Inventory management software built for small manufacturers
Stop managing inventory in spreadsheets. Katana gives small manufacturers real-time stock tracking, production planning, and multichannel sales — with unlimited users and a free plan to start.
Why small manufacturers choose Katana
The best inventory management software for small manufacturers combines real-time stock tracking, bill of materials management, and multichannel sales order fulfillment in one platform. Unlike legacy ERPs that cost tens of thousands and take months to implement, cloud-based tools like Katana start free and can be set up in days — with no per-user fees.
No per-user fees
Add your whole team — warehouse staff, production managers, sales reps — without per-seat costs eating into your margins. Every plan includes unlimited users.
Set up in days, not months
Import your product catalog, configure bills of materials, and connect your sales channels in under a week. No IT team, no consultants, no complex implementation projects.
Built for manufacturing
Unlike generic inventory tools, Katana handles raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. Track what goes into your products, not just what sits on shelves.
Always maintain the right stock at the right time. No stockouts. No excess.
Utilize live data, automation, and smart planning tools to know exactly what’s in stock, where it’s located, and when to replenish — ensuring you deliver every order on time.
Stop guessing what’s in stock
When you’re running production with 50 raw materials and selling through multiple channels, spreadsheets break. One missed update means overselling, stockouts, or production delays.
Katana tracks every item — raw materials, components, and finished goods — across every warehouse and sales channel in real time. When stock moves, the whole team sees it instantly.
We’re going from a small business to a medium sized business. It’s going to be really hard to scale if we can’t track inventory like adults.
– Katana customer, during onboarding call
From first order to production floor in clicks
When a Shopify order comes in, Katana automatically checks if you have the materials to fulfill it. If yes, it schedules production. If not, it tells you what to order.
- Auto-import sales orders from Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce
- Check material availability before committing to production
- Generate purchase orders when raw materials run low
- Track production progress from raw material to shipped product
Still running your factory on spreadsheets?
Join 1,000+ happy Katana users who upgraded from Excel. Katana’s free plan includes real-time inventory tracking, basic production management, and Shopify integration.
Bills of materials that actually work
Define what goes into each product — materials, labor, overhead. Katana calculates costs automatically, tracks material consumption, and shows you exactly how much inventory is committed to open orders vs. available for new ones.
- Multi-level BOMs for complex products
- Automatic cost calculation per unit
- Material availability checks before production
Grow without outgrowing your software
Most small manufacturers hit a wall: spreadsheets can’t scale, but ERPs are overkill. Katana grows with you — start with basic inventory tracking, then add production planning, warehouse management, and automation as your business expands.
We’ve already more than doubled our business in the past year. Katana scaled with us without needing to upgrade.
– Small manufacturer
Katana vs. spreadsheets vs. ERP for small manufacturers
Excel / Spreadsheets
Legacy ERP
Katana
Real-time stock updated
Manual
Delayed batch sync
Instant across all channels
Bill of materials
Static formula
Yes (complex setup)
Built-in BOM and subassemblies
Ecommerce integrations
No
Custom development
Native, real-time sync
Users included
Varies
Per-sear pricing
Unlimited
Time to implement
Immediate
6-12 months
6 weeks or less
Monthly cost
Free (hidden labor cost)
$1,000-10,000+/mo
Free plan, paid from $299/mo
Explore Katana’s inventory capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Katana is purpose-built for small manufacturers who need to track raw materials, manage bills of materials, and fulfill orders across multiple sales channels — without the complexity or cost of legacy ERPs. It offers a free plan and unlimited users on all tiers.
Katana offers a free plan for small teams. Paid plans start at $299/month with no per-user fees — so your entire team can access the system without per-seat costs that scale against you.
Yes. Katana is a cloud-based platform that requires no installation, no servers, and no IT staff. Most small manufacturers complete setup within a week — importing products, setting up bills of materials, and connecting sales channels on their own.
Yes. Katana integrates natively with Shopify, syncing orders and inventory in real time. When a customer places an order, Katana automatically adjusts stock levels and can trigger production or purchasing workflows.
Get visibility over your sales and stock
Start with Katana’s free plan. No credit card, no time limit, no per-user fees. Set up your product catalog today and see real-time inventory tracking in action.
