7 top multichannel inventory management software (and how to choose)
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As more retailers diversify their sales channel strategy, multichannel inventory management becomes a central challenge across marketplaces, online stores, and multiple platforms.
While stock control for one or two stores may be relatively simple, multichannel inventory management software has to give you clearer visibility and the ability to react quickly when trends or demand shift.
In this post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about multichannel inventory control, from the costs and causes of poor inventory management, to what you should look for in your search for the right order management software.
What is multichannel inventory management?
Multichannel inventory management is the process of tracking inventory across a range of sales channels, and in some cases, across warehouse locations. For a full breakdown of the concept, common strategies, and real-world examples, see our complete guide to multichannel inventory management. Here, we’re focused on the tools: which software options are worth considering, and how to choose between them.
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Common multichannel inventory management challenges
Multichannel businesses often run into the same handful of problems.
Overstocking ties up cash and warehouse space, and stockouts send customers elsewhere. A Harvard Business Review study found that 21%-43% of consumers will go to another store if an item is unavailable.
Slow pick-and-pack processes and poor stock visibility also drag down delivery speed, and returns add another layer of cost. Research from IHL Group shows that up to half of all returns are preventable.
Good multichannel inventory management software addresses all four problems at once. See our guide to inventory management challenges for a closer look at each, or read on for which tools handle it best.
Top 7 multichannel inventory management software systems
The right multichannel inventory management software is the best way to reduce the risks of selling across multiple channels and running multiple warehouses.
These seven multichannel inventory software systems all give you a way to track inventory across every sales channel:
1. Linnworks
Overview of Linnworks
Linnworks is a leading multichannel inventory management software. With 20 years’ experience building ecommerce software, Linnworks makes it easy for retailers to manage their inventory across various online marketplaces and websites.
Benefits of using Linnworks for multichannel inventory management
Linnworks syncs stock levels, orders, and product listings across platforms like Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and more. The dashboard within the system brings sales metrics, inventory turnover, and order fulfillment into a single view, so many of your questions can be answered in one place.
One of the standout features of Linnworks is its automation capabilities. From auto-relisting products to setting up pricing rules and generating shipping labels, the Rules Engine handles the repetitive work so nobody on your team has to do it by hand.
Linnworks connects to third-party logistics providers and major ecommerce platforms, so inventory data moves between systems without anyone having to rekey it.
If you’re selling internationally, Linnworks supports multiple currencies and languages, so customers see local pricing and copy.
Linnworks pricing
Linnworks provides tailored pricing plans designed to cater to businesses of all sizes, from budding startups to well-established enterprises. With no hidden fees or unexpected costs, our pricing aligns directly with the value delivered to your business. Plans begin at just $449 per month, accommodating up to 2,000 orders.
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2. Sellbrite
Overview of Sellbrite
Sellbrite is one of the leading multichannel inventory management solutions on the market.
It’s owned by GoDaddy, best known as a hosting, domain, and website provider.
Benefits of using Sellbrite for multichannel inventory management
Sellbrite covers what you’d expect from an inventory management tool, and then some. It handles sales, inventory levels, and products across multiple online marketplaces.
It’s also versatile and has features that enable it to become your order management software, product management hub, and fully-featured analytics platform. Getting your products into Sellbrite is easy by using the bulk upload feature.
Once done, you can list your products on any of the top marketplaces that Sellbrite integrates with (including Amazon, eBay, and Walmart) by creating listings for each marketplace using your uploaded data.
To tie everything together, you can turn on inventory sync. This will automatically update your listing quantities to match your available inventory. You can also use inventory rules such as “use 100% of inventory” and set minimum and maximum sales quantities.
Sellbrite pricing
Sellbrite’s pricing starts at their “Forever Free” plan, which offers up to 30 monthly orders.
Their most popular plan is the “Pro 100” at $29 per month, offering 100 monthly orders and FBA integration capabilities (for an upcharge).
3. QuickBooks
Overview of QuickBooks
In August 2020, Intuit acquired TradeGecko. This makes what is now QuickBooks Online an incredibly powerful tool, thanks to the financial, payment, reporting, and accounting tools that sit behind this omnichannel inventory management platform.
However, since then, it appears Intuit has rolled up the functionality of QuickBooks Commerce into QuickBooks Online, specifically under their “Plus” pricing plan.
Benefits of using Quickbooks for multichannel inventory management
QuickBooks Online handles inventory, orders, and payments in one place. Like Sellbrite, QuickBooks Online integrates with all the top marketplaces you would expect including Amazon and eBay.
Quickbooks pricing
QuickBooks Online offers inventory support starting at their Plus plan ($25.50/month) and going up to their advanced plan ($60/month).
4. Ordoro
Overview of Ordoro
Ordoro, established in 2010, has evolved into a powerful cloud-based inventory management platform, providing an all-in-one solution for SaaS and enterprise clients.
Benefits of using Ordoro for multichannel inventory management
It covers real-time inventory tracking across multiple locations, kitting, and purchase orders, along with returns management.
Ordoro also supports dropshipping with automated routing of orders across suppliers.
The platform integrates with various shipping carriers and sales channels and offers discounted shipping rates.
With its comprehensive features, Ordoro is a versatile choice for businesses seeking efficient inventory management.
Ordoro pricing
Ordoro’s pricing starts with a free tier, with “Advanced” and “Premium” plans at $59 and $149 monthly, respectively. Additional modules for specific needs are also available.
5. Zoho Inventory
Overview of Zoho Inventory
Zoho Inventory is a cloud-based inventory management software designed for small to medium-sized businesses.
Benefits of using Zoho Inventory for multichannel inventory management
With multichannel selling, real-time inventory tracking, and comprehensive warehouse management, Zoho Inventory covers the basics of inventory and order management. It ensures accurate stock count and order fulfillment, reducing instances of overselling.
It also allows for kitting and bundling of items, which is useful for businesses with complex inventory structures.
The comprehensive order management system provides features from creating sales orders and invoices to packing and shipping goods.
It integrates with popular shipping carriers, allowing for easier shipment tracking. It also integrates with various ecommerce platforms and marketplaces, syncing your inventory across multiple sales channels.
Zoho Inventory pricing
Zoho Inventory offers a free plan for 20 monthly online orders, with more extensive features in their paid plans. The Basic plan costs $39/month for 1500 online orders/month.
The Standard plan costs $79/month for 10,000 online orders/month. For larger businesses, the Professional plan is $199/month for 30,000 online orders/month.
These plans offer more extensive features like batch tracking, composite items, and priority support.
6. Square for Retail
Overview of Square for Retail
Square for Retail is a point-of-sale (POS) and retail management solution designed for brick-and-mortar sellers that need simple inventory control without the complexity of managing multiple ecommerce marketplaces. Built on Square’s payment system, Square for Retail helps small retailers unify in-store sales, inventory counts, and reporting in one easy-to-use system.
Benefits of using Square for Retail
Square for Retail focuses on helping store teams stay organized with basic stock management, barcode-based checkout, and purchase ordering. While it’s not built for multichannel marketplace sync, it provides a clear view of what’s in stock at each store location, making it ideal for retailers with one or two physical storefronts.
Its clean interface allows staff to quickly adjust stock, track returns, and stay on top of low inventory alerts. Square also includes customer profiles and sales history, enabling better in-store experiences and repeat visits. For businesses primarily selling in person rather than across multiple online channels, Square for Retail gives them the control they need without overwhelming features.
Square for Retail pricing
Square for Retail offers a free plan with core POS functionality. The Plus plan begins at $89 per month per location, with additional fees for payment processing.
7. Lightspeed Retail
Overview of Lightspeed Retail
Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based POS and retail management platform designed for growing brick-and-mortar shops. It specializes in in-store sales, catalog organization, work orders, and basic inventory tracking. Lightspeed is widely used in apparel, sporting goods, specialty retail, and niche verticals that rely on in-person customer service rather than multichannel marketplace selling.
Benefits of using Lightspeed Retail for inventory management
Lightspeed helps store teams manage product catalogs, stock levels, vendor ordering, and in-store workflows. It includes strong reporting tools for tracking margins, sales trends, and staff performance. While not intended for multichannel marketplace syncing or high-volume ecommerce fulfillment, Lightspeed is strong at in-store retail operations.
For retailers that operate one or several physical locations, Lightspeed offers intuitive tools for managing inventory counts, transfers between store locations, and customer service enhancements like loyalty programs and special orders.
Lightspeed Retail pricing
Lightspeed’s pricing starts with its Lean plan, beginning around $89 per month, with more advanced plans that include additional reporting, analytics, and omnichannel add-ons.
How to choose the best multichannel inventory management software
Efficient multichannel inventory management requires:
- A 360° view of stock across all locations
- Real-time stock and sales updates
- Data-driven decision-making through reports
An all-in-one solution is key for multichannel retailers. Here are the top features to consider:
Multichannel views
You should manage all sales channels in one system, from updating product info to viewing sales, stock, and returns. Real-time inventory visibility makes the difference here, because customers expect to buy online and return in-store. Without connected systems, customer experience suffers.
Integrations to third-party ecommerce platforms
Your software must integrate with platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Walmart . That keeps product updates and information consistent across channels, and saves you time. Centralized reporting makes sales analysis much quicker.
Reporting and analytics
Integrated reporting and analytics are essential for optimizing processes. Key reports to look for include sales by product, channel, inventory valuation, cost of goods sold, and low-stock products. These insights help reduce costs and increase margins.
Cloud-based access and updates
Cloud-based software allows access from anywhere with an internet connection, making stock and sales management more efficient. Regional managers and head offices can view real-time data to make quick, informed decisions that maximize sales.
Warehouse management capability
Features like barcode scanning and batch tracking improve accuracy and efficiency, building on solid inventory organization fundamentals. Modern systems integrate with mobile devices for real-time updates, reducing errors in large warehouses with frequent deliveries.
Inventory and warehouse management savings calculator
Uncover the cost of your mis-ships, out of stocks and lack of labor efficiency with our inventory management savings calculator.
Choose Linnworks for your global multichannel inventory management needs
If you’re a retailer selling across multiple sales channels, multichannel inventory management should be a top priority.
Having the right products in stock at the right time can be the difference between exceeding sales targets and missing them completely — especially when managing multiple warehouses.
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Book a Linnworks demo and see how it simplifies inventory, orders, and fulfillment. Get started today and optimize your eCommerce operations.
FAQ
What is multichannel order management software?
Multichannel order management software helps retailers centralize orders, stock levels, and fulfillment across multiple platforms. Instead of juggling separate systems for Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and your brick-and-mortar store, a single platform gives you real-time visibility and ensures you never oversell. With the right features in place, you can automate fulfillment tasks, reduce errors, and support business growth without adding manual workload.
Why is inventory management more complex across multiple sales channels?
Managing inventory across multiple sales channels introduces more moving parts: more products, more marketplaces, and more warehouses. Without a unified system, it’s easy for stock levels to become inaccurate, creating overselling, shipping delays, and frustrated customers. A dedicated inventory management tool gives you full control and real-time information so you can react quickly to demand.
How does order management software help prevent overselling?
Overselling typically happens when stock quantities aren’t updated fast enough. Multichannel order management systems sync inventory across all connected channels in real time, ensuring each store reflects accurate stock levels. This prevents stockouts, improves customer satisfaction, and protects your brand’s credibility, especially during seasonal spikes.
What features should I look for in a multichannel inventory management system?
Look for features that support visibility, automation, and speed. This includes real-time stock tracking, multiwarehouse support, marketplace integrations, and automated workflows for pick, pack, and ship. Tools that help manage suppliers, pricing, and product information can also streamline your operations and reduce costly errors.
How does multichannel software improve fulfillment and shipping?
With all orders feeding into one workflow, fulfillment becomes faster and more accurate. Many platforms let you route orders to the closest warehouse, compare shipping costs, and generate labels for carriers like USPS. These improvements reduce delivery times, lower costs, and help you meet rising customer expectations around fast shipping.
Can multichannel tools help growing businesses scale?
Absolutely. As your business expands into new marketplaces and additional warehouses, manual processes simply won’t keep up. Multichannel inventory tools automate repetitive tasks, maintain accurate stock levels, and centralize control. This gives growing businesses the room to scale without adding unnecessary complexity or administrative headaches.
How do multiple warehouses impact inventory control?
Multiple warehouses offer flexibility and faster delivery times, but they also introduce more complexity. Without clear stock visibility, it’s easy to misplace inventory or duplicate orders. A multichannel system displays stock by location, helps avoid errors, and ensures your team knows exactly where every product is stored at any moment.
What role does real-time data play in multichannel selling?
Real-time data is essential for accurate stock management, pricing decisions, and fulfillment. When your system updates orders, sales, and returns instantly, you can make faster decisions and avoid costly mistakes. This level of insight is especially important for marketplaces like Amazon, where competition and customer expectations are high.
How do multichannel platforms reduce errors in growing businesses?
Mistakes often come from manual data entry: incorrect quantities, outdated stock levels, or mislabeled items. Multichannel platforms automate these processes, eliminating the most common sources of errors. With automated workflows, synced product data, and standardized information, your team spends less time fixing issues and more time driving sales.
Can these systems support both online stores and brick-and-mortar locations?
Yes. Modern multichannel systems support ecommerce platforms, marketplaces, and physical stores under one umbrella. Whether someone buys online or walks into your brick-and-mortar location, your stock levels, orders, and fulfillment workflow stay connected. This creates a smoother customer experience and ensures your inventory is always up to date.
