Fishbowl Inventory

What is Fishbowl

Fishbowl is an inventory management and manufacturing software designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Its main purpose is to help companies automate their inventory processes, manage manufacturing workflows, and control warehouse operations. The software is well-known for its strong integration with accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero, which allows for seamless data synchronization between inventory and financial records. This helps businesses maintain accurate cost of goods sold (COGS) and asset values. Fishbowl offers both an on-premise solution (Fishbowl Manufacturing) and a cloud-based platform (Fishbowl Inventory), providing flexibility for different business needs. The company was founded in 2001 and has its headquarters in Orem, Utah, USA. It serves a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and e-commerce.

Fishbowl Features

Fishbowl provides a comprehensive set of features to manage business operations. Here are some of the key functionalities:

• Inventory Management: Track inventory levels in real-time across multiple warehouses and locations. The system supports barcode scanning, automated reorder points, and alerts for low stock to prevent stockouts.
• Manufacturing: Manage complex production processes with tools for work orders, bills of materials (BOMs), and manufacturing orders. It allows for tracking raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
• Warehouse Management: Organize warehouse operations with features for picking, packing, and shipping. It supports various picking methods and helps optimize warehouse layout and bin tracking.
• Order Management: Centralize sales and purchase orders in one system. It automates the order fulfillment process from creation to shipping, improving accuracy and speed.
• QuickBooks and Xero Integration: Automatically sync inventory and manufacturing data with your accounting software. This eliminates manual data entry and ensures financial reports are always up-to-date.
• Reporting and Analytics: Generate detailed reports on inventory levels, sales trends, and production efficiency. The AI-powered Insights feature provides actionable data to help make informed business decisions.
• Multi-Channel Sales: With the Fishbowl Commerce Suite, you can sync inventory across various e-commerce platforms and marketplaces like Shopify, Amazon, and WooCommerce, preventing overselling.
• Fishbowl Payments: An integrated payment processing solution that allows you to accept customer payments directly within the platform without needing third-party plugins.

Fishbowl Pricing Plans

Fishbowl's pricing is customized based on the specific needs of each business. They do not list standard pricing plans on their website. Instead, they provide a personalized quote after a consultation and demo. The cost typically depends on several factors, including:

• The chosen product: Fishbowl Manufacturing (on-premise) and Fishbowl Inventory (cloud-based) have different pricing structures.
• Number of user licenses: The price increases with the number of concurrent users who need access to the system.
• Required features and modules: Businesses can select specific modules they need, which affects the final price.
• Implementation and training: The cost often includes services for setup, data migration, and team training.

This approach ensures that businesses only pay for the functionality they require. To get pricing information, you need to contact their sales team for a demo and a custom quote.

Fishbowl Free Plan

Fishbowl does not offer a permanent free plan. However, they provide a free, personalized demo of their software. During the demo, a Fishbowl expert will walk you through the platform's features and discuss how it can meet your business's specific requirements. This allows potential customers to see the software in action and ask questions before making a purchase decision. In some cases, a free trial period may be available after the initial consultation.

How to use Fishbowl

Getting started with Fishbowl involves a few key steps to ensure it is set up correctly for your business operations.

1. Request a Demo: The first step is to contact Fishbowl to schedule a demonstration. This helps you understand the software's capabilities and determine if it is a good fit.
2. Implementation: Once you decide to proceed, Fishbowl's implementation team will guide you through the setup process. This includes installing the software (for the on-premise version) and configuring the system settings.
3. Integrate with Accounting Software: Connect Fishbowl to your QuickBooks or Xero account. This is a critical step to ensure seamless data flow between inventory and financials.
4. Import Data: Import your existing data, including products, inventory counts, customer lists, and vendor information, into Fishbowl. This can be done using CSV files.
5. Configure Modules: Set up the specific modules you will use, such as manufacturing, purchasing, and sales. This includes defining bills of materials, setting reorder points, and creating custom workflows.
6. Train Your Team: Ensure your employees are trained on how to use the software for their daily tasks, such as processing orders, tracking inventory, and running reports.
7. Go Live: Start using Fishbowl to manage your daily operations. You can now track inventory, manage production, and fulfill orders all within one system.

Pros and Cons of Fishbowl

Pros:

• Deep QuickBooks/Xero Integration: Offers one of the best integrations available, making it a top choice for businesses using these accounting platforms.
• Advanced Manufacturing Features: Provides robust tools for managing complex manufacturing processes, including multi-level bills of materials.
• Comprehensive Functionality: Covers inventory, warehousing, manufacturing, and order management in a single platform.
• Scalability: The software can grow with your business, supporting multiple locations and an increasing number of users.
• Strong Customer Support: Fishbowl is known for its responsive and helpful customer support and training services.

Cons:

• Complexity: The software has many features, which can result in a steep learning curve for new users.
• Cost: It can be more expensive than simpler inventory management tools, making it a significant investment for very small businesses.
• On-Premise Option: The on-premise version (Fishbowl Manufacturing) may lack the flexibility of a fully cloud-based solution for remote access.
• Implementation Time: Proper setup and data migration can be time-consuming and may require professional assistance.

Fishbowl Integrations

Fishbowl integrates with a wide variety of business applications to create a connected ecosystem. Key integrations include:

• Accounting: QuickBooks (Desktop and Online), Xero, Reckon
• E-commerce: Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento (Adobe Commerce)
• CRM: Salesforce, Zoho CRM, HubSpot
• Shipping: ShipStation, FedEx, UPS, USPS, ShipRush
• EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): SPS Commerce, eZCom, Infocon Systems
• Payment Processing: Fishbowl Payments, Authorize.Net, QuickBooks Payments
• Business Intelligence: ConverSight

These integrations help automate workflows and ensure data consistency across all your business systems.

Fishbowl Alternatives

• NetSuite ERP: A comprehensive, cloud-based ERP solution that includes inventory management, manufacturing, and financials. It is more suitable for larger businesses with complex needs and a higher budget.
• Cin7: A cloud-based inventory management system that connects products, sales channels, stock locations, and warehouses. It is a strong alternative for retail and wholesale businesses with multi-channel sales.
• inFlow Inventory: An inventory management software aimed at small to medium-sized businesses. It offers both on-premise and cloud versions and is known for its user-friendly interface, though it has less advanced manufacturing features than Fishbowl.
• Odoo: An open-source suite of business apps that includes inventory, manufacturing, accounting, and CRM. It is highly customizable and can be a cost-effective solution, but may require more technical expertise to set up.
• Katana: A manufacturing ERP designed for small and medium-sized manufacturers. It focuses on production planning and inventory control, integrating well with e-commerce and accounting platforms.

Fishbowl API

Yes, Fishbowl provides a flexible API (Application Programming Interface) that allows developers to create custom integrations and connect Fishbowl with other software applications. The API enables you to programmatically access and manipulate data within Fishbowl, such as adding sales orders, updating inventory quantities, or retrieving customer information.

To get access to the API, you typically need to be a Fishbowl customer. The API key and documentation are provided to help developers get started. You can find more information on their developer network or by contacting their support team.

Here is a simple example in Python showing how to connect to the Fishbowl API:

import socket

def connect_to_fishbowl(host, port, username, password):
    try:
        # Create a socket connection
        s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
        s.connect((host, port))

        # Login request
        login_request = f'<FbiXml><Ticket/><FbiMsgsRq><LoginRq><IAID>123</IAID><Name>{username}</Name><Password>{password}</Password></LoginRq></FbiMsgsRq></FbiXml>'
        s.sendall(login_request.encode('utf-8'))

        # Receive response
        response = s.recv(4096).decode('utf-8')
        print("Login Response:", response)

        s.close()
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

# Replace with your Fishbowl server details
connect_to_fishbowl('localhost', 28192, 'admin', 'admin')

Fishbowl Affiliate Program

Fishbowl offers a Partner Program for businesses and consultants who wish to collaborate with them. This program is designed for resellers, implementation specialists, and technology partners who can refer clients or build integrations with Fishbowl. While specific commission rates are not publicly listed, partners typically receive financial benefits for referrals, sales, or by providing services to Fishbowl customers.

There are different types of partnerships available, including:

• Referral Partners: Refer businesses to Fishbowl and earn a commission for successful sales.
• Resellers: Sell Fishbowl software directly to clients.
• Solution Providers: Offer implementation, training, and consulting services for Fishbowl.

To join the program, you should visit the 'Partners' section on the Fishbowl website and fill out an application form. Their team will then contact you to discuss the partnership opportunities and requirements in more detail.