Efficient inventory management and streamlined order fulfillment are crucial for Shopify store’s success, and having the right Warehouse Management System (WMS) can make all the difference.
A WMS coordinates essential warehouse tasks like restocking, receiving, and shipping, helping employees work together efficiently while keeping track of inventory and managing goods.
In this guide, we’ll explore the top Shopify WMS tools that can revolutionize your operations and take your business to new heights.
Challenges in Inventory Management for Shopify Store Owners
Businesses using Shopify often struggle with managing their inventory and supply chain, like ensuring they have the right amount of products from suppliers. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) provide automation solutions that simplify warehouse operations and improve order management. WMS also helps manage manufacturing resources and offers solutions tailored for various retailers, including e-commerce businesses, to plan the correct stock levels.
Products That Don’t Work with Shopify
When products don’t connect directly with Shopify, WMS synchronizes data between the Warehouse Management System and Shopify, improving warehouse management efficiency.It also supports different types of integrations and offers help for various apps, including warehouse management software, to assist merchants in their daily tasks.
Managing Warehouses in Multiple Locations
WMS for Shopify adapts to business growth and rising demand by scaling operations. It boosts customer satisfaction through efficient order processing, regardless of how many warehouses are involved. WMS also manages stock levels and gives users visibility in one place, saving time and effort when managing multiple locations.
Phantom Inventory Issues
Phantom inventory, which is a mistake in record-keeping, can lead to delays in fulfilling orders. WMS handles the receiving and checking of goods to prevent these errors. It also helps with managing returns and provides tools to improve functionality, ensuring that orders are delivered without problems.
Key Benefits of a Warehouse Management System for Your Shopify Store
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) can help your Shopify retail business by cutting costs and optimizing space and time. As your business grows, a WMS efficiently handles large volumes of data related to tracking, order management, warehousing, and customer fulfillment. It’s a key tool for managing inventory and warehouse tasks, suitable for businesses of all sizes, including small ones.
Track Inventory and Stock in Real Time
A WMS lets you monitor your warehouse’s inventory and stock levels in real time. It integrates with Shopify for seamless data sharing, helping you manage and optimize stock levels. This ensures quick order delivery to customers and provides a clear view of your inventory, making it easier to plan.
Automate Restocking for Efficiency
For Shopify businesses, a WMS automatically restocks inventory to keep store levels optimal, updating stock availability instantly. This automation smooths out inventory flow, minimizes errors, and boosts efficiency, which helps improve sales and ensures timely order fulfillment.
Streamline Operations Across All Channels
A WMS ensures that products are correctly placed and ready when needed, benefiting both online and offline sellers using Shopify. It organizes logistics for on-time order fulfillment, simplifies workflows, and offers detailed reports on warehouse activities. It also helps manage returns, provides trial options, and offers tools tailored for different retail sectors.
Maintain Accurate Inventory Across Channels
A WMS keeps your inventory accurate across all sales platforms, reducing mistakes and returns. It helps efficiently manage sales channels, track orders, and handle supplier relationships. This leads to better customer satisfaction and offers customized solutions for various types of retailers.
Criteria for Selecting the Best Warehouse Management System for Your Business
When selecting a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for your Shopify store, consider these key factors:
| Criteria |
Description |
| Integration |
- Ensure real-time updates between Shopify and WMS to keep inventory and orders accurate
- Reduce manual work and errors |
| Features |
- Track real-time stock levels
- Streamline orders and sync across channels
- Speed up processes with barcode scanning
- Works with multiple platforms such as Amazon, eBay, etc |
| Cost |
- Compare pricing models
- Consider ROI by weighing cost against time savings and efficiency gains |
| Implementation |
Choose a WMS that's easy to set up with good customer support for a smooth transition |
Top 10 Best WMS Software for Shopify
ShippingEasy
ShippingEasy is the most user-friendly online shipping platform designed for growing businesses. It provides access to discounted shipping rates, automates shipping tasks, and frees up time for merchants to focus on expanding their business.
With robust integrations across leading online channels like Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, eBay, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Wish, and Walmart, ShippingEasy allows merchants to manage orders, shipments, and customer interactions from a single, easy-to-use platform.
Pros
- User-friendly with prompt and efficient support
- Nearly perfect software with useful marketing tools and easy label creation
- Quick responses from Customer Success Advisors
Cons
- Difficult sign-up and verification process; account issues can be frustrating
- Occasionally glitches in the ConnectEasy service cause delays or double printing of labels
Pricing:
- Starter Plan: Free
- Growth Plan: $19.99 per month for 26-200 shipments
Fishbowl
Fishbowl is a manufacturing and inventory management solution designed for medium and large businesses. It automates manufacturing processes, enhances production efficiency, and provides real-time insights for better decision-making.
Fishbowl’s inventory-centric approach helps businesses reduce costs and maximize productivity. It also integrates seamlessly with popular CRM systems and business solutions like QuickBooks, Amazon, Salesforce, and Shopify.
Pros:
- Outstanding customer support
- User-friendly with strong system integrations
- Excellent value compared to other inventory management systems
Cons:
- Frequent crashes requiring restarts
- Ongoing issues with orders not shipping due to errors
- Decline in service quality, with some users finding the company less reliable
Pricing: Contact for pricing
Cin7 Core
Cin7 Core is Cin7’s ready-to-use solution, offering essential tools for managing and scaling operations. It suits businesses of all sizes, providing integrated inventory management and real-time visibility across the inventory lifecycle.
Ideal for those needing a straightforward, easy-to-implement solution, Cin7 Core simplifies order management and integrates with major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Magento, and WooCommerce.
Pros
- Improved inventory management over QuickBooks
- Easy multi-warehouse tracking
- Useful B2B portal
- Secure, bug-free, with excellent customer service and frequent updates
- Good tutorials and responsive support
Cons
- Poor issue resolution led to ongoing frustration and business impact
- A defect affected QuickBooks Online accounting, leading the user to stop using Dear Systems for duplicate checks
Pricing:
- Standard Plan: Starting at $349 per month
- Pro Plan: Starting at $599 per month
- Advanced Plan: Starting at $999 per month
Cin7 Omni
Cin7 is an automated inventory management platform designed for brands generating over $1 million in revenue. It syncs stock with sales and orders across all channels and automates order processes for efficiency. However, it’s not suitable for rental or asset management businesses. Cin7 helps brands manage costs, maintain margins, and keep stock levels optimal.
Cin7 Omni is a more advanced, customizable solution for brands seeking enterprise-level scalability, with robust inventory and order management features for expanding sales channels and markets.
Pros:
- Excellent customer support and responsive specialists
- Efficient and patient implementation team with clear explanations
- Strong reporting capabilities and effective service
Cons:
- Stock sync issues, causing Shopify stock to zero out and data loss during uploads
- No compensation for lost data and persistent bugs
- Lengthy and problematic implementation process with blame-shifting among teams
Pricing: Contact for pricing
Unleashed Software
Unleashed Software is a robust cloud-based tool for real-time inventory management. It offers inventory control and reporting to manage stock from purchasing to sales efficiently.
With flexible workflows and real-time reporting, operations are easy to handle. Data is protected with daily backups, 256-bit SSL security, and 2-factor authentication. Unleashed also integrates with various eCommerce, point of sale, and accounting platforms for a complete business solution.
Pros:
- Knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly team
- Reliable inventory management with a user-friendly interface
- Excellent email and phone support
Cons:
- Issues with a sales pitch leading to overcharges and difficulty with refunds
- Lacks ability to include distribution costs in sales margins and limited Xero chart of accounts options
- Missing features for manufacturing environments and incomplete sales pipeline management integration
Pricing:
- Medium Plan: $380 per month
- Large Plan: $710 per month
- Large Plus Plan: $1,080 per month
ShipStation
ShipStation is an online shipping solution designed for eCommerce businesses that helps manage and fulfill orders. It lets users import, handle, and ship orders from various online stores while offering discounted shipping rates and connections with carriers like USPS, UPS, DHL, FedEx, and others.
ShipStation also includes features for automating workflows to speed up order fulfillment and provides branded package tracking, making it useful for both large and small businesses.
Pros
- Combines orders and creates global rules for each platform
- Integrates with all platforms and supports special shipping options like seller-fulfilled prime
- Branded tracking page enhances your site’s professional look
- Affordable, user-friendly, with features like combining orders and generating return labels
Cons
- Poor customer support with slow response times
- Some users consider it a scam and a waste of money
- Issues with account disabling and loss of data, with unresponsive customer service
Pricing:
- ShippingEasy Plan: Free
- Starter Plan: $9.99 per month, up to 50 shipments per month
- Bronze Plan: $29.99 per month, up to 500 shipments per month
- Silver Plan: $59.99 per month, up to 1000 shipments per month
- Gold Plan: $99.99 per month, up to 2000 shipments per month
- Platinum Plan: $149.99 per month, up to 5000 shipments per month
- Enterprise Plan: $229.99 per month, up to 7500 shipments per month
- High-volume Plan: Contact for pricing
inFlow Inventory
inFlow is a powerful inventory management system tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. It helps you streamline inventory tasks, such as creating purchase orders, setting reorder points, and managing stock across multiple locations. With inFlow, you can handle sales orders from Windows, web, and mobile, and use barcode scanning for efficient operations.
It also supports assembling products from a bill of materials, generating barcodes and labels, and selling through the B2B Showroom and inFlow Pay. The system integrates with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and Amazon, and allows for custom integrations via its API.
inFlow is ideal for wholesale, manufacturing, eCommerce, asset tracking, and field service management. Support is available via email, chat, and callback.
Pros
- Genuine care for customer issues and well-engineered software
- Great value, user-friendly, and feature-rich with excellent customer support
- Ideal for small businesses with many products; affordable and effective inventory system
Cons
- Only one photo can be uploaded/viewed on the Windows app; multiple photos are available on mobile
- Limited API access and integrations make it hard to scale with business growth
- Incorrect instructions for login and manual work required for component shortages
Pricing:
- Entrepreneur Plan: $110 per month
- Small Business Plan: $279 per month
- Mid-Size Plan: $549 per month
Finale Inventory
Finale Inventory is a cloud-based system for managing inventory, designed for small and growing businesses. It provides complete visibility into inventory, including forecasting, reordering, and order management.
Key features include real-time tracking across multiple locations, syncing of offline and online orders, and strong customization options.
Users can tailor fields, orders, and reports to their needs and easily import or export data. Finale Inventory aims to streamline warehouse operations, improve tracking accuracy, and support business growth.
Pros
- User-friendly, even for those not tech-savvy
- Well-designed software with quick, effective support
- Excellent reporting customization and top-notch customer service
- Solution-driven team that listens, manages scope, and respects budgets
Cons
- Annoying to copy and paste data across multiple screens, with risk of forgetting steps
- Transition from manual counting to using Finale was initially challenging
- Mixed reactions from the team, leading to a decision to explore other options
Pricing:
- Starter Plan: $99 per month
- Bronze Plan: $240 per month
- Silver Plan: $420 per month
- Gold Plan: $649 per month
- Platinum Plan: $949 per month
Zoho Inventory
Zoho Inventory is a cloud-based tool for managing inventory, sales, and purchase orders. It includes features for item and order management, inventory control, warehouse management, and multi-channel selling.
It integrates with online platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, as well as shipping tools like AfterShip and DPD, shopping carts like Shopify, and other Zoho apps such as Zoho Books, Zoho Analytics, and Zoho CRM.
There’s also a mobile app for Android and iOS, letting users handle contacts, access real-time data, track orders, manage warehouses, and view invoices and payments on the go.
Pros:
- Handy features like package visualization and product duplication
- Affordable with easy upgrade options
- Great integration with other Zoho products
Cons:
- Poor customer support, including no option to speak to a manager
- Issues with platform compatibility and SKUlabs
- No pick list for warehouse picking; delivery notifications and invoices can’t be sent to separate emails
Pricing:
- Standard Plan: $39 per organization per month
- Professional Plan: $99 per organization per month
- Premium Plan: $159 per organization per month
- Enterprise Plan: $299 per organization per month
ERPAG
ERPAG is a comprehensive ERP cloud service tailored for small and mid-sized companies. It offers real-time inventory and order management, including features like automatic reordering, cloud label printing, and advanced tracking with barcodes and serial numbers.
With support for multiple units of measure, warehouses, currencies, and languages, ERPAG also handles composite products, invoicing, and manufacturing. Its integrated approach ensures efficient management of all business processes in one platform.
Pros
- Excellent product management features like adding and copying items
- Beautiful interface, amazing support with quick responses, and flexible developers
- User-friendly design, exciting to implement
- Easy to use and integrate with other platforms
Cons
- Difficult to undo some changes
- Occasional connection issues and a slow start
- Limited compatibility with OneDrive and lacks CSV import for all menus
- Does not support QuickBooks Desktop, causing difficulties
Pricing:
- Basic Plan: $49 per month
- Professional Plan: $99 per month
- Advanced Plan: $199 per month
Summary
Selecting the right Warehouse Management System (WMS) is crucial for optimizing inventory and order fulfillment in your Shopify store. A well-integrated WMS streamlines warehouse tasks such as restocking, receiving, and shipping, which improves operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
As we’ve explored in this guide, various WMS solutions offer unique features to meet different business needs, from real-time inventory tracking to automated restocking and multi-location management. Selecting a WMS that aligns with your business goals can significantly enhance your operations and drive growth.
