Best Retail ERP Software Shortlist
Here’s my pick of the 10 best software from the 21 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Retail ERP software integrates all your retail processes into one system, improving inventory management, sales tracking, and customer relationship management.
However, choosing the right ERP software can be challenging, given the number of options available. With years of experience working with various retail ERP systems, I can help you find the right fit.
Let me help you explore the most effective software solutions for your business challenges. Here are my picks for the top retail ERP software.
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Retail ERP Software Summary
We’ve investigated the pricing and availability of free trials and demo versions so you can make a much simpler side-by-side comparison.
Tools | Price | |
---|---|---|
Epicor | Pricing upon request | Website |
Erply | From $39/month (billed annually) | Website |
Blue Link ERP | Pricing upon request | Website |
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central | From $110/5 users/month (billed annually) + a $4,500 implementation fee | Website |
Katana | From $179/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
iTransition | Pricing upon request | Website |
Priority | Pricing upon request | Website |
Genius ERP | Pricing upon request | Website |
AccountMate | Pricing upon request | Website |
Aptean | Pricing upon request | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow to Choose Retail ERP Software
As you work through your own software selection process, keep the following points in mind.
- Scalability and Customization: Retail businesses often experience fluctuations in demand and growth. Choosing an ERP system that can scale with your business and be customized to meet your specific needs is important. For example, a scalable ERP system can handle increased transaction volumes during peak seasons without compromising performance. Customization allows the ERP to adapt to business processes.
- Integration Capabilities: Integration with existing systems is vital for maintaining efficient operations. An ERP system should integrate with your current CRM, POS, and ecommerce platforms to ensure smooth data flow across all departments. For instance, integrating your ERP with your CRM system can provide a unified view of customer interactions.
- Real-Time Inventory Management: Effective inventory management is a cornerstone of retail success. An ERP system with real-time inventory tracking can help you maintain optimal stock levels, reduce carrying costs, and prevent stockouts. This feature is particularly beneficial for retailers with multiple sales channels, as it ensures accurate inventory counts across all locations.
- Business Intelligence and Analytics: Access to advanced analytics and business intelligence tools can provide valuable insights into your operations. An ERP system with reporting capabilities can help you analyze sales trends, customer behavior, and inventory performance. This data-driven approach enables you to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and identify new growth opportunities.
Vendor Support and Training: Implementation and ongoing support from an ERP vendor is important to the success of your ERP system. Choose a vendor that offers training, technical support, and regular system updates. For example, a vendor that provides extensive training can help your staff quickly adapt to the new system.
Best Retail ERP Software Reviews
This section provides an in-depth analysis and overview of each retail ERP software. I will walk through the pros and cons of each tool, its features, and best use cases.
Epicor is designed to optimize business operations across various industries. It offers customizable modules that cater to business needs.
Why I Picked Epicor: I chose Epicor because of its modular architecture, which allows businesses to tailor the ERP system to their industry requirements. This flexibility makes it stand out from other ERP solutions as it ensures a better fit for various business operations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include manufacturing execution systems, supply chain management, financial management, human capital management, and enterprise content management. Other features include ecommerce and point of sale, planning and scheduling, business analytics and intelligence, customer relationship management (CRM), and production management.
Integrations include Salesforce, Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, Infor, Sage, Shopify, and Distribution One.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time data insights
- Industry-specific solutions
- Customizable modular architecture
Cons:
- Customization can be complex
- Potential ongoing maintenance
Erply is a cloud-based retail software designed to help businesses manage multiple stores with integrated point of sale (POS) systems.
Why I Picked Erply: I chose Erply for its capabilities in managing multi-store retail operations. The software integrates POS systems across different store locations, making it a good choice for businesses looking to centralize their operations. Erply offers a unified platform that supports inventory management, customer relationship management, and real-time analytics, all important for efficient multi-store operations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include cloud-based POS, inventory management, customer management, and mobile applications. It also supports self-checkout POS, warehouse management, and detailed analytics.
Integrations include Magento, Merit Aktiva, NetSuite, QuickBooks Online, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Xero.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time inventory tracking
- Integrated POS system
- Multi-store management
Cons:
- Complex initial setup
- Limited offline capabilities
Blue Link ERP offers retail ERP software with point-of-sale functionality for various types of retail businesses.
Why I Picked Blue Link ERP: I chose Blue Link ERP for its integration of wholesale and distribution functionalities with retail POS systems. This makes it stand out from other ERP solutions as it can manage multiple sales channels. I believe it is best for wholesale and distribution because it allows businesses to maintain accurate and up-to-date inventory and sales data across all channels.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include cloud-based software, accounting, B2B ordering platform, contact management & CRM, inventory management, point-of-sale, ecommerce integration, and warehouse management. It helps streamline and automate processes and includes functionality across business departments.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Amazon, eBay, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Square, and Stripe.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Omnichannel capabilities
- Helpful support team
- Complete feature set
Cons:
- Limited to small and medium-sized businesses
- Complex setup for some users
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an ERP solution designed to simplify business processes and improve customer interactions. It provides a unified data experience through its integrations.
Why I Picked Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: I chose Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for its integration with Microsoft productivity apps, which is an advantage for businesses already using Microsoft products. The tool stands out for its ability to connect teams, processes, and data across the organization.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include financial management, sales and service management, and project management. Other features include supply chain management and business intelligence.
Integrations include Shopify, QuickBooks, Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, ShipStation, and Xero.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Microsoft integration
- Scalable for growing businesses
- Complete multi-entity dashboard
Cons:
- Complex setup
- Limited customization options
Katana helps businesses simplify their production process to provide efficient inventory control and improved workflow.
Why I Picked Katana: I chose Katana for its real-time inventory management features that cater to manufacturers' needs. Unlike other tools, Katana integrates production scheduling with inventory control, making it good for manufacturers who require tracking and optimization of their production processes.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include real-time inventory insights, production planning, and end-to-end traceability. It also includes multichannel support and cloud accounting.
Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, Xero, QuickBooks, Zapier, Salesforce, Pipedrive, ShipStation, and Magento.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- End-to-end traceability
- Complete production planning
- Real-time inventory insights
Cons:
- Limited support for non-manufacturing industries
- Learning curve for new users
Itransition provides custom ERP solutions tailored to the needs of retail companies. It offers ERP systems that integrate with existing business processes for performance and scalability purposes.
Why I Picked Itransition: I chose Itransition for its focus on delivering custom ERP solutions that cater specifically to the retail sector. Unlike other ERP providers, Itransition stands out as it addresses the challenges and requirements of retail businesses. I believe it’s best for retail companies needing custom ERP solutions because it enhances operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include order management, customer relationship management, returns management, loyalty management, and finance management. These features are designed to streamline retail operations and provide real-time data exchange between systems.
Integrations include Salesforce, SAP Commerce, Adobe Commerce (Magento), AWS, Azure, and Power BI.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time data synchronization
- Extensive industry expertise
- Highly customizable solutions
Cons:
- Longer development times
- Complex setup process for some users
Priority ERP is a business software designed to manage retail business operations. It stands out for its ability to scale with business growth, making it good for retailers looking to expand without significant additional tech investments.
Why I Picked Priority: I chose Priority for its omnichannel capabilities, which allow retailers to integrate online and offline operations. The ERP system offers a range of tools that support both online and offline merchandising environments.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include supply chain management, manufacturing, and warehouse management. Other features include financials and a retail management system (RMS).
Integrations include Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Slack, and Zoom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Extensive feature set
- Scalable with business growth
- Omnichannel support
Cons:
- Requires extensive training
- Limited industry-specific features
Genius ERP is an ERP system designed specifically for custom manufacturers. It offers end-to-end solutions from estimating and scheduling to inventory control and production planning.
Why I Picked Genius ERP: I chose Genius ERP for this list because it offers solutions for custom manufacturers. Its features and industry-specific tools suit businesses with complex, multi-stage production processes well. Genius ERP is best for custom manufacturers needing tailored ERP solutions, as it can handle high-variable production and provide real-time insights.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include CAD2BOM engineering, smart scheduling, inventory management, and job costing. These tools help manufacturers streamline operations, improve efficiency, and manage costs effectively.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and CAD software.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive support services
- Real-time data insights
- Industry-specific features
Cons:
- Setup and training can be complicated
- Limited to manufacturing industries
Accountmate offers customizable solutions tailored to meet complex inventory management needs. It is best for businesses requiring detailed tracking and flexible accounting solutions.
Why I Picked Accountmate: I chose Accountmate for its ability to handle complex inventory requirements and its high level of customization. Unlike other solutions, Accountmate allows businesses to tailor the software to mirror their specific operational needs, making it a good choice for companies with inventory challenges.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include detailed inventory tracking by serial numbers, units-of-measure, and bin locations. It also includes flexible installation options (locally, SaaS, or hosted).
Integrations include QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, Crystal Reports, Avalara, UPS, and FedEx.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integration of data across different platforms
- Detailed inventory tracking
- Highly customizable
Cons:
- Limited out-of-the-box features
- Requires technical expertise
Aptean provides a retail ERP solution to enhance customer service and improve supply chain efficiencies. It enables better target marketing and personalization.
Why I Picked Aptean: I chose Aptean for its capabilities to provide customer behavior insights, which are essential for targeted marketing and personalized customer experiences. Its ability to simplify stock visibility and automate processes across multiple channels makes it stand out among retail ERP solutions.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include inventory management, order processing, customer relationship management, supply chain optimization, and financial management. Other features include advanced analytics, multi-channel support, mobile access, real-time reporting, and scalability.
Integrations include Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce, QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, IBM, Google Analytics, Shopify, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Complete product management
- Flexible order fulfillment
- 360° customer behavior insights
Cons:
- Potentially complex implementation
- May require extensive customization
Other Retail ERP Software
Below is a list of additional Retail ERP Software that I shortlisted, but did not make it to the top list. Definitely still worth checking them out!
- Deskera
Best for small businesses
- Versa Cloud ERP
Best for growing businesses
- Infor
Best for analytics
- Sage Intacct
Best for real-time collaboration
- NetSuite
Best for cloud-based financial management
- Xledger
Best for automated financial processes
- SAP ERP
Best for large enterprises
- Odoo
Best for customizable open-source ERP
- Acumatica Cloud ERP
Best for customer support
- Nexx Cloud ERP
Best for central data management
- SYSPRO ERP
Best for user experience
Related Reviews
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for here, check out these other tools that we’ve tested and evaluated:
Retail ERP Software Selection Criteria
The criteria for choosing the best ERP software should address buyer needs and common pain points, ensuring the tool effectively serves its intended purpose. As an expert who has personally tried and researched various ERP platforms, here are the requirements I use when evaluating these tools.
Core Functionality: 25% of Total Weighting Score
- Inventory management: Important for tracking product levels and automating restocking.
- Efficient point of sale (POS) systems: Essential for processing transactions smoothly and integrating with other retail operations.
- Customer relationship management: Enables retailers to maintain detailed customer records and manage loyalty programs effectively.
- Supply chain management: Facilitates the tracking of goods from acquisition to delivery, improving efficiency.
- Financial reporting and analytics: Provides essential insights into business performance, aiding strategic decision-making.
Additional Standout Features: 25% of Total Weighting Score
- Dashboard customizations: Allows for tailoring user interfaces to specific retail and distributor needs, such as real-time sales data or inventory alerts for small, mid-market, and larger companies.
- Advanced analytics capabilities: Tools that provide predictive insights into sales trends or customer behavior.
- Mobile accessibility: Ensures staff can operate the software effectively from any location, enhancing flexibility.
- Integration capabilities: Connection with ecommerce platforms or external CRM systems.
- AI-driven forecasting: Uses machine learning to predict stock levels, reducing overstock and understock situations.
Usability: 10% of Total Weighting Score
- Intuitive interface design: Prioritizes ease of use to accommodate users with varying tech skills.
- Quick response times: Minimizes loading delays, enhancing user satisfaction.
- Clear and logical navigation: Ensures users can find necessary features without frustration.
Onboarding: 10% of Total Weighting Score
- Training resources: Including interactive product tours and on-demand training videos.
- Template availability: Helps new users quickly set up standard operations.
- Dedicated onboarding support: Offers direct access to expert help during the initial setup phase.
Customer Support: 10% of Total Weighting Score
- 24/7 availability: Ensures that retail operations can receive support regardless of time.
- Multiple contact channels: Provides phone, email, and live chat support to suit different preferences.
- Proactive problem resolution: Focuses on quick and practical solutions to issues reported by users.
Value For Money: 10% of Total Weighting Score
- Competitive pricing: Evaluates whether the software's cost is justified by its features and efficiency.
- Scalability: Considers if the pricing structure accommodates business growth without significant price jumps.
- Cost-benefit ratio: Assesses the long-term savings and productivity gains against the initial and ongoing costs.
Customer Reviews: 10% of Total Weighting Score
- Overall satisfaction: Looks at the general user sentiment towards the software.
- Specific feature feedback: Analyzes comments related to the functionality and performance of key features.
- Issue resolution feedback: Evaluates how well the software provider addresses and resolves customer complaints.
By thoroughly assessing these criteria, retail business leaders can make informed decisions when selecting ERP software that best fits their operational needs and business objectives.
Trends for Retail ERP Software
Retail ERP software is poised to transform the retail landscape further. Here’s a look at the trends shaping this technology.
- Integration with IoT Devices: Integrating retail ERP software with IoT devices — one of the benefits of a cloud ERP system — enhances inventory accuracy and the customer experience. Sensors and smart devices provide real-time data that ERP systems analyze to optimize stock levels and store layouts. This trend is vital because it has the potential to drastically reduce inventory errors and improve shopping experiences.
- Adoption of AI for Predictive Analytics: Artificial intelligence in retail ERP systems is becoming increasingly prevalent for predictive analytics. AI algorithms analyze customer data and sales trends to forecast future demands accurately. This capability helps retailers make proactive, data-driven decisions that minimize waste and maximize profits.
- Enhanced Mobile Accessibility: Retail ERP software's mobile accessibility is seeing a significant push. Retailers prioritize solutions that offer full functionality on mobile devices, allowing managers and employees to operate flexibly from anywhere. This trend is important as it caters to the growing need for mobility and instant access in business operations.
- Sustainability Tracking Features: New sustainability tracking features are being integrated into retail ERP systems to help businesses monitor the environmental impact. These features track and report on carbon footprints, recycling rates, and more sustainable business practices.
- Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency: Blockchain technology is being adopted into retail ERP systems to increase supply chain transparency. This integration allows for immutable record-keeping of product origins, handling, and quality assurance processes. The importance of this trend lies in its ability to enhance consumer trust and compliance with regulatory standards.
Each of these trends highlights ways retail ERP software is changing to meet the demands of modern retailers and their customers.
What is Retail ERP Software?
Retail ERP Software is a tool designed to manage and integrate various business processes within a retail organization. The software provides a centralized platform combining multiple retail business aspects. It streamlines operations and facilitates real-time data sharing across different departments, such as sales, inventory, finance, and customer service. This integration is essential as it helps reduce manual errors, improve decision-making processes, and enhance overall productivity by ensuring all departments are on the same page with up-to-date information.
Key features of retail ERP systems often include point of sale (POS) systems, which not only process transactions but also track customer preferences and sales trends, supply chain management tools that optimize procurement and logistics, human resources modules that manage employee information and payroll, and analytics capabilities that provide insights into business performance.
Features Of Retail ERP Software
Retail ERP software is essential for modern retailers looking to simplify their operations, improve efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction. Below are some of the most important features to look for in retail ERP software.
- Retail Workflow Automation: Automating retail workflows helps consolidate all sales channels into one system, reduces fulfillment costs, and provides real-time sales insights. This feature is essential for maintaining a consistent shopping experience across different platforms.
- Multi-Location & Real-Time Inventory Management: This feature allows retailers to maintain accurate inventory levels across multiple locations, ensuring quick replenishment of top-selling items and phasing out low-selling products. It helps avoid shortages and overstock situations, improving customer satisfaction.
- Integrated Warehouse Management: Efficient warehouse management reduces processing costs and errors. This feature supports barcode scanning, inventory counts, and returned inventory.
- Multichannel Order Management: Managing orders from various sales channels in one centralized system is important for providing a good shopping experience. This feature ensures that all orders are automatically downloaded and stored centrally, improving order accuracy and customer satisfaction.
- Flexible Order Fulfillment: Retailers often use different fulfillment options, such as dropshipping and partial fulfillment. This feature supports various fulfillment processes, allowing retailers to choose primary and secondary warehouses for order fulfillment.
- Integrated Accounting: Native accounting features help manage accounts payable, capture discounts, and improve supplier relationships. This feature also includes essential retail accounting functionalities like landed cost and multi-currency to ensure accurate financial management.
- Demand Planning & Inventory Forecasting: Accurate demand forecasting is important for meeting customer expectations. This feature uses past sales data to predict future demand, helping retailers manage inventory levels efficiently and avoid stockouts.
- Integrated Retail CRM: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is essential for managing customer interactions and building relationships. This feature provides a complete history of customer interactions, helping retailers personalize their marketing efforts and improve customer service.
- Hybrid Retail & Wholesale Functionality: This feature supports retail and wholesale operations, providing a complete customer audit trail and previous order history. It helps in building lasting relationships with different types of customers.
- Returns Management: Efficient return handling is important for maintaining customer satisfaction. This feature allows retailers to process returns flexibly, whether for immediate resale or quarantine for review and manage refunds effectively.
Integrating various business processes into a single system provides real-time data and insights that help retailers make informed decisions, improve customer satisfaction, and drive business growth.
Benefits of Retail ERP Software
Retail ERP software integrates various aspects of a retail business, from inventory management to customer relationship management, streamlining operations, and enhancing efficiency. Here are five key benefits retail ERP software offers to users and organizations.
- Improved Inventory Management: Retail ERP software tracks inventory levels and product placements. This capability ensures optimal stock levels are maintained and reduces overstock and stockouts.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Retail ERP systems consolidate customer data across multiple touchpoints, enabling personalized service and targeted marketing. This leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, as businesses can better meet customer needs and preferences.
- Increased Operational Efficiency: Retail ERP software automates core business processes such as order processing, billing, and reporting. Automation reduces manual labor, minimizes errors, and allows staff to focus on more strategic tasks.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: With integrated analytics tools, retail ERP systems provide valuable insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and financial performance. These insights enable businesses to make informed decisions that drive growth and profitability.
- Scalability: Retail ERP software is designed to grow your business, accommodating new products, additional stores, and complex business processes. This scalability ensures that as your business expands, your system can adapt without needing a major overhaul.
Retail ERP software equips retailers with the tools to manage their operations more effectively, adapt to market changes, and ultimately drive business success. Businesses can achieve a competitive advantage in the dynamic retail industry by leveraging such integrated solutions.
Costs & Pricing of Retail ERP Software
Retail ERP systems typically offer a range of pricing tiers to accommodate different sizes and types of retail operations. Below is a breakdown of standard pricing plans, including a free option to help you determine the best fit for your business.
Plan Comparison Table for Retail ERP Software
Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
Free Plan | $0 | Basic inventory management, simple reporting, and limited user access |
Basic Plan | $50 to $100 /user/month | Inventory and order management, customer support, and basic analytics |
Professional Plan | $100 to $500 /user/month | Advanced inventory management, CRM integration, enhanced analytics, and multi-store support |
Enterprise Plan | Custom pricing | Custom modules, full integration capabilities, AI-based forecasting, and dedicated support |
When selecting a retail ERP software plan, consider both the immediate and long-term needs of your business. Factor in the scalability of the software, the level of support offered, and the features that will truly benefit your operations to ensure cost efficiency and effectiveness.
Retail ERP Software FAQs
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions you may have about retail ERP software and how it works.
How does retail ERP software improve inventory management?
Retail ERP software provides real-time visibility into stock levels, automates reordering processes, and integrates with point-of-sale (POS) systems to keep inventory data up-to-date. This helps in reducing overstock and understock d, ultimately optimizing inventory handling and reducing costs.
Can retail ERP software help with online sales?
Yes, many retail ERP systems include ecommerce integration that allows you to manage both your physical and online stores from one platform. This integration helps in syncing inventory, managing orders, and consolidating customer data across all sales channels.
Is cloud-based or on-premise retail ERP software better?
The choice between cloud-based or on-premise ERP depends on your specific business needs, including budget, scalability, and control over data security. Cloud-based ERP is generally more cost-effective, scalable, and easier to implement, while on-premise solutions offer more control and customization.
How long does it take to implement retail ERP software?
Implementation time can vary from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the system and the specific needs of your business. Planning, data migration, customization, and training all contribute to the duration of the implementation process.
Other ERP Software Options
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for here, check out these other ERP solutions that we’ve tested and evaluated:
- Project-Based ERP Software
- Supply Chain Management ERP Software
- ERP for Midsize Companies
- ERP Software For Small Manufacturers
- ERP Software for the Metal Industry
- ERP Software For The Printing Industry
- Financial ERP Software
- Discrete Manufacturing ERP Software
- Real Estate ERP Software
- ERP Software For Engineering Companies
- Government ERP Software
- ERP Systems For Custom Manufacturing
- Chemical ERP Software
- Distribution ERP Software
- ERP for the Service Industry
- Construction ERP
- Oil and Gas ERP Software
- Aerospace ERP Software
- ERP Alternatives
- ERP For Nonprofits
- Automotive ERP Software
- ERP Software for Small Businesses
- ERP For Furniture Manufacturing
- ERP Software for the Food and Beverage Industry
- Hospital ERP Software
- ERP For The Apparel Industry
- Cloud ERP Software
- Field Service ERP Software
- Education ERP
- ERP Payroll Software
- ERP For Professional Services
- Job Shop ERP Software
- Food Manufacturing ERP Software
- Process Manufacturing ERP Software
- Manufacturing ERP Software
- ERP Accounting Software
What’s Next?
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