How to find a Simple Inventory
Many people, (business people) when they are trying to figure out what sort of inventory solution to purchase, they always want something: A simple inventory. But this basic point, simplicity, is sometimes something very difficult. it seems software companies keep selling us software applications that have too many gadgets and solutions that it will take you a lifetime to manage 100%.
Let’s face it, we don’t want to be inventory experts, we just want a solution that works, that does the tasks, adn that help us to control our stock, our inventory and our every day business.
So what sort of points do we need to keep in consideration when purchasing or testing any software tool or software?
Curve of Learning.
There is no point of purchasing an application where you need to stop working (and producing) just to learn how to use the tool. You want something that is easy and that you can start using at a basic begginer level straight away.
Not too many nuts and bolts.
Sometimes buying extremely general applications is more complicate than buying or testing inventory niche related systesm. Examples: Book inventory system is more precise for a book store than for a Pharmacy. So instead of trying to purchase a generic application that then need to be customised to your need, why not try to get a software that is ready to go?
Simple applications are applications and software packages than anyone can use and where you can trainned your staff to perfome basic tasks. Feel free to test as many inventory software applications, and you will find out that the real simple inventory tool out there is the one that helps your life, instead of giving you more problems and issues that delay your productivity.
I like the statement you make about one should not have to stop production just so they can learn how to use the inventory software. That is so true. Even some large software vendors make their software so bulky because of too many unwanted features.
Perhaps the cost consideration should also be considered. After sales, is also important. Even for a simple application it needs support from the maker. And response time is important.
My boss has me looking for a simple inventory program because the big fat expensive one we have just sucks. It looses things. It puts stuff in the wrong place. Sometimes it refuses to process an order. All due to overly complex design. We use it because it’s part on an ERP package. But wehn we need to find something we use a spreadsheet! that’s a lot of extra work to maintain too.