Zoho Inventory

What is Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory is an online inventory and order management software. It is designed for businesses of all sizes to control their stock, manage orders, and track shipments. The main purpose of the tool is to centralize inventory management, especially for businesses that sell on multiple channels like online stores, marketplaces, and physical locations. It is part of the larger suite of business applications from Zoho Corporation, a company founded in 1996 with headquarters in Chennai, India. Zoho Inventory helps businesses automate their inventory processes, avoid stockouts, and fulfill orders efficiently.

Zoho Inventory Features

Zoho Inventory offers a wide range of features to manage business operations:

• Inventory Control: Track stock levels in real-time. Use serial number and batch tracking to monitor individual items from purchase to sale, which is useful for managing expiry dates and product recalls.
• Order Management: Manage sales and purchase orders from a single platform. You can create sales orders, purchase orders, backorders, and drop shipments.
• Multi-channel Selling: Sell products on various platforms like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Shopify. Zoho Inventory syncs stock levels across all channels to prevent overselling.
• Warehouse Management: Manage stock across multiple warehouses. You can check stock levels, transfer inventory between locations, and generate reports for specific warehouses.
• Shipping Integrations: Connect with major shipping carriers to get real-time shipping rates, print shipping labels, and track shipments directly from the software.
• Invoicing and Billing: Create and send invoices to your customers. The system supports multiple currencies and helps you manage payments.
• Reporting and Analytics: Generate detailed reports on sales, inventory levels, and order fulfillment. These insights help you make better business decisions.
• Mobile Application: Use the iOS and Android apps to manage your inventory and orders from anywhere. You can view stock levels, process orders, and get real-time updates on your mobile device.

Zoho Inventory Pricing Plans

Zoho Inventory provides several pricing plans to fit different business needs. The plans are structured in tiers, starting from a free version and moving up to enterprise-level packages.

• Free Plan: Designed for very small businesses or startups with low order volume.
• Standard Plan: Suitable for small businesses that need more features, including more orders, shipping labels, and users.
• Professional Plan: Aimed at growing businesses that require advanced features like serial number and batch tracking, and management of more orders.
• Premium Plan: For established businesses that need higher limits on orders, warehouses, and users, along with more automation features.
• Enterprise Plan: A comprehensive solution for large businesses with high volume operations, offering the highest limits and advanced inventory control features.

Zoho Inventory Free Plan

Yes, Zoho Inventory offers a Free Plan. This plan is designed for new businesses and includes basic inventory management features. The free plan typically has limitations on the number of online and offline orders you can manage per month, the number of shipping labels you can print, and the number of users and warehouses you can have. It is a good way to start using the software and understand its core functionalities before upgrading to a paid plan as your business grows.

How to use Zoho Inventory

Getting started with Zoho Inventory is a direct process:

1. Sign Up: Create an account on the Zoho Inventory website. You can start with the free plan or a free trial of a paid plan.
2. Initial Setup: Enter your organization's details, such as company name, address, and currency.
3. Add Items: Begin by adding your products to the inventory. You can enter details like item name, SKU, cost, selling price, and initial stock quantity. You can also import items in bulk using a CSV file.
4. Integrate Sales Channels: Connect your e-commerce stores (like Shopify) and marketplaces (like Amazon or eBay) to sync inventory and orders automatically.
5. Manage Orders: When a new order comes in, it will appear on your Zoho Inventory dashboard. You can then create a package, print a shipping label, and dispatch the order.
6. Track Inventory: The system automatically updates stock levels as you sell products and receive new stock. Use the dashboard and reports to monitor your inventory health.

Pros and Cons of Zoho Inventory

Pros:

• Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers a wide range of tools for inventory, order, and warehouse management.
• Zoho Ecosystem: Integrates seamlessly with other Zoho apps like Zoho Books (accounting) and Zoho CRM (customer relationship management).
• Multi-channel Support: Excellent for businesses selling across multiple online platforms.
• Scalable Plans: Pricing plans, including a free version, cater to businesses from startups to large enterprises.
• Mobile App: A functional mobile app allows for management on the go.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: The extensive features can be overwhelming for new users.
• User Interface: Some users may find the interface less modern compared to some competitors.
• Feature Limitations: The most powerful features, like batch tracking, are only available on higher-tier plans.

Zoho Inventory integrations

Zoho Inventory integrates with a variety of third-party applications to streamline your business processes. These integrations cover e-commerce, shipping, payments, and more.

• Marketplaces: Connect with popular marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to manage listings and sync orders.
• Shopping Carts: Integrate with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.
• Shipping Carriers: Works with major carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL for real-time rates and label printing.
• Payment Gateways: Integrates with payment services like Stripe, PayPal, and Square to process payments easily.
• Accounting Software: Offers deep integration with Zoho Books and also connects with QuickBooks.
• Zoho Suite: Connects natively with other Zoho applications, including Zoho CRM and Zoho Analytics.

Zoho Inventory Alternatives

If Zoho Inventory is not the right fit, consider these alternatives:

• inFlow Inventory: A good option for small to medium-sized businesses, offering strong features for purchasing, sales, and stock control. It is known for its user-friendly interface.
• Cin7: A powerful inventory management platform for larger businesses that need complex features like EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) integrations.
• Ordoro: Focuses on e-commerce businesses and excels at shipping and order management. It is a strong choice for businesses that need to optimize their fulfillment process.
• QuickBooks Commerce (formerly TradeGecko): A comprehensive inventory and order management software that integrates deeply with QuickBooks Online, making it ideal for users of that accounting platform.

Zoho Inventory API

Yes, Zoho Inventory provides a RESTful API that allows developers to build custom integrations and extend the software's functionality. The API lets you programmatically access and manage data related to items, orders, customers, and more.

To get an API key, you need to generate an OAuth 2.0 token. This is the standard method for all Zoho APIs. You can do this by creating a client in the Zoho API Console. Once you have your Client ID and Client Secret, you can generate access and refresh tokens to make authenticated API calls.

Here is a simple example in Python to fetch a list of items:

import requests

access_token = 'Your_OAuth_Access_Token'
organization_id = 'Your_Organization_ID'

headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Zoho-oauthtoken {access_token}',
}

response = requests.get(
    f'https://inventory.zoho.com/api/v1/items?organization_id={organization_id}',
    headers=headers
)

if response.status_code == 200:
    items = response.json()['items']
    for item in items:
        print(f"Item Name: {item['name']}, Stock on Hand: {item['stock_on_hand']}")
else:
    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")
    print(response.text)

For complete documentation, developers should visit the official Zoho Inventory API documentation page.

Zoho Inventory Affiliate program

Zoho has a comprehensive Partner Program that includes affiliate options. As an affiliate, you can earn commissions by referring new customers to Zoho Inventory and other Zoho products. The commission is typically a percentage of the subscription revenue generated from your referrals for a certain period.

To join, you need to apply through the Zoho Partner portal on their website. The application process involves providing information about your business or website. Once approved, you will get access to a partner dashboard with referral links, marketing materials, and tools to track your performance and earnings. Payments are usually made on a regular schedule, provided you meet the minimum payout threshold.