Orderhive

What is Cin7

Cin7 is a cloud-based inventory management software designed for product sellers who operate across multiple channels. Its main purpose is to connect all parts of a business, including sales channels, warehouses, suppliers, and fulfillment centers, into a single, real-time system. This helps businesses to automate their processes, avoid stockouts or overstocking, and manage orders efficiently. The platform provides tools for inventory control, order management, manufacturing, and reporting. Cin7 was founded by Danny Ing in 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand. The company has since grown to become a global player in the inventory management space, serving thousands of customers worldwide and helping them to scale their operations.

Cin7 Features

Cin7 offers a wide range of features to help businesses manage their inventory and sales operations.

• Inventory Management: Get real-time visibility of your stock levels across all locations and sales channels. Track products using barcodes, serial numbers, and batch numbers for full traceability.
• Order Management: Automate the entire order lifecycle, from purchase orders to sales orders and fulfillment. Manage orders from e-commerce, retail (POS), and wholesale channels in one place.
• Multi-Channel Sales: Connect and synchronize inventory with numerous e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Amazon, as well as brick-and-mortar stores through its Point of Sale (POS) system.
• Manufacturing and Production: Manage simple assemblies or complex production jobs. Create bills of materials (BOMs), track production stages, and manage raw material inventory.
• Warehouse Management: Optimize warehouse operations with features for picking, packing, and shipping. Supports multiple warehouse locations and third-party logistics (3PL) providers.
• Reporting and Analytics: Access detailed reports on sales, inventory, and financial performance. Use the ForesightAI feature to forecast demand and make better purchasing decisions.
• Extensive Integrations: Connect with over 700 applications for accounting, shipping, e-commerce, and more, creating a unified business ecosystem.
• B2B E-commerce Portal: Provide wholesale customers with a self-service online portal to place orders, view pricing, and check stock availability.

Cin7 Pricing Plans

Cin7 provides several pricing plans tailored to the size and complexity of a business. The plans are structured to support companies as they grow.

• Standard Plan: This plan is designed for growing businesses that need to centralize their inventory and order management. It typically includes core inventory and order features, a limited number of integrations, and support for a single e-commerce channel.
• Pro Plan: Aimed at scaling businesses, this plan offers more advanced features. It includes everything in the Standard plan, plus support for more users, additional integrations, warehouse management features, and automation workflows.
• Advanced Plan: This is for larger, more complex businesses that require a comprehensive solution. It provides access to all features, including advanced manufacturing, demand forecasting with ForesightAI, dedicated support, and a higher number of integrations and sales channels.

Cin7 Free Plan

Cin7 does not offer a standard free plan. The software is a comprehensive solution designed for businesses with established operations. However, prospective customers can request a personalized demo to see the platform in action and discuss their specific business needs with a product expert. A free trial may be available after the demo, depending on the business requirements.

How to use Cin7

Getting started with Cin7 involves setting up your inventory and connecting your business systems.

1. Book a Demo: The first step is to schedule a demonstration with the Cin7 team to understand how the platform can fit your business.
2. Onboarding and Setup: Once you subscribe, the Cin7 team will guide you through the onboarding process. This includes importing your product data, supplier information, and customer lists.
3. Connect Sales Channels: Integrate your e-commerce stores (like Shopify or Amazon), retail POS systems, and any other sales channels you use. This allows inventory levels to sync automatically.
4. Configure Warehouses: Set up your warehouse locations within Cin7. If you use a 3PL, you can connect it to automate order fulfillment.
5. Manage Daily Operations: Use the dashboard to monitor sales orders, create purchase orders for new stock, and track inventory movements. When an order comes in, Cin7 routes it for picking, packing, and shipping.
6. Analyze and Forecast: Regularly use the reporting tools to check your sales performance and inventory levels. Use the forecasting features to plan future purchases and avoid stock issues.

Pros and Cons of Cin7

Pros:

• All-in-One Solution: It combines inventory, order, warehouse, and manufacturing management in a single platform.
• Extensive Integrations: Connects with hundreds of popular business applications, making it highly flexible.
• Scalability: The platform is suitable for both growing businesses and large enterprises.
• Real-Time Data: Provides accurate, up-to-the-minute visibility of stock levels across all channels.
• Multi-Channel Support: Excellent for businesses that sell through e-commerce, retail, and wholesale channels.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: The software is feature-rich, which can be complex for new users to learn without proper training.
• Cost: It is a premium solution, and the pricing may be high for very small businesses or startups.
• Implementation Time: Setting up and integrating all business processes can take time and effort.

Cin7 Integrations

Cin7 offers over 700 integrations to connect your entire business operation. Key integrations include:

• E-commerce: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, Magento.
• Accounting: QuickBooks Online, Xero.
• Shipping and Fulfillment: ShipStation, Starshipit, Amazon FBA.
• Point of Sale (POS): Cin7 POS, Shopify POS.
• Third-Party Logistics (3PL): Integrations with major 3PL providers for outsourced fulfillment.
• Marketplaces: The Iconic, Walmart Marketplace, Wayfair.

These integrations allow for seamless data flow between your systems, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy.

Cin7 Alternatives

• NetSuite: A comprehensive ERP solution for large enterprises. It is more complex and expensive than Cin7 but offers broader functionality, including advanced financials and CRM.
• Brightpearl: A retail operating system designed for omnichannel merchants. It is a strong competitor with similar features but focuses heavily on the retail and wholesale sectors.
• Katana: A manufacturing ERP focused on small to medium-sized manufacturers. It is simpler and more specialized in production planning and raw material tracking compared to Cin7's broader scope.
• Fishbowl Inventory: A popular inventory management solution that integrates with QuickBooks. It is available as both a cloud and on-premise solution, offering flexibility for different IT setups.

Cin7 API

Yes, Cin7 provides a robust REST API for developers. The API allows businesses to build custom integrations, connect to proprietary systems, or create unique workflows that are not covered by the standard integrations. You can use the API to manage products, orders, customers, and stock levels programmatically.

To get access to the API, you typically need to be a Cin7 customer. You can generate API keys from within your Cin7 account settings or by contacting their support team. The developer documentation is available on their website to guide you through the available endpoints and data formats.

Example API Call (Conceptual):

{
  "method": "GET",
  "url": "https://api.cin7.com/api/v1/products",
  "headers": {
    "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
  },
  "params": {
    "fields": "name,sku,stockAvailable"
  }
}

Cin7 Affiliate Program

Cin7 does not have a traditional affiliate program for general marketers. Instead, it offers a Partner Program designed for accountants, business consultants, and solution providers who work with product-based businesses. Partners can refer their clients to Cin7 and receive benefits such as referral commissions, co-marketing opportunities, and dedicated support. To join, you need to apply through the partner page on the Cin7 website. They will review your application to see if your business is a good fit for the program. If you are an influencer or content creator, it is best to contact their marketing or partnerships team directly to discuss potential collaboration.