Best Supply Chain Software for SMBs:

Amy Deiko
September 5, 2025

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You know it well

Running, being in charge of a business is not a simple feat. 

Especially if you are working against chaotic supply chains. 

Sure, there might be some big-name systems out there, but for SMBs, they are either too pricey or too complex to handle. 

Lucky for you, today's supply chains are getting friendlier, leaner, and more accessible.

And we have gathered the best 

Did you know ?

Top Supply Chain Tools for SMBs

ControlHub – Procurement Automation for Growing Companies

Okay, it might seem like straightforward propaganda, but trust us, it's not.

Well, not completely 

Procurement doesn't usually get much attention until it becomes an absolute mess for every department in your company.

And for growing companies? 

It's a double challenge as they won't have the time to deal with it.  That's what makes ControlHub stand out. We transform procurement into a simple, friendly process.

By automating the whole workflow, purchase requests turn into a PO in one click. And approvals move right when you need them. 

How ControlHub can help you: 

  • No more bottlenecks: Requests and approvals move faster, keeping projects on schedule.
  • Less manual work: Say goodbye to spreadsheets and repeated data entry.
  • Centralized visibility: All vendors, orders, and budgets are tracked in one spot
  • Shipping tracking:  Keep an eye on what's going on with your supplies before they arrive at your location 

Odoo – Affordable ERP Without the Bloat

When most people hear “ERP,” they think of massive, enterprise-level systems like SAP or Coupa. Big reputations that make little sense for small businesses 

That’s why Odoo has become such a popular alternative. It brings ERP functionality into a package that SMBs can actually use without feeling overwhelmed.

Odoo is open-source and modular, which means you don’t have to buy or implement a huge system all at once.

You can start with inventory and sales, and then add modules for procurement, accounting, or manufacturing as your business grows. 

That flexibility makes it a smart option for SMBs that want ERP-style control without enterprise-style price tags or implementation nightmares.

How Odoo can help you

  • Start small, scale later: Add only the modules you need and expand at your own pace.
  • Cost-friendly: Open-source foundation keeps pricing approachable compared to traditional ERP systems.
  • Integrated workflows: Connects sales, inventory, procurement, and finance in one system.
  • Customizable: Because it’s open-source, developers can tailor Odoo to your exact needs.

For SMBs that want to move beyond spreadsheets but aren’t ready to commit to a massive ERP rollout, Odoo offers a practical middle ground.

Zoho Inventory – Keeping Stock Levels Under Control

One of the biggest problems companies face is actually one of the most allegedly simple: 

Knowing what's in stock and when to reorder.

It might sound like a pretty straightforward thing, but in reality, it's a matter of carefully threaded balance between too much and too little inventory.

Zoho Inventory gives you real-time visibility into your stock across multiple locations and sales channels. It’s especially handy if you’re juggling online orders from Shopify, Amazon, or eBay alongside brick-and-mortar sales. With built-in reorder alerts, barcode scanning, and simple reports, it keeps your team one step ahead of stockouts and overstocks.

How Zoho Inventory can help you: 

  • Stay in stock: Reorder alerts prevent costly stockouts.
  • Sell everywhere: Sync inventory across online marketplaces and retail stores.
  • Save time: Barcode scanning speeds up order fulfillment.
  • Easy to adopt: Cloud-based and intuitive, your team won’t need weeks of training.

Fishbowl – Warehouse Management That’s Budget-Friendly

Warehouses can get messy in the blink of an eye. 

Especially when stock is moving in and out daily, and you’re still relying on spreadsheets or paper pick lists.

Fishbowl was built to give SMBs the kind of warehouse visibility and control that used to be reserved for big companies with expensive systems.

Fishbowl integrates directly with QuickBooks and Xero, a bonus point if your company is already using those platforms for accounting. 

Once set up, it handles everything from real-time inventory tracking to automated reordering, work orders, and barcode scanning. For growing businesses, it’s a great solution if you want to manage your warehouses efficiently. 

How Fishbowl  can help you

  • Cut down on errors: Barcode scanning and real-time updates improve picking and packing accuracy.

  • Integrates with your books: Works seamlessly with QuickBooks and Xero, keeping accounting in sync.

  • Plan ahead: Automates reorder points so you don’t run out of stock mid-order cycle.

  • Scales with growth: Adds manufacturing and work order features as your operations expand.

Cin7 – Smarter Inventory & POS in One

Are you one of those businesses storing inventory in different channels? 

Maybe you have an online store, a distribution center overseas, and wholesale locations. 

Good for income 

Not necessarily great for keeping inventory on track.

Cin7 combines inventory management with point-of-sale (POS) and order management, giving SMBs a single place to keep everything in sync. 

Whether you’re selling on Shopify, Amazon, or in a physical shop, Cin7 updates your stock in real time. It also connects with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, so sales and finances always line up. 

How Cin7 can help you

  • One system, many channels: Syncs online, wholesale, and retail orders automatically.

  • Stay accurate: Real-time stock updates prevent overselling.

  • Sell anywhere: Integrated POS makes it easy to manage in-store and online sales together.

  • Integrations galore: Connects with accounting, e-commerce, and shipping tools.

Katana – Production Planning Made Simple

If you’re a small manufacturer, you know the pain:  searching for raw materials, production schedules, and customer orders often means pure madness. 

That might work for a while, but as demand grows, it gets messy and expensive. 

Katana is designed to give SMB manufacturers the kind of production planning visibility that used to require complex, enterprise-grade systems.

Do you need to see if you have enough raw materials on hand to start a batch? 

Katana tells you instantly. Wondering which orders should be prioritized today? Katana schedules production automatically, so your team knows exactly what to work on

How Katana can help you

  • Real-time visibility: Track materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods in one place.

  • Smarter scheduling: Automatically prioritizes production based on demand.

  • Integrated sales and inventory: Syncs with Shopify, WooCommerce, QuickBooks, and more.

  • SMB-focused: Built for small manufacturers, so no extra features you don’t need.


Sortly – Visual Inventory Made Simple

Visualization makes a huge difference these days in the success of any supply chain management. 

You don't just need to know where your items are, you need to be able to understand the reasoning behind them. 

Sortly lets you track items using photos, QR codes, and barcodes. 

This makes it much easier to keep tabs on stock levels and locations, whether you’re in the warehouse, at a job site, or in transit. Because it’s cloud-based and mobile-friendly, supply chain data stays up to date across your team in real time. That way, you always know what’s available, what needs reordering, and where bottlenecks might pop up.

How Sortly can help you

  • Clear visibility: Photos and QR codes make it easier to spot and manage stock.

  • Track across locations: Manage inventory in multiple warehouses or sites.

  • Mobile-ready: Update stock levels from anywhere along the supply chain.

  • Fewer blind spots: Custom tags and categories help organize complex inventories.

Anaplan  – Forecasting for Supply Chains

One of the toughest challenges in supply chain management is matching supply with demand. Order too much, and you’re stuck with excess inventory; order too little, and you can’t fulfill customer needs. 

For SMBs looking to scale, these missteps can be costly. 

Anaplan helps solve this by bringing advanced forecasting and scenario planning into the supply chain.

How Anaplan can help you

  • Accurate demand forecasts: Reduce stockouts and overstocks by predicting customer needs.

  • Scenario planning: Test different supply chain situations and build contingency plans.

  • Cross-functional alignment: Keeps procurement, production, and sales working from the same forecast.

  • Cloud-based flexibility: Scales with your business without heavy IT overhead.

Slack (with Supply Chain Integrations) – Communicating Without Email Overload

Yes, you read that right

Slack, when used with the right integrations, helps keep supply chain communication instant, visible, and organized.

Instead of relying on long email chains, teams can use Slack channels dedicated to suppliers, warehouses, logistics partners, or even specific projects. Real-time updates mean everyone,from procurement to operations,sees the same information the moment it happens.

How Slack can help you

  • Faster response times: Issues are flagged and acted on immediately.

  • Organized communication: Separate channels keep supplier, warehouse, and logistics updates clear.

  • Integrations that matter: Connects with supply chain tools for live updates.

  • Remote-friendly: Keeps distributed teams in sync without email overload.

Sphera – Keeping an Eye on Disruptions

Supply chains don’t just move products; they carry risk. Regulatory compliance, supplier sustainability, and operational safety can all become weak points if they’re not actively managed. That’s where Sphera steps in.

 It’s a risk and performance management platform designed to help businesses identify vulnerabilities in their supply chains and stay compliant with global standards.

The biggest advantage is visibility into supplier performance and risk factors that might otherwise fly under the radar. Sphera tracks metrics related to environmental impact, safety practices, and regulatory compliance, which is critical if you’re working with international suppliers. It also provides tools to map supply chain dependencies, making it easier to spot potential disruptions before they happen.

How Sphera can help you

  • Supplier risk management: Evaluate suppliers on compliance, safety, and sustainability.

  • Regulatory readiness: Stay ahead of evolving global standards.

  • Disruption prevention: Identify weak links in the supply chain before they escalate.

  • Performance tracking: Monitor ongoing supplier performance with measurable data.

Free Supplier Risk Scorecard Download

Download our free supplier risk scorecard here!

Download the free tool!

Free Supplier Risk Scorecard Download

Download our free supplier risk scorecard here!

Download the free tool!

Free Supplier Risk Scorecard Download

Download our free supplier risk scorecard here!

Download the free tool!

Free Supplier Risk Scorecard Download

Download our free supplier risk scorecard here!

Download the free tool!
Amy Deiko
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Amy is a procurement writer and MBA student with a passion for innovative businesses processes, she loves simplifying complex topics and sharing insights to help companies optimize their daily operations.

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