Zoho Inventory vs Linnworks

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Our analysts compared Zoho Inventory vs Linnworks 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.

Linnworks Software Tool

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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Linnworks is a cloud-based inventory management software for ecommerce businesses. It tackles the complexities of multi-channel selling by centralizing inventory data, automating order fulfillment, and providing real-time stock visibility. Linnworks shines for retailers looking to streamline operations and scale their sales. Key benefits include reduced manual work through automation, improved accuracy with automated stock updates, and boosted efficiency with integrations to major marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. Popular features include purchase order management, kitting and bundling, and multi-warehouse tracking. Compared to simpler tools, Linnworks offers deeper automation and reporting capabilities, but at the cost of a steeper learning curve and potentially higher pricing. Pricing starts at a monthly subscription based on order volume, making it more scalable for larger businesses but potentially less cost-effective for smaller setups. Ultimately, Linnworks is a powerful tool for ambitious ecommerce businesses seeking centralized control and automation across their inventory and fulfillment processes.

Pros
  • Streamlines order processing
  • Automates inventory updates
  • Integrates with major marketplaces
  • Offers robust reporting features
  • Flexible pricing plans
Cons
  • Steep learning curve for some users
  • Occasional technical glitches
  • Limited customization options
  • Customer support can be slow
  • Costly for high-volume sellers
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$59 Monthly, Freemium
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$35/User, Monthly
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Product Assistance

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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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  • Automate Inventory Tasks: Keep updated records of inventory levels automatically when stock comes in or goes out. Use demand forecasting data and custom reorder thresholds to always have optimal inventory levels. 
  • Consolidate Multichannel Operations: Manage sales across various channels simultaneously. Automatically update all channels to accurately reflect inventory levels no matter where a product sells. 
  • Monitor Performance in Real Time: Customize dashboards with inventory, warehouse, ordering and purchasing information to show specific KPIs. Use real-time data to drive decisions. 
  • Boost Inventory Accuracy: Minimize manual inventory tracking and system updating errors. Use SKUs and barcoding to automatically update inventory information when shipping or receiving products. 
  • Minimize Wastage: Reduce waste and shrinkage using a built-in FIFO inventory setup. Make sure first-in products — especially perishables — leave the warehouse first to fulfill orders. 
  • Set Up a Unified Shipping Network: Access 70+ shipping integration options to connect your existing trusted carriers and scope out new options. Manage multiple shippers for various locations to centralize shipping processes. 
  • Avoid Over and Underselling: Connect your sales channels and use real-time data to forecast demand, helping automatically avoid over and underselling. Set parameters to list items as out of stock across channels, no matter where they originate from, to keep from overselling stock. 
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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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  • Inventory Control: Capture inventory details, including IDs, descriptions, categories and more, to simplify batch tracking and expiry monitoring. Track and adjust stock information to keep a detailed history for multiple warehouses when transferring and adding products or accounting for damage and shrinkage. Bundle and kit items for group sales. Create visual representations for physical inventory to quickly pinpoint items. 
  • Inventory Valuation, Counts & Alerts: Use various valuation and counting inventory methods and models, including EOQ models, FIFO, physical counts, specific identification and weighted average. 
  • Order Management: Manage sales and backorders from a dedicated dashboard. Edit or split orders and generate shipping labels directly from packing slips. Create custom rules to automatically tag orders, print templates, add notes, set preferred carriers and more. 
  • Warehouse Management: Organize and track SKUs across various bin racks. Generate automated picklists for order fulfillment. Map out warehouses, including zones, groups and bins, to visualize inventory layouts. 
  • Multichannel Listings: Bulk update and sync pricing for products listed on various sales channels. Create automated inventory rules to list products as “out of stock” on various channels when selling out on one and reverse the listing after restocking. 
  • Shipping Management: Set custom routing rules for order shipping. Automatically pick older inventory using built-in FIFO models. Compare rates across shipping carriers to minimize costs. 
  • Stock Forecasting: Use sales histories, seasonal trends and product comparisons to forecast demand and make data-driven stock replenishment decisions, avoiding stockouts and overstocking. 
  • Purchasing: Set automatic reorder points to reup low stock. Forecast demand based on actual sales data. Manage suppliers in a dedicated portal, including receiving order details and purchase order tracking. 
  • Returns Management: Approve returns and set pickup and transportation processes. Receive SMS or email updates. Sort returns by various parameters like status and dates. Synchronize tracking with shipping partners to facilitate automatic status notifications. 
  • Reporting & Insights: Monitor performance through dashboards to see real-time data across sales channels or specific SKUs to track stock levels, orders and purchasing, stock valuation, and refunds. 
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Product Ranking

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Inventory Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Inventory Control
Purchasing
Purchasing

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Zoho Inventory
Linnworks
+ 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 78 84 43 53 67 58 97 30 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

75%
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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 387 reviews
Great User Sentiment 98 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.

84%
of users recommend this product

Linnworks has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 98 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (15)
n/a
4.4 (48)
4.3 (66)
4.5 (321)
4.1 (26)
n/a
5.0 (1)
4.0 (3)
3.2 (5)

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

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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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Cross-channel efficiency: Users praise Linnworks for simplifying managing inventory and orders across multiple sales channels (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Shopify). They highlight improved listing management, order fulfillment automation, and reduced errors.
Inventory accuracy boost: Real-time stock level updates, automatic data entry, and discrepancy flagging are lauded for improving inventory accuracy, leading to fewer stockouts and overstocks.
Time-saving automation: Users appreciate features like automated order routing, picking, and shipping, which streamline fulfillment and free up time for other tasks.
Data-driven insights: Customizable reports on sales, inventory, and orders are valued for providing actionable insights and enabling data-driven decision-making.
Scalability for growth: The cloud-based platform and flexible pricing plans are seen as advantages, allowing businesses to scale Linnworks usage as their needs grow.
Integration capabilities: Seamless connections with various marketplaces, accounting software, and shipping carriers are appreciated for creating a unified workflow and eliminating manual data entry.
Supportive community: Users value the helpful online community forum and responsive customer support, offering guidance and assistance when needed.
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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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Learning curve: While generally considered user-friendly, some users find the initial setup and feature exploration demanding, particularly for businesses new to inventory management software.
Pricing for smaller businesses: While offering flexible plans, some users, especially those with lower order volumes, find the base pricing tier costlier than simpler inventory management solutions.
Occasional bugs and glitches: Some users report encountering minor bugs or glitches within the platform, although the frequency and severity vary based on individual experiences.
Limited reporting customization: While offering various reports, some users wish for more advanced customization options or deeper data analysis capabilities for specific needs.
Integration complexity for specific tools: While boasting diverse integrations, setting up connections with certain niche tools or custom platforms might require technical expertise or additional support.
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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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Linnworks garners praise for its ability to streamline multi-channel inventory management and order fulfillment, particularly for businesses juggling sales across various platforms. Users highlight real-time inventory updates, automated processes, and centralized order management as significant time-savers and error reducers. The cloud-based platform and scalable pricing plans are seen as assets for growing businesses. Additionally, the supportive community forum and responsive customer service are valued resources. However, some users mention a learning curve during initial setup, especially for those new to inventory management software. The base pricing can be a barrier for smaller businesses compared to simpler solutions. While integrations are vast, connecting specific niche tools or custom platforms might require more technical expertise. Additionally, some users wish for more advanced reporting customization options. Overall, Linnworks seems to impress users with its robust feature set, automation capabilities, and cross-channel compatibility. However, its initial learning curve and pricing might deter smaller businesses or those with simpler needs. When compared to competitors, Linnworks stands out for its comprehensive feature set, scalability, and supportive community, but its complexity and pricing might not be suitable for every user. Carefully considering your business size, specific needs, and technical expertise is crucial before deciding if Linnworks is the right fit.

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