Netstock

What is Netstock

Netstock is a cloud-based software designed for supply and demand planning. Its main purpose is to help businesses optimize their inventory, which means having the right amount of stock at the right time. The software connects with a company's existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to pull data on sales, purchases, and inventory levels. Using this data, Netstock provides intelligent forecasts, recommends optimal inventory levels, and suggests purchase orders. This helps companies reduce excess stock, which ties up cash, and minimize stock-outs, which lead to lost sales. The company focuses on making advanced inventory management accessible to small and medium-sized businesses across various industries, helping them make smarter decisions quickly.

Netstock Features

Netstock offers a range of features to improve supply chain management:

• Demand Forecasting: The software uses historical sales data and advanced algorithms, including AI, to predict future customer demand. This helps businesses plan their inventory needs more accurately.
• Inventory Optimization: It classifies all inventory items based on their value and sales velocity. This allows you to set specific stocking policies for different items, ensuring that you invest your cash in the most important products.
• Recommended Ordering: Netstock generates a list of recommended purchase orders. It tells you what to order, how much to order, and when to order to maintain optimal stock levels.
• Supplier Management: You can track supplier lead times and performance within the system. This helps in making more reliable ordering decisions and managing supplier relationships.
• Dashboards and Analytics: The software provides intuitive dashboards that give a clear visual overview of your inventory health. Key metrics like stock-outs, excess stock, and fill rate are easy to monitor.
• Multi-Warehouse Management: For businesses with multiple locations, Netstock can analyze stock levels across all warehouses and suggest transfers to move surplus inventory where it is needed most.
• AI-Powered Insights: An AI expert feature, called Predictor IA, automatically identifies potential issues like future stock-outs or growing excess stock, providing actionable recommendations to solve them.

Netstock Pricing Plans

Pricing for Netstock is not publicly listed on their website. This is common for software that integrates deeply with core business systems like ERPs. The pricing is typically customized based on several factors, including:

• The value of the inventory being managed.
• The number of stock-keeping units (SKUs).
• The number of users who need access to the platform.
• The specific ERP system it needs to integrate with.

Generally, they offer different tiers tailored to the size and complexity of the business. To get a price, potential customers need to contact the Netstock sales team for a consultation and a custom quote based on their specific needs.

Netstock Free Plan

Netstock does not offer a permanent free plan. However, they provide a free demo of the software. During a demo, a Netstock expert will walk you through the platform's features and show you how it can work with your business data and ERP system. This allows you to see the potential benefits and return on investment before making a purchase decision. Sometimes, a limited-time free trial may be available after the initial consultation.

How to use Netstock

Getting started with Netstock follows a clear process to ensure it works effectively with your business operations:

1. Integration: The first step is to connect Netstock to your ERP system. This is a guided process where the Netstock team helps link the two systems so data can flow automatically.
2. Configuration: Once connected, you configure your settings. This includes inputting supplier information, lead times, and desired service levels.
3. Review the Dashboard: After the data is synced, you can log in and see the main dashboard. This dashboard highlights the most urgent issues, such as items at risk of stocking out or items with excess inventory.
4. Analyze Forecasts: Review the demand forecasts generated by the system. You can adjust these forecasts based on market knowledge or upcoming promotions.
5. Create Orders: Go to the recommended orders section. The system will provide a list of items that need to be ordered. You can review this list, make adjustments, and then export it to create purchase orders in your ERP.
6. Monitor and Adjust: Regularly use the dashboards and reports to monitor your inventory performance. Over time, you can adjust your policies within Netstock to further improve results.

Pros and Cons of Netstock

Pros:

• Reduces Manual Work: Automates the process of forecasting and order planning, saving significant time for inventory managers.
• Improves Cash Flow: Helps reduce excess inventory, freeing up cash that was tied up in unsold goods.
• Prevents Lost Sales: Minimizes stock-outs, ensuring products are available for customers when they want to buy.
• Wide ERP Integration: Connects with a large number of popular ERP systems, making it adaptable for many businesses.
• Easy to Understand: The dashboards are visual and intuitive, making complex data easy to interpret.

Cons:

• Dependent on Data Quality: The accuracy of Netstock's recommendations depends heavily on the quality of the data in your ERP. Incorrect data will lead to poor suggestions.
• No Transparent Pricing: The need to contact sales for a quote can be a slow process for businesses wanting quick price information.
• Implementation Time: While they claim a fast setup, integrating with an ERP and configuring all settings can still require time and effort from your team.

Netstock Integrations

Netstock is built to integrate with a wide range of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This is a core part of its functionality. The integration allows Netstock to pull sales history, purchase orders, stock levels, and supplier information directly from the system your business already uses. Some of the major ERPs Netstock integrates with include:

• NetSuite Integration: Connects seamlessly with Oracle NetSuite.
• Acumatica Integration: Works with the Acumatica cloud ERP.
• Sage Integration: Supports various Sage products like Sage 100, 300, and X3.
• Microsoft Dynamics Integration: Integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, GP, and NAV.
• SAP Business One Integration: Connects with SAP's solution for small and medium businesses.
• MYOB Advanced Integration: Provides integration for users of MYOB.

Netstock Alternatives

If you are looking for other options for supply and demand planning, here are a few alternatives:

1. Fishbowl Inventory: A popular inventory management solution for small to medium-sized businesses, especially those using QuickBooks. It offers manufacturing and warehousing features in addition to inventory control.
2. Unleashed: A cloud-based platform focused on inventory management for manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors. It is known for its strong features for managing bills of materials and production processes.
3. Cin7: An all-in-one inventory management system that also includes point-of-sale (POS), warehouse management, and B2B e-commerce functionalities. It is suitable for businesses that sell across multiple channels.
4. Lokad: A supply chain optimization tool that focuses heavily on quantitative forecasting. It uses advanced machine learning for predictions and is suited for businesses with complex forecasting challenges.

Netstock API

Yes, Netstock provides an API for developers. The API allows for custom integrations and connections with other business systems that may not have a standard integration. This is useful for larger businesses with unique IT infrastructures or those who want to build custom workflows.

To get access to the API key and documentation, you typically need to be a Netstock customer. The information is usually provided through the customer support portal or by contacting your account manager. The API allows you to programmatically access data and some functionalities of the Netstock platform.

Here is a generic Python example of how one might connect to such an API:

import requests
import json

# Your Netstock API key and endpoint URL
API_KEY = 'your_api_key_here'
API_ENDPOINT = 'https://api.netstock.com/v1/inventory/items'

headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {API_KEY}',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

# Example: Get a list of inventory items
response = requests.get(API_ENDPOINT, headers=headers)

if response.status_code == 200:
    items = response.json()
    print('Successfully fetched inventory items:')
    print(items)
else:
    print(f'Failed to fetch data: {response.status_code}')

Netstock Affiliate Program

Netstock does not have a traditional, public-facing affiliate program where individuals can sign up to earn commissions on links. Instead, they operate a Partner Program. This program is designed for businesses and consultants who work with companies that use ERP systems. This includes ERP implementers, business consultants, and value-added resellers.

Partners can refer their clients to Netstock and may receive a referral fee or a share of the revenue. To join, you typically need to apply through the 'Partners' section of their website or contact their partnership team directly. They will evaluate your business to see if it is a good fit for a partnership.