Is it a good idea to use free inventory software? That’s an important question small-business leaders need to ask themselves as they consider switching from handwritten notes to a more automated inventory management system. We’ll break down the costs and benefits of using free inventory software so you can make an informed decision.
Benefits
The main benefit of using free inventory software is that it doesn’t have a price tag. But there are several other ways that this type of software can help companies.
Low Risk – It doesn’t cost any money to get the software itself, but it does take time to set it up and get trained on how to use it. You could say the same thing about any software, whether you pay for it or not, but it should be noted that even free software has some level of risk associated with it.
Increased Automation – Picking, shipping, ordering, and other warehouse tasks that used to be done by hand can be automated with auto reorder points and additional tools available on a desktop computer or mobile device.
More Reliable Data – Reduce the number of data entry errors by scanning product barcodes, and keep your data secure by creating user permissions to limit employees’ access to certain parts of the software.
Software Integrations – Double data entry can be practically eliminated by integrating your inventory management software with the accounting, shipping, ecommerce, and other business solutions you use.
B.Y.O.H. – That’s short for Bring Your Own Hardware. You don’t necessarily have to buy specialized barcode scanners or extra equipment to use an inventory app. As long as your phone’s camera is powerful enough, you can use it to scan barcodes, perform cycle counts, and more in the warehouse.
Costs
It’s odd to think of something that is free actually costing something, but it’s true. Here are the costs you may have to pay by choosing a free online inventory management solution.
Opportunity Cost – No matter what choice you make, there’s an opportunity cost attached to it. You forgo alternative options in favor of this one, so you better make sure it’s worth your time.
Limited Training Resources – Few apps and other online solutions will offer in-depth training on their software. They mainly rely on videos and written documentation to get users up and running instead of in-house trainers.
Learning Curve – Depending on the complexity of the interface and feature set, it may take some time for your workers to learn how to navigate the new software and put it to use in their everyday activities.
Fewer Features – The computing power of mobile devices can’t match that of desktop computers, so there’s a gap between an online inventory solution’s features and a desktop one’s. But they are catching up.
Some Specialized Hardware – If you don’t already have a smartphone or the one you have isn’t able to perform all of the functions you need, you may have to buy specialized hardware to properly run the software in the warehouse.
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If you’d like to find out if free inventory software is a good idea for your business, register for our webinar on June 12, 2019 (TODAY!) at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, that will demo the features in Boxstorm by Fishbowl, an online inventory management solution and app. THIS EVENT HAS ENDED. VIEW IT IN OUR ARCHIVE HERE