Brightpearl

What is Brightpearl

Brightpearl is a Retail Operating System (ROS) designed specifically for retailers and wholesalers. Its core purpose is to automate and centralize back-office operations for businesses that sell across multiple channels, such as e-commerce websites, online marketplaces, and physical stores. The platform combines inventory management, order processing, warehouse management, shipping, and accounting into a single, unified system. This helps merchants eliminate manual errors, save time, and gain clear insights into their business performance. Founded in 2007 by Chris Tanner and Andrew Mulvenna, Brightpearl is now part of the Sage Group. The company has headquarters in Bristol, UK, and Austin, Texas, USA, serving thousands of brands globally.

Brightpearl Features

Brightpearl offers a comprehensive set of features to manage retail operations from end to end.

• Automation Engine: Automatically processes orders, updates inventory levels across all channels, routes shipments, and handles accounting entries. This reduces manual work by up to 65%.
• Inventory and Warehouse Management: Provides a centralized view of inventory across multiple locations. It includes features for demand forecasting, low-stock alerts, and automated purchase order creation to maintain optimal stock levels.
• Order Management: Manages the entire order lifecycle from the point of sale to fulfillment. It consolidates orders from all channels, including Shopify, Amazon, and eBay, into one dashboard.
• Shipping & Fulfillment: Integrates with leading shipping carriers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers to automate label printing, tracking, and fulfillment workflows for faster delivery.
• Integrated Accounting: Features a built-in accounting module that tracks costs, revenue, and profitability in real-time. It also offers deep integrations with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero.
• Retail Analytics and BI: Delivers advanced reporting tools that provide insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) like customer lifetime value (LTV), customer acquisition cost (CAC), and product profitability. It also offers industry benchmarks for comparison.
• Plug & Play Integrations: An extensive app store allows businesses to easily connect Brightpearl with a wide range of e-commerce platforms, payment gateways, marketing tools, and more.

Brightpearl Pricing Plans

Brightpearl does not offer standardized pricing plans listed on its website. Instead, it provides a custom pricing model tailored to the specific needs of each business. The cost is typically based on factors such as annual order volume, the number of sales channels, the complexity of workflows, and the level of support required. This approach is common for enterprise-level software, as it ensures the solution is scaled correctly for the business. To get a price quote, prospective customers must schedule a demo and consultation with the Brightpearl sales team to discuss their requirements.

Brightpearl Free Plan

Brightpearl does not offer a free plan or a free trial. It is an enterprise-grade platform designed for established and high-growth retailers and wholesalers. The complexity of the software requires a guided implementation and onboarding process, which is not compatible with a self-service free trial. Instead of a trial, Brightpearl offers personalized, one-on-one demos with their product experts. During the demo, they showcase how the platform can address the specific challenges and goals of your business.

How to use Brightpearl

Getting started with Brightpearl involves a structured process guided by their expert team.

1. Schedule a Discovery Call & Demo: The first step is to contact Brightpearl to discuss your business needs. Their team will then provide a customized demo of the platform.
2. Implementation and Onboarding: Once you decide to proceed, a dedicated implementation team will manage the setup process. This includes migrating data, configuring workflows, and integrating your existing systems and sales channels.
3. Connect Sales Channels: Link your e-commerce stores (like Shopify or BigCommerce), online marketplaces (like Amazon), and any physical retail locations to centralize all order and inventory data.
4. Set Up Automation Rules: Use the powerful Automation Engine to define rules for how orders are processed, which warehouse to fulfill from, how payments are handled, and more.
5. Manage Daily Operations: Use the central dashboard to monitor sales, manage inventory levels, create purchase orders, and oversee the shipping and fulfillment process.
6. Analyze and Grow: Regularly use the analytics and reporting features to track business performance, identify trends, and make informed decisions to support growth.

Pros and Cons of Brightpearl

Pros:

• All-in-One Platform: Combines multiple back-office functions into a single system, eliminating the need for many separate tools.
• Powerful Automation: The Automation Engine saves significant time and reduces the risk of human error in order processing and inventory management.
• Highly Scalable: Built to handle high order volumes and business complexity, making it suitable for growing brands.
• Expert Support and Implementation: Offers a high-touch onboarding process with a proven success rate, ensuring the system is set up correctly.
• Strong Integration Ecosystem: Connects seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, and business applications.

Cons:

• Significant Investment: The cost can be high, making it inaccessible for small businesses or startups.
• Complex Implementation: The setup process can be lengthy and requires a significant time commitment from your team.
• No Public Pricing: The lack of transparent pricing makes it difficult to budget without first engaging with their sales team.
• Steep Learning Curve: The platform is feature-rich, which can be overwhelming for new users without proper training.

Brightpearl Integrations

Brightpearl offers a wide range of integrations through its App Store to create a connected retail ecosystem.

• E-commerce Platforms: Integrates with Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce for seamless order and inventory syncing.
• Online Marketplaces: Connects with Amazon, eBay, and other marketplaces to manage multi-channel sales from one place.
• Accounting Software: Offers deep, two-way integrations with QuickBooks Online and Xero for automated financial management.
• Shipping & Logistics: Works with ShipStation, Shiptheory, and various 3PL providers to streamline fulfillment.
• Point of Sale (POS): Connects with POS systems like Shopify POS, Lightspeed, and Square to unify online and offline sales.
• Marketing & CRM: Integrates with tools like Klaviyo and Dotdigital to sync customer data for targeted marketing campaigns.

Brightpearl Alternatives

• NetSuite: A comprehensive ERP solution for larger enterprises. It is more extensive than Brightpearl but also more complex and typically more expensive.
• Linnworks: Focuses heavily on multi-channel inventory and order management. It is a strong alternative for businesses whose primary need is to connect and manage a large number of sales channels.
• Cin7: An inventory management platform that also includes order management, manufacturing, and POS features. It is well-suited for product-based businesses across retail and wholesale.
• Fishbowl Inventory: A popular inventory management solution that integrates with QuickBooks. It is a good option for businesses that need advanced manufacturing and warehouse management features.

Brightpearl API

Yes, Brightpearl provides a comprehensive and well-documented RESTful API for developers. The API allows businesses to build custom integrations, connect to proprietary systems, or extend the platform's functionality to meet unique business needs. Developers can interact with nearly all aspects of the Brightpearl system, including products, orders, contacts, and accounting. Access to the API and developer documentation is typically provided to customers upon signing up. An API key and account credentials are required to make authenticated requests.

Example API call in Python:

import requests
import json

# Your Brightpearl credentials
app_ref = 'YOUR_APP_REFERENCE'
dev_ref = 'YOUR_DEVELOPER_REFERENCE'
account_id = 'YOUR_ACCOUNT_ID'
api_domain = 'ws-use.brightpearl.com' # Or other domain based on region

# Authenticate to get a token
auth_url = f'https://oauth.brightpearl.com/token/{account_id}'
auth_payload = {
    'grant_type': 'client_credentials',
    'client_id': app_ref,
    'client_secret': 'YOUR_APP_SECRET' # This should be securely stored
}
response = requests.post(auth_url, json=auth_payload)
token = response.json()['access_token']

# Example: Search for a product
search_url = f'https://{api_domain}/public-api/{account_id}/product-service/product-search'
headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}',
    'brightpearl-app-ref': app_ref,
    'brightpearl-dev-ref': dev_ref
}

search_response = requests.get(search_url, headers=headers)
print(json.dumps(search_response.json(), indent=2))

Brightpearl Affiliate program

Brightpearl does not have a traditional, self-service affiliate program. Instead, it runs a Partner Program designed for agencies, consultants, technology providers, and business advisors who work with retail and e-commerce clients. Partners can earn referral fees, collaborate on marketing initiatives, and receive support from the Brightpearl team. The program is structured to build long-term relationships rather than simple affiliate link sharing. To join, you typically need to apply through the 'Partners' section on the Brightpearl website. The application process involves detailing your business and how you can collaborate with Brightpearl. Commission rates and benefits are discussed during the partnership agreement process.