with 15 available reports. Doesn’t provide technical support, however. 
  • Offline Support: Host locally on Windows computers to sync client information without needing internet access. 
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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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  • Structured Workflows: Customizable workflows help track important data across the entire sales process. Eliminates or minimizes tedious spreadsheet management, as cost data can be stored for use in tax forms. 
  • Customizable Dashboards: Set up an informative dashboard that meets operational requirements to foster a collaborative, visibility-enabled enterprise. Bring valuable data regarding sales, costs and profits to the forefront and easily view it. 
  • Barcoding: Leverages barcode scanners to generate printable labels that make finding the right item easy. 
  • Detailed Reporting: With over 32 out-of-the-box reports, it makes reporting on sales, inventory and purchasing more efficient. Create detailed and organized reports for customers and vendors alike. 
  • Manufacturing Support: Keeps manufacturing simple with item kitting, assembly cost tracking and accessible bills of materials that track critical inventory information. 
  • Customer Management: Set customer-specific defaults, store contact information and keep detailed order histories for clients. 
  • Purchase and Receive Stock: Process returns, create and manage purchase orders and leverage dropshipping to make purchasing and receiving simple. 
  • Kitting and Assembly: Pick raw materials, build based on product availability, customize builds and bundle products together for shipping. 
  • Re-Ordering: One-click reordering features leverage lead and sales data to display low stock items and create purchase orders. 
  • DropShipping: Allows vendors to ship their products directly to clients when stock isn’t available to fulfill the requirements of a shipment. 
  • B2B Portals: Provides a portal that contains pricing, pictures and descriptions of products. Showrooms are also available to showcase discounted products. 
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Product Ranking

#1

among all
Inventory Management Software

#4

among all
Inventory Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

76
70
73
88
88
79
59
59
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Inventory Control
Purchasing
Dashboards and Reports

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Zoho Inventory
inFlow
+ Add Product + Add Product
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 88 79 59 66 78 75 76 55 0 25 50 75 100
67%
11%
22%
88%
0%
12%
83%
0%
17%
75%
0%
25%
56%
0%
44%
56%
0%
44%
33%
33%
34%
50%
0%
50%
78%
11%
11%
78%
0%
22%
56%
0%
44%
67%
0%
33%
89%
0%
11%
78%
0%
22%
86%
0%
14%
57%
0%
43%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

75%
0%
25%
33%
33%
34%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 387 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 441 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.

91%
of users recommend this product

inFlow has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 91% when considering 441 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (15)
n/a
4.4 (48)
3.4 (13)
4.5 (321)
4.6 (426)
4.0 (3)
4.5 (2)

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

inFlow 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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User-Friendly Interface: It’s extremely intuitive and easy to use, as 100% of reviews on this aspect indicate.
Comprehensive Features: According to all reviews on this aspect, it’s an all-in-one software with a variety of comprehensive capabilities from sales to purchase to inventory management.
Customer Service: The customer support staff is supportive, helpful and quick at resolving any issues faced by clients, as more than 85% of reviews about customer service state.
Easy to Learn: All reviews on this element indicate that the system has a flat learning curve and is easy to use for new users.
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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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Expensive for Large Business: Since pricing is based on the number of orders, it’s only suitable for small and medium sized businesses, according to all reviews on this topic.
Integrations and API Access: Offers very limited integrations with third-party applications and no API access, as all reviews on this feature indicate.
Multi-Warehouse Use: It can’t handle multiple warehouse properties or inventory storage locations effectively, according to all reviews on this feature.
System Bugs: As more than 85% of reviews on this feature indicate, there are a few minor bugs in the system.
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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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inFlow is a good option for those looking for a product to assist with inventory management, providing a comprehensive set of capabilities to manage a variety of processes. However, it only works well with small businesses and can be expensive otherwise. Other drawbacks include that it only integrates one way with Shopify and suffers from some bugs. Most users with multiple warehouses find the tool ineffective as well. On the other hand, it has a user-friendly interface and is easy to learn, speeding up user adoption. Users also report that customer service is helpful. All in all, it can be a decent choice for smaller operations.

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Screenshots

Top Alternatives in Inventory Management Software


ASAP Systems

Cin7

Dynamic Inventory

Extensiv Order Management

Finale Inventory

Fishbowl Inventory

inFlow

Linnworks

Megaventory

QuickBooks Commerce

Shopventory

Sortly

Unleashed Software

Veeqo

ZapInventory

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