Tracking your inventory levels plays a vital role in selling. When you do it right, you avoid underselling your stock or running out faster than you anticipate. 

If you use QuickBooks for your accounting needs, you might have wondered about the following questions:

• Does QuickBooks track inventory?
• How to do inventory in QuickBooks?

Fortunately, this blog will teach you all you need to know if you want to start leveraging QuickBooks as inventory management software. 

Does QuickBooks keep track of inventory?

Yes, you can use QuickBooks to keep track of your inventory. Its inventory management features allow you to efficiently manage the tracking, purchasing, and sale of inventory items. This includes counting and tracking multiple quantities with serial numbers or bar codes.

QuickBooks’ inventory management solution helps you:

• Easily track available inventory on hand.
• Recalculate prices when including discounts or taxes.
• Update various reports to reflect new stock levels in real-time.
• Ensure that users never miss a sale due to low inventory levels.

In short, whether it’s stocks of raw materials or finished products ready for retail sale, QuickBooks has decent tools to aid businesses.

But does QuickBooks track inventory the way manufacturing companies need it to? Let’s find out.

QuickBooks inventory tracking

There are many ways QuickBooks Online simplifies inventory tracking.

On top of keeping an accurate inventory account, QuickBooks also provides detailed insights into what sells and what doesn’t, helping you make better-informed business decisions.

These reports empower you to pinpoint best-selling items with customers and stock more. You can easily adjust daily operations and balance sheets through a real-time inventory sync and, more importantly, improve cash flow. 

How to do inventory on QuickBooks

Managing your inventory lists on QuickBooks Online is simple – here’s what you need to know.

How to manage your inventory in QuickBooks

Before dabbling in QuickBooks’ inventory management systems, you should determine your inventory method.

A few standard inventory methods are:

• Just-in-Time Management: JIT management only replenishes stock quantities when a customer orders it. This lean production manufacturing strategy frees up cash flow and prevents overstocking.
• ABC Analysis: This strategy lets businesses prioritize workloads and reduce stock-out chances. ABC analysis divides stock into three categories:
  • Category A contains high-value goods in small quantities. 
  • Category B has lower-value items in higher quantities. 
  • Category C includes the lowest-value goods in the highest amounts. 
• Materials Requirement Planning: This inventory management strategy plans inventory needs to meet expected customer demands. It lets businesses estimate the labor and materials required to satisfy the supply chain.
• Economic Order Quantity: EOQ involves ordering the optimal inventory quantity with the lowest overhead costs. Businesses must calculate the amount of inventory required per batch to stay frugal and precise.

Tracking inventory basics

Once you’ve chosen your inventory method, you’ll want to:

• Identify poorly-selling items and consider leaving these out of your inventory operations.
• Audit your inventory regularly.
• Create inventory reports that put your stock into perspective and pinpoint improvement areas.
• Use cloud-based inventory management software to keep the appropriate point persons in the loop.
• Perform quality checks to ensure your products are safe and sellable.

Accessing the dashboard

You can access all the information you need through the QuickBooks central inventory dashboard.

There, you can automatically update any inventory item and adjust discrepancies. Through QuickBooks’ cycle count feature, you can track inventory without shutting your warehouse down.

How to add inventory in QuickBooks

Easily add inventory items to QuickBooks by activating the inventory tracker. 

Learn how to add inventory in QuickBooks in a few simple steps:

1. Navigate to “Account and settings” and click on the “Sales” tab.
2. Go to “Products and services” and select “Edit”.
3. Toggle “Show product/service column” under “Sales forms”, enabling quantity and price/rate tracking. 
4. Click “Track inventory quantity on hand” and save your settings.

There are two ways to add stocks: as part of your inventory or as non-inventory products. The latter might include products you don’t sell, like screws, nuts, and bolts involved in the installation process.

If you sell gift bags, for instance, consider creating bundles to avoid having to track parts individually.

Manual vs automated inventory tracking in QuickBooks

Nowadays, most businesses prefer to use inventory and accounting software to automate their processes. But does QuickBooks track inventory better than a manual process would?

Below are a few insights to help you determine what tracking procedure suits your business best.

Benefits of manual tracking

Businesses that use software like Excel manually track inventory on a budget. This process is better suited for smaller companies with limited inventory.

However, manual upkeep is prone to human error and takes too much time.

Benefits of automated tracking

Thanks to advanced inventory software, brands with sizable inventory can automate processes and reduce human error.

A reliable inventory management tool simplifies stocktaking by informing users of low stock and what items sell best.

How to print inventory labels from QuickBooks

To print inventory labels with QuickBooks Desktop:

1. Navigate to the “File” tab, select “Tools” and “Print designer”.
2. Click “Inventory tags” under the “Document type” menu. You can choose to design your tag or go with a templated option.
3. Then, click “Options” and copy “Selected”. Remove the sample barcode and add a data field or a field group.
4. Select “BARCODE: UPC” and move around tag elements as needed.
5. Save your template, and select the “Yes” option if you’d like to make it a default.

Limitations of QuickBooks inventory tracking

Many businesses turn to QuickBooks Enterprise for inventory management.

Does QuickBooks track inventory? Yes. But despite its key features, QuickBooks lacks functionalities as an inventory management app.

Below are a few of these limitations:

• QuickBooks Online is not exclusive to inventory management.

While it boasts inventory and accounting features, QuickBooks Online was not designed exclusively for inventory management. Instead, QuickBooks Online functions primarily as accounting software.

• Human error is not impossible.

Despite its automation capabilities, QuickBooks becomes prone to errors when integrating with other inventory apps.

• Accurate inventory reports are limited.

You can’t retrieve comprehensive reports, especially if you store inventory data on a different app. These limitations hurt your future forecasts and inventory count.

• It’s not as scalable as you may think.

Even with QuickBooks Enterprise, users get only 1GB of storage. As your business grows, QuickBooks cannot keep up with all your data and processes.

• It lacks industry-specific features.

If you need additional inventory features for manufacturing and distribution, you’re out of luck with QuickBooks. Depending on your industry, you’ll likely rely on QuickBooks’ third-party integrations. 

How Method helps with QuickBooks inventory tracking

Despite its limitations, QuickBooks is an excellent way to track inventory for smaller businesses on a budget. It doesn’t require additional software development and easily links to other advanced accounting tools.

Make the most of QuickBooks by integrating it with Method, a full-suite CRM with must-have inventory features for manufacturing-specific businesses.

Method allows users to connect sales and accounting data, and automate managing orders.

This video will teach you about Method’s workflow automation.

Key takeaways

While QuickBooks is an excellent tool for inventory management, it poses some limitations you may have to remedy using other third-party apps.

By now, you should have the answer to the question “does QuickBooks track inventory?”. But if you still intend to use QuickBooks for inventory tracking, keep these takeaways in mind.

QuickBooks provides helpful tools for tracking stock levels, but you’ll need to audit your inventory processes regularly. You can track individual items manually or automatically to avoid human error. You can even print inventory labels with QuickBooks.

But if your business requires extended inventory tracking functionalities, you’ll be better off with a robust integration.

QuickBooks inventory FAQs

What is the best way to track inventory?

The best way to track inventory is with a full-suite inventory management system. With robust software, you receive real-time stock alerts, allowing you to replenish your merchandise as quickly as possible. 

What inventory method does QuickBooks use?

QuickBooks Commerce uses the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, which sells newly acquired goods first. FIFO follows the natural flow of your inventory. Specific jurisdictions sometimes require it, but FIFO is relatively easy to implement.

How does QuickBooks track inventory and COGS?

QuickBooks automatically adds your cost of goods (COGS) to your chart of accounts. Use QuickBooks’ transaction journal report to reflect COGS transactions in real-time each time you sell an inventory item. This feature automatically debits COGS accounts. 

Start your Method CRM free trial today!

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Like most small business owners, you likely rely on QuickBooks to help manage your finances. But you may not be taking full advantage of all the features QuickBooks offers. One such feature is Advanced Inventory. 

QuickBooks Advanced Inventory is especially useful to businesses in the manufacturing and distribution industry.

This blog post explains: 

• Everything about Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks.
• What advanced inventory tracking is. 
• How this tool can help you run your business more efficiently.
• How to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise.

What is Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise?

When it comes to Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Desktop solutions, Enterprise is your only choice.

This tool lets businesses manage all inventory items processes from a central dashboard and account for: 

• Overhead costs. 
• Labor costs. 
• Bill of Materials costs.
• Cost of goods sold (COGS).

But, what is QuickBooks Enterprise exactly?

QuickBooks dubs Enterprise the “most powerful QuickBooks yet,” with advanced functionality beyond the standard software’s accounting capabilities.

As an all-in-one business solution, QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise automates and simplifies processes such as:

• Accounting.
• Payroll.
• Payments.
• Inventory.

 Although QuickBooks Online has some inventory management capabilities, it lacks some crucial inventory maintenance and management aspects.

For example, while you can track inventory with QuickBooks Online, you can’t keep a detailed list of assembly items. This makes it difficult for manufacturing firms to monitor their supply of raw materials and finished products accurately.

How does it work?

QuickBooks’ advanced inventory tracking and management work by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining processes related to inventory management.

Some of the Advanced Inventory QuickBooks capabilities include:

• A centralized dashboard to manage end-to-end order fulfillment.
• Inventory tracking across multiple inventory locations.
• Automatic inventory forecasting and customized reporting.
• Lot, row, shelf, and bin location tracking.
• Mobile barcode scanning and FIFO costing.

Advantages of Advanced Inventory for QuickBooks Desktop

So, why should you consider QuickBooks Enterprise for inventory management over a separate tool, like an ERP with inventory management capabilities? Let’s look at some of the main advantages of using the Advanced Inventory QuickBooks Desktop solution:

Centralized inventory across multiple warehouses

The QuickBooks dashboard configuration centralizes your data to increase visibility into your processes and track changes and activities.

You can monitor all your inventory items to see how they’re doing from a central dashboard and use multiple location tracking to oversee all your warehouses. 

The tool also has user permissions & roles to keep things secure. Plus, you can customize the inventory tracking options and location tracking to:

• Transfer inventory between locations.
• Monitor stockat every warehouse.
• Launch other background processes.

Barcode scanning to track items

Have your warehouse crew members install the QuickBooks Desktop Mobile app to turn their devices into mobile barcode scanners in a single touch. Advanced Inventory also supports wireless or wired device integration for scanners. Data is transfers directly to your QuickBooks account when your workers scan inventory items. As a result, you save your team countless problems and hours of manual admin work.

Consolidated data on vendors

QuickBooks Enterprise’s Alternate Vendors Center is an electronic repository of all your vendors’ information, from their contact information to pricing details. This saves you the hassle of juggling several file versions at a time. With this feature, you can also track the time it takes for vendors to deliver items and note down shortages.

Automated sales order fulfillment process

Implement the advanced tracking system in QuickBooks to: 

• Stay on top of every sales order. 
• Create a priority list of orders to fulfill first.
• Gain instant access to pertinent information such as inventory levels, incoming delivery schedules, and order statuses.

Limitations of QuickBooks Advanced Inventory

Despite all the benefits you can gain from Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise, it isn’t a perfect solution. After all, Intuit QuickBooks is, first and foremost, an accounting program — not an ERP or MRP.

Let’s take a look at some of the limitations of QuickBooks Enterprise’s Advanced Inventory tool:

• It doesn’t let companies track lot numbers and serial numbers simultaneously.
• It doesn’t offer suggestions for the most appropriate vendor based on your budget or time constraints. The Vendors Center is merely a consolidated list of all vendor information.
• You cannot print out serial numbers and barcode number labels. 
• It cannot generate random codes for serial numbers or lot tracking to follow product stores.
• It doesn’t generate forecasting reports or trigger push notifications when inventory levels are down.

QuickBooks Advanced Inventory settings

Trying these additional features is a no-brainer if you’re already using QuickBooks Enterprise to manage your business operations.

The below sections explain how to initiate the Advanced Inventory setup. You can adjust the Advanced Inventory settings in your QuickBooks account to toggle the feature on or off and apply the recommended inventory configurations.

How to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks

In order to activate the Advanced Inventory feature, follow these steps:

1. Initiate your QuickBooks.
2. Go to the “Edit” menu and click the “Preferences” icon.
3. Select “Items & Inventory” and choose the “Company Preferences” tab.
4. Check the “Inventory and Purchase Orders are Active” box.
5. Click on “Advanced Inventory Settings.” If the button is unclickable, you must first sync your license data online.
6. Go to the “Help” tab, find the “Manage my License” option, then “Sync License Data Online.”
7. Head back to “Advanced Inventory Settings” and make sure the box is checked.

And that’s it! Now that you know how to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise, you can start using the Advanced Inventory functionalities.

Note: Only users with an active subscription to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Platinum and Diamond can access Advanced Inventory features. Double-check your QuickBooks Enterprise version, your subscription level, or speak to your Customer Relationships representative to ensure compatibility before enabling Advanced Inventory.

Turn off Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Desktop

Finding out how to utilize the Advanced Inventory tools effectively might take you a few attempts, so don’t lose patience. However, learning how to turn off inventory tracking in QuickBooks Online is easy. All it takes is navigation to Preferences and a few clicks:

Step 1: Go to the “Edit” menu and click on “Preferences.”

Step 2: Click on “Inventory & Items,” then head to the “Company Preferences” tab.

Step 3: Click on “Advanced Inventory Settings.”

Step 4: Turn off all the features you no longer want to use.

Step 5: In the “Advanced Inventory Settings” window, click “OK,” then again in the Preferences window. Finally, click “OK” in the warning window.

And that’s it! Now you know how to turn off inventory tracking in QuickBooks Online.

Key takeaways

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is an excellent solution for small businesses that don’t have the budget for more comprehensive ERPs but still want to optimize their inventory management features.

It’s a solid inventory management tool with: 

• Inventory tracking across multiple locations. 
• Mobile scanning compatibility. 
• A vendor database — and more.

It’s great that you learned how to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise. But if you have your sights set on business growth, consider expanding your QuickBooks ecosystem. A solution like Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is not built for scalability or complex inventory and resource management.

Consider Method CRM if you’re looking to integrate Advanced Inventory with other tools and features such as:

• Field service management.
• Lead management.
• Online customer portals.
• Customized forecasting.
• Inventory reporting enhancements.
• Customer relationship management (CRM).

This cloud-based solution provides real-time, two-way syncing with the entire QuickBooks tool hub, so all your accounting and inventory data remains up-to-date every step of the way.

Learn more from our experts about what Method can do for your business with this video.

QuickBooks advanced inventory FAQs

Which QuickBooks edition allows advanced inventory functions?

Only QuickBooks Enterprise Platinum and Diamond users can enable the Advanced Inventory option.

How much does QuickBooks Advanced Inventory cost?

Advanced inventory is free with QuickBooks Enterprise Platinum, costing $2140 for an annual plan, and QuickBooks Enterprise Diamond, costing $4200 billed for the monthly plan. Consult your Customer Success manager about the license requirements to use this feature.

How do I turn on advanced pricing in QuickBooks Enterprise?

Once you’ve set up your inventory parameters, you can configure pricing rules to have QuickBooks adjust your prices automatically based on inventory levels and demand. 

To enable advanced pricing, you must: 

1. Click on “Edit” and then “Preferences.” 
2. Under “Sales & Customers,” go to “Company Preferences.”
3. Click on “Custom Pricing” and select “Enable Advanced Pricing. 
4. Set up your preferences and click “OK”.

How do I turn on inventory in QuickBooks?

To turn on inventory in QuickBooks:

1. In “Settings”, go to “Account and settings” and click on the “Sales” tab. 
2. In the “Products and services” section, go to “Edit”. 
3. Click on “Show Product/Service column on sales forms” to turn it on. 
4. Turn on “Track quantity and price/rate” and “Track inventory quantity on hand.” 
5. Finally, make sure to click “Save and Done” to keep these settings. 

Now you can start adding your inventory!

What happens if I turn off Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks?

You can turn off some Advanced Inventory features while keeping others on. You can also turn off the whole Advanced Inventory system. If you do this, QuickBooks will hide and store your data so everything’s still available when you turn it back on.

How do I set up inventory in QuickBooks Desktop?

To configure the necessary preferences for inventory in QuickBooks Desktop and set up Advanced Inventory, you’ll have to: 

1. Navigate to the inventory settings. 
2. Click on the “Edit” menu and select “Preferences.” 
3. Click “Items & Inventory” and choose the “Company Preferences” tab. 
4. Find the “Inventory and Purchase Orders are Active box” and check it, then select the Advanced Inventory form the menu. 

Click on the “Turn On” button for Advanced Inventory. If the button is unclickable, you must first sync your license data online and start the process again.

Make sure to adjust your inventory settings regularly to keep your information up to date.

Also, remember to keep up with your annual subscription renewal and update your software to its latest version. This supports Advanced Inventory on your computer or mobile device so you can always access the Advanced Inventory module.

Don’t let the limits of QuickBooks hold you back. Try Method for free today!

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Your manufacturing business has many moving parts that must be in sync to keep your business structured and organized. Luckily, manufacturing business management software has the tools to create a system that manages all aspects of your business.

In this article, you’ll learn everything there is to know about manufacturing software and how it improves your business.

You’ll also discover the best manufacturing business management software to strengthen your business processes and drive results. 

What is manufacturing business management software?

Manufacturing business management software is a tool that simplifies your manufacturing operations management.

Aspects of your business that manufacturing software improves include:

• Inventory.
• Shipping and receiving. 
• Supply chain management. 
• Material usage.
• Accounting.

Let’s take a closer look at how this unique software works. 

How business management software for manufacturing works

No two software solutions work the same way. Manufacturing business software comes in various forms. 

For example, manufacturing and sales software equips your sales team with tools to nurture leads and manage customer relationships. In contrast, manufacturing order software focuses on inventory management and organizing sales orders.

Specific types of software you might consider include an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system or a CRM (customer relationship management) solution. 

A manufacturing CRM focuses more on the customer and sales side of your business, while an ERP takes on a larger scope in managing your entire business cycle.

No matter what you choose, all manufacturing software solutions have the same goal: to simplify your processes. 

Why is manufacturing business management software important?

It’s important to keep your business organized, and the only way to do so is through a system. Manufacturing business management software provides that system to keep everything on track.

Business management software brings your manufacturing business to life and gives you a central place from which to operate your business. It strengthens your processes which results in several benefits for your business. 

Let’s explore what those benefits are.

Benefits of management software for your manufacturing business

In deciding whether manufacturing business management software is right for you, you have to understand the benefits of software on your business. 

The most significant benefit of business management software for manufacturers is the time you save on manual processes. 

Since software simplifies and automates repetitive tasks such as work order creation and billing, your team spends less time on admin and wins more time for revenue-generating tasks. 

Here are some other top benefits of manufacturing business software:

• Increased visibility of the end-to-end manufacturing process. 
• Integrate all of your tools into one core system.
• Keep track of customer information and history.
• Reduce costs through more efficient scheduling.
• Present your business as more professional to your customers.

You can reap these benefits through several key features of manufacturing business management software.

Key features of manufacturing business management software

While not all software solutions are the same, there are a few features that you must consider when picking the best solution for your business.

Here are some of the key features of manufacturing business management software.

Financial management

Finance is most likely one of your top priorities for your manufacturing business, so it’s important to choose software with accounting features such as:

• Estimates and quotes.
• Invoice creation.
• Customer and vendor billing.
• Revenue reports.

Some manufacturing business solutions come with integrated accounting software. This is especially true for ERP systems. 

However, it’s more practical if your manufacturing business software integrates with your current accounting software, as then there’s no need to migrate your data and learn a new system. 

For instance, if you use QuickBooks for manufacturing, ensure your chosen solution integrates with Quickbooks.  

Track your customers better

Customers keep your business afloat, so it’s key that your manufacturing business management  software has features that elevate your customer service.

CRM software typically delivers the best insights into your customers, including their information and history. 

Dashboards can provide an at-a-glance view of your customers so that your sales reps are always ready to take a call. You can even schedule automated follow-ups to ensure that each customer gets the attention they deserve.

Automated order management

The best manufacturing business software eliminates the need for spreadsheet inventory and order management.

A solution with automation optimizes your processes and simplifies your supply chain workflows to reduce paperwork and increase results.

For the best inventory management options, you should choose customizable software that allows you to upload your current spreadsheets and add fields to your inventory list. 

Now that you’re an expert on manufacturing business software, it’s time to choose the best one for your business.

The best management software for manufacturing companies

The best manufacturing business management software for your business depends on your business needs. 

For example, simple manufacturing software will do if you only want to organize your sales orders. But if you want to integrate all of your tools and automate your workflows, you need a solution with robust features. 

Still not sure which manufacturing software is best for you? Let’s take a look at a few options. 

Best manufacturing business management software for 2026

Without further ado, here are the top 10 manufacturing business management software to enhance your business efficiency.

1. Method CRM

To kick off the list of the best manufacturing business management software, you have Method CRM.

Method CRM is the perfect manufacturing business management and accounting software thanks to its two-way QuickBooks and Xero sync. 

This keeps your data flowing and your entire team on the same page, whether on the shop floor or the sales office.

Method CRM lets you view detailed customer history so you can deliver top-notch service on the fly. You can also generate custom reports to guide your future strategies. 

What’s more, creating work orders is a breeze when you leverage the power of automation. Keep track of important details through accurate work orders, and when the time comes, convert them into error-free invoices with just a few clicks. 

Features

• Full customization for a unique solution.
• Time tracking for easy payroll.
• Native integrations with Google Calendar, PayPal, Zapier, and more. 
• Customizable report builder for valuable business insights. 
• A mobile app for busy shop floor managers. 

Pros

• Two-way sync with accounting software for smooth data flow.
• No-code platform to cater the solution to your business needs.
• Easily convert your work orders into invoices. 
• Several ways to leverage automation for efficient workflows. 

Cons

For now, you must be either a QuickBooks or Xero user to use Method.

Pricing

Method offers the following pricing plans:

• Contact Management: $27 per user per month.
• CRM Pro: $45 per user per month.
• CRM Enterprise: $73 per user per month.

They also offer a free trial. No credit card required. 

2. DELMIAworks

Formerly known as IQMS, DELMIAworks is an enterprise resource planning solution made for manufacturing businesses.

This ERP system supports the growth of your business from end to end.

While they primarily market to midsize companies, DELMIAworks is a scalable solution that works for companies of any size. 

Features

• Order processing and procurement automation.
• Simple, user-friendly interface. 
• Easy ways to monitor production.

Pros

• Perfect for midsize businesses.
• End-to-end visibility and control.
• Strong reporting capabilities.

Cons

Some users say that this manufacturing solution has a steep learning curve and that DELMIAworks needs a stronger support team.

“There is so much to learn from this software that I don’t think we will ever learn how to use it efficiently.”

MARLENE via Capterra

Pricing

DELMIAworks is a SOLIDWORKS product, so you must contact SOLIDWORKS to request a quote.

3. MIE Trak Pro

MIE Trak Pro is made to support manufacturers with all modes of production.

With MIE Trak Pro, you can create sales orders from an RFQ or a PDF in just a few clicks. You have even more options, such as creating work orders through automated triggers.

With features that simplify tasks from inventory to invoicing, MIE Trak Pro minimizes your workload to maximize results. 

Features

• Personalized formulas for quotes.
• Drag-and-drop whiteboard scheduling.
• KIOSK mode to track real-time job progress.

Pros

• Several options to create sales orders.
• Serialization to organize raw materials and finished goods. 
• An integrated accounting system.

Cons

Because they have their own integrated accounting system, MIE Trak Pro’s QuickBooks integration isn’t as robust as other business management software. 

Users who want to continue using QuickBooks may want to skip this solution.

Pricing

MIE Trak Pro has three pricing plans:

• Essential.
• Plus.
• Enterprise.

You must contact them to request a quote.

4. REALTRAC

Next on the list of top manufacturing business management software is REALTRAC.

REALTRAC is a shop management software that helps your team keep the shop running smoothly throughout the day.

This solution allows you to schedule and organize work electronically while tracking progress. As a result, you save machine and labor time while maximizing productivity. 

Features

• Automatically schedule jobs backward from the due date.
• Team management capabilities.
• Convert estimates into job orders. 

Pros

• Ideal for small and mid-sized manufacturers.
• Tracks tasks associated with complex jobs and assemblies. 
• Control who has access to your company data with specific employee permissions.

Cons

While REALTRAC offers a free demo, they don’t offer a free trial of their software. 

Pricing

REALTRAC does not have preset pricing plans. You must contact them to request a quote. 

5. Striven

Striven is an all-in-one business management system that combines your workflows into one process.

Primarily meant for small businesses, Striven has solutions for several businesses, including the manufacturing industry.

This software has features that simplify everything from quoting to inventory control to ensure that you get your daily tasks done in no time. 

Features

• Customer, vendor, and career portals to organize your business.
• Create marketing initiatives based on order history. 
• Production reports to measure progress.

Pros

• Real-time data on job and employee activity.
• Implementation plan for a quick start. 
• Integrated accounting software.

Cons

Striven has limited integrations and does not integrate with popular accounting software, such as QuickBooks. 

Pricing

Striven has three pricing plans:

• $20 per user per month for up to 20 users + $99 monthly hosting.
• $15 per user per month for up to 50 users + $299 monthly hosting.
• $10 per user per month for unlimited users + $499 monthly hosting.

You can also choose to subscribe to individual portals for different monthly prices. 

6. Katana Manufacturing ERP

The next manufacturing business management software is Katana Manufacturing ERP.

Katana is manufacturing software built for any industry. With features such as video production planning and real-time inventory control, Katana strengthens your business’s processes so that everything is accounted for. 

As an enterprise resource planning system, Katana automates resource allocation based on sales order priority. What’s more, Katana offers several integrations to extend the power of this ERP.

Features

• Live inventory management.
• Drag-and-drop order priorities according to material availability and delivery deadlines.
• Create custom workflows via Katana API.

Pros

• Several third-party and native integrations, such as Shopify and Amazon.
• Visual interface for easy progress-tracking.
• Track manufacturing costs based on your bill of materials and production operations.

Cons

Katana is one of the pricier software on this list, and may be out of budget for some small businesses. 

Pricing

Katana has three pricing plans:

• Essential: $99 per user per month.
• Advanced: $299 per user per month. Includes 3 shop floor operators.
• Professional: $799 per user per month. Includes 3 shop floor operators.

7. QT9 ERP

Next, you have QT9 ERP. This solution is made primarily for medical device manufacturers but is valuable to anyone in the manufacturing industry. 

It integrates all of your business processes into one ERP system. 

QT9’s top features include linking all jobs to their correct bills of materials for accuracy and forecasting based on sales, inventory, and future potential. 

It allows you to monitor manufacturing from end to end, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. 

Features

• Automatically create jobs from processed sales orders.
• Gantt chart scheduling. 
• Auto-generates serial numbers and lot numbers.

Pros

• Gain a 360-degree view of your business with real-time reports.
• Visual tools to quickly identify bottlenecks. 
• Inventory barcoding for easy shop floor management. 

Cons

QT9 does not have native integrations with popular apps in the manufacturing space.

Pricing

There are no preset pricing plans so you must contact QT9 for a quote. 

8. Intellect

If you’re looking for manufacturing business management software for compliance purposes, Intellect may be the solution for you.

Intellect is a quality management software (QMS) meant to help you reach regulatory compliance requirements. In addition to fast implementation and audit management features, Intellect is also customizable. 

Thanks to their no-code platform, you can build new apps that best match your manufacturing operations management and make this solution uniquely yours.

Features

• Dashboard with real-time metrics.
• Automated email reminders for accountability. 
• Track uptime and downtime across weeks, months, quarters, or years.

Pros

• Customizable no-code platform. 
• Step-by-step guided instruction for system admins. 
• Various tools to prepare for both internal and external audits. 

Cons

Intellect’s platform relies heavily on customization, making it a less ideal software for those looking for an out-of-the-box solution.

Pricing

There are no preset pricing plans, so you must contact Intellect to request pricing. 

9. M1 ERP

Next on the list is M1.

M1 is a cloud-based ERP that gives visibility into your entire operation. Designed for small and midsize businesses, this solution is great for manufacturers concerned with repetitive tasks and project management. 

M1’s top features are material ordering and scheduling. Use their manufacturer resource planner to track your supply chain in just a few clicks. 

You can also schedule and manage multiple projects from one place. 

Features

• Inventory management with real-time data across business functions.
• Automated scheduling and shipping processes. 
• Design Studio to personalize the platform.

Pros

• Integrations with QuickBooks, CADLink, and more. 
• Sync multiple facilities into the same platform. 
• Personalized dashboards for each role in your organization.

Cons

Some users say that M1’s customer support could be improved.

“At times customer service response is a bit longer than we would like though once they are working on an issue, they are great at resolving it.”

• Timothy via Software Advice

Pricing

You must contact M1 ERP to request a demo and quote. 

10. Visual EstiTrack

Last on the list of the best manufacturing business management software is Visual EstiTrack.

As the name suggests, this manufacturing business software makes it easier to track your processes. Visual EstiTrack manages your everyday tasks, from creating estimates to processing sales orders.

For example, Visual EstiTrack’s Orders and Releases system lets you define and track sales and shop orders. You can create these orders from existing quotes or from scratch.

Features

• Visual scheduling for more efficiency. 
• Option for VisualBooks integrated accounting system add-on.
• Automated quote calculations.

Pros

• The visual interface makes it easy to navigate.
• Customizable to suit your business needs.
• Attentive and prompt customer support. 

Cons

Visual EstiTrack has limited integrations to centralize your processes.

Pricing

You must contact Visual EstiTrack for a quote. 

Manufacturing business management software FAQs

What is small business manufacturing software?

Small business manufacturing software is a tool that simplifies how you manage your business processes.

Small businesses, in particular, need manufacturing software to drive efficiency and keep up with larger enterprises. 

Why do you need manufacturing business management software?

You need manufacturing business management software because business success is all about organization. Manufacturing business software keeps your data in one place, making it easy to find when needed.

As a result, manufacturing management software saves you time and money that you could put towards revenue-generating endeavors. 

How can an ERP improve my manufacturing business?

An ERP can improve your manufacturing business by centralizing your data and giving you one source of truth. 

Some of the top benefits of enterprise resource management for manufacturers include:

• Better access to customer information.
• Improved order accuracy.
• Custom reports for stronger business insights.

Conclusion: Which manufacturing business management software is best for you?

Hopefully, your search for the perfect manufacturing solution is all done, and you’re ready to skyrocket your business success with one of our listed solutions. 

The right manufacturing business management software transforms your business by boosting productivity and strengthening your workflows.

But you won’t know which is the best for your business until you try them out for yourself.

See what manufacturing operations software can do with a free trial of Method!

Image credit: Chokniti via Adobe Stock