There’s a science to maintaining the right amount of stock to meet consumer demand without holding an excess.
Wholesale inventory software helps distributors and bulk sellers make data-driven forecasting decisions, leveraging stock tracking and sales trend information. These tools not only save wasted money on overstock, but time—automating and streamlining sales and supply chain workflows
Here, discover five top wholesale inventory tools, and find the right fit for your operation.
What Is wholesale inventory software?
Wholesale inventory software automates the management of bulk stock, tracking quantities, locations, and costs throughout purchases, sales, and deliveries. The software triggers reordering and analyzes real-time stock data, ensuring efficiency and error-free wholesale distribution workflows.
Wholesalers that use this software streamline daily work and prevent costly mistakes or inventory imbalances, like stockouts or excesses. Suppliers always have exactly how much stock they need to meet customer demand, keeping their budget and consumer reputation in good standing.
Wholesale inventory software vs. retail inventory tools
Wholesale inventory software is a solution for B2B companies, like distributors and suppliers, that are managing bulk stock, often in several different warehousing locations.
Retail inventory tools, on the other hand, are geared toward smaller B2C businesses that want to track stock against sales. These retail systems often integrate with point-of-sale software to give stores or ecommerce sites real-time transaction data and help them more accurately plan inventory purchases.
5 top wholesale inventory management software to consider
If you’re a supplier, dropshipper, or distributor, you can streamline workflows and diminish risk by working with inventory management tools. Start saving time and resources with one of the following five top software options.
1. Cin7
Features: Cin7 boasts controls for multiple warehouses, efficient barcode workflows, automated purchasing, and forecasting tools that help businesses make more informed purchases.
Target audience: Cin7 is intended for wholesalers with high SKU counts and inventory spread across different locations.
2. Fishbowl Inventory
Features: Fishbowl Inventory performs warehouse management, triggers reorders, and performs sales and order management. It also integrates with many third-party tools, like Xero and QuickBooks.
Target audience: Fishbowl Inventory is good for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that want to quickly integrate the tool into their existing systems.
3. Zoho Inventory
Features: Zoho Inventory performs basic tasks like stock tracking and order management. It also features multichannel sales integration and automates workflows, like reorders.
Target audience: Zoho Inventory is a solid, budget-friendly option for growing SMBs, especially in the ecommerce sphere.
4. NetSuite ERP
Features: NetSuite ERP is a specialized tool that helps wholesalers with accounting and financial planning, in addition to managing inventory (across multiple locations) and supply-chains.
Target audience: NetSuite is great for larger wholesale operations that need an advanced tool with above average functionality.
5. Odoo Inventory
Features: Odoo Inventory performs warehouse automation, barcode scanning, real-time batch tracking, and multi-warehouse management, while also featuring several integrations.
Target audience: Odoo Inventory is a solid option for most operations, especially for wholesalers who want customization options and advanced tools.
| Software | Key Features | Best For |
| Cin7 | Multi-warehouse controls. Barcode workflows. Automated purchasing. Demand forecasting. | Wholesalers with high SKU volumes and inventory spread across multiple locations. |
| Fishbowl Inventory | Warehouse management. Automated reorders. Sales and order management. Integrations with tools like Xero and QuickBooks. | Small to medium businesses that want fast setup and easy integrations. |
| Zoho Inventory | Stock tracking. Order management. Workflow automation, including reorders. Multichannel sales integration. | Budget conscious SMBs, especially ecommerce sellers scaling their operations. |
| NetSuite ERP | Advanced accounting and financial planning. Multi location inventory. Supply chain management. | Larger wholesale operations needing enterprise level functionality and end to end visibility. |
| Odoo Inventory | Warehouse automation. Barcode scanning. Real time batch tracking. Multi warehouse management. Wide integration ecosystem. | Wholesalers wanting customization and modular tools that can scale. |
Key features to look for in wholesale inventory software
Streamline your sales channels and improve the efficiency of stocking and order fulfillment by using wholesale order management software. Here are key features to look for when seeking a tool for your wholesale business.
- Real time stock tracking: This feature tracks your stock in all locations, at all times. You always know how much you have on hand and can prevent stockouts or overstocking.
- MOQ and tiered pricing support: The software will let you set tiered pricing (or quantity discounts) on specific items and mark their respective minimum order quantities (MOQs).
- Bulk order management: Wholesale inventory tools improve the bulk ordering process with time- and error-saving automations, comprehensive inventory tracking, support for various sales channels at once, and supply chain management.
- Integrations: Many options integrate with your existing CRM or ERP, as well as daily accounting and finance applications.
- Inventory forecasting: This software collects data on historical sales and trends, analyzing it to help you better forecast future stock needs that will meet consumer demand.
Choosing the right software for your wholesale business
With several excellent inventory and distribution management tools on the market, wholesalers have plenty of options to choose from. But which software is right for your business? Consider the following before making a decision.
- How complex is your inventory? If your inventory contains many SKUs and is spread across various locations, you need a more high-powered tool.
- Do you have room to grow? If you’re growing a small or medium wholesale distributor business into a large operation, you’ll want an option intended for major enterprises that can scale up with you.
- Does the tool fit my day-to-day workflows? Select software that integrates into your existing software and support the business processes you currently run to cut down on lead time and changes to workflows.
- Will the tool pay off? Estimate your return on investment (ROI). Automation tools save companies time and money on everyday tasks, and they also prevent organizations from making costly errors. That said, if you’re a small business that only needs limited features to run your warehouse well, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a complex tool to see the benefits.
How Wholesale Central can help you source efficiently
Stock up on high-quality, affordable items from vetted, reliable distributors and manufacturers on Wholesale Central, a B2B platform connecting businesses and suppliers.
Or list your wholesale operation on Wholesale Central and connect with smaller retailers that can move your stock.
FAQs
What does wholesale inventory software do?
Wholesale inventory software tracks stock, forecasts demand, and automates workflows, like reorders, to prevent stockouts.
How much does wholesale inventory software usually cost?
The cost of these tools depends largely on their complexity and features, ranging from under $100 to over $1000 per month.
How does wholesale inventory software integrate with suppliers?
Wholesale inventory software can link supplier platforms for collaboration and data-sharing.
What inventory software features are most important?
Larger operations need multi-location support and intensive SKU management, while smaller businesses can streamline work with simple automations and basic inventory tracking for wholesalers.