Controlata

What is Controlata

Controlata is a cloud-based inventory management software designed specifically for small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses. Its core purpose is to provide a clear, real-time view of the entire production process, from raw materials to finished goods. The platform helps manufacturers track stock levels, plan production schedules, manage complex bill of materials (BOMs), and automatically calculate product costs. As a modern SaaS solution, Controlata operates entirely in a web browser, making it accessible from any device without needing to install software. It focuses on a user-friendly interface to simplify complex manufacturing workflows, allowing businesses to gain control over their operations, reduce waste, and improve profitability.

Controlata Features

Controlata offers a suite of features tailored for manufacturing environments:

• Real-time Inventory: Get live updates on stock levels. The system automatically deducts raw materials and adds finished goods as production orders are processed, ensuring inventory counts are always accurate.
• Bill of Materials (BOM): Create detailed multi-level recipes for your products. You can include not just materials but also associated costs like labor, equipment depreciation, and overhead for precise cost tracking.
• Production Planning: Schedule and manage production runs. Users can track the status of each job from 'Planned' to 'Completed' and verify material availability before starting a run.
• Purchase & Sales Management: Handle supplier and customer orders within one system. It allows you to track payments, monitor delivery statuses, and generate invoices.
• Real-time Cost Calculation: The software automatically calculates the true cost of finished goods based on the BOM using the FIFO method. This helps in setting correct pricing and understanding profit margins.
• Storage Locations: Manage inventory across multiple warehouses or locations. You can track stock in different areas like raw materials storage, work-in-progress, and finished goods, with full traceability for transfers.
• Inventory Audits: Conduct full or partial stock counts to reconcile physical inventory with system records. The platform generates variance reports to highlight discrepancies.
• Reports and Analytics: Access over 20 types of reports, including inventory turnover, stock levels, sales performance, and profit and loss statements. These insights help in making data-driven business decisions.
• Team Management: Add multiple users to the system and assign specific roles and permissions, ensuring team members only access the information relevant to their job.

Controlata Pricing Plans

Controlata offers several subscription tiers designed to scale with a business's needs. While specific prices are not listed here, the plans are structured as follows:

• Basic Plan: Aimed at small businesses or startups just beginning to formalize their inventory process. It typically includes core features but with limits on the number of users, products, and materials.
• Professional Plan: The most popular option, designed for growing manufacturing businesses. This plan usually offers unlimited users, a higher volume of materials and products, and access to more advanced features and reporting.
• Enterprise Plan: Tailored for larger operations or businesses with complex requirements. This tier provides unlimited capacity for all features, priority support, and may include options for invoice-based payments.

Annual billing options are available and provide a discount compared to paying monthly.

Controlata Free Plan

Controlata does not offer a permanently free plan. However, it provides a 14-day free trial for all its pricing plans. The trial gives full access to all features of the selected plan, allowing businesses to thoroughly test the software's capabilities for their specific workflows. No credit card is required to sign up for the free trial.

How to use Controlata

Getting started with Controlata is a straightforward process designed for quick implementation:

1. Sign Up: Register for the 14-day free trial on their website. No software installation is needed as it is a web-based application.
2. Import Data: Begin by populating your inventory. You can import lists of raw materials, components, and finished products using CSV or Excel files. You can also enter opening stock balances.
3. Create Bill of Materials (BOMs): For each finished product, define its 'recipe'. Specify the exact quantity of each raw material or sub-component required, and add other costs like labor and overhead.
4. Plan Production: Create your first production order. Select the product you want to manufacture and the quantity. The system will automatically check for material availability based on your BOMs.
5. Track Production: As you start the production run, change its status to 'In Progress'. Controlata will automatically deduct the required materials from your inventory.
6. Complete Production: Once the run is finished, mark it as 'Completed'. The finished goods will be automatically added to your inventory in the designated storage location.
7. Manage Orders: Use the system to create purchase orders for new materials and sales orders for your customers, tracking the entire lifecycle from order to payment.

Pros and Cons of Controlata

Pros:

• Manufacturing-Specific: Features are highly tailored to the needs of manufacturers, unlike generic inventory tools.
• User-Friendly Interface: The design is intuitive and clean, making it easy for teams to adopt without extensive training.
• Cloud-Based: Accessible from any device with an internet connection, providing flexibility for managing operations on the go.
• Real-time Data: All information, from stock levels to production costs, is updated instantly, enabling quick and informed decisions.
• Comprehensive Costing: The automatic cost calculation based on detailed BOMs provides a true picture of profitability.

Cons:

• No Custom Development: The platform does not offer custom modifications; feature development is based on a public user-voted roadmap.
• Limited Integrations: Information on direct integrations with other software like accounting or e-commerce platforms is not readily available.
• Niche Focus: Its specialization in manufacturing may make it less suitable for businesses in retail or wholesale distribution without a production component.

Controlata integrations

There is no publicly available list of direct third-party integrations for Controlata. The platform is designed as a comprehensive, all-in-one system for manufacturing inventory management. Users who require integrations with other software, such as accounting platforms like QuickBooks or Xero, or e-commerce stores like Shopify, should contact the Controlata support team to inquire about available options, potential workarounds using data exports, or their development roadmap for future integrations.

Controlata Alternatives

• Katana: A popular manufacturing ERP and inventory software known for its visual interface and strong integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and accounting software. It is a direct competitor focused on small to medium-sized manufacturers.
• Fishbowl Inventory: A powerful inventory management solution that integrates deeply with QuickBooks. It offers both manufacturing and warehousing features and can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud.
• Odoo: A suite of open-source business apps that includes comprehensive modules for inventory, manufacturing (MRP), and purchasing. It is highly customizable but can have a steeper learning curve.
• Unleashed: A cloud-based inventory management platform that serves manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers. It offers robust features for production, purchasing, and sales and integrates with various business applications.
• NetSuite ERP: A more extensive and enterprise-level solution for larger businesses. It provides a complete business management suite, including advanced manufacturing, supply chain, and financial capabilities, but at a higher price point.

Controlata API

Controlata does not publicly advertise a developer API (Application Programming Interface). There is no developer documentation or portal available on their website. Businesses or developers interested in programmatic access to their Controlata data for custom integrations or automation should contact the Controlata support team directly. They can provide information on whether an API is available for certain plans or if it is on their future development roadmap.

Controlata Affiliate program

There is no information available on the Controlata website regarding a formal affiliate or reseller program. Companies or individuals interested in partnering with Controlata or promoting their software should reach out to their sales or support team via email or the live chat on their website to inquire about potential partnership opportunities.