Improve store replenishment
Use store sales and stock records to decide what to reorder, in what quantity and on which date.
THE ECOMMERCE TOOLKIT / SUPPLY CHAIN
Supply Chain Forecasting & Inventory Planning Tools
Decide what to reorder, how much and when. Compare tools that use your store or ERP data to plan replenishment, with options for managing inventory, production and fulfillment alongside it.
Forecasting · Inventory · Manufacturing · Fulfillment
START WITH YOUR BUSINESS
Where will your forecast get its data?
Choose a starting point based on where you keep sales and stock records: your store or your ERP, the system you use to manage purchasing and inventory. The other options below cover mismatched channel stock, materials and production, or outsourced storage and shipping.
Add planning to an ERP
Keep purchasing and stock records in your ERP, then compare tools that use those records to plan replenishment. If you use Cin7 Core, include its forecasting add-on in the comparison.
Related inventory, production and fulfillment needs
Unify stock across channels
Plan materials & production
Outsource fulfillment
COMPARE FORECASTING FIRST
Compare supply chain forecasting tools for your store
Compare four planning tools and Cin7 Core's ForesightAI add-on by the decisions your buyer needs to make: which products and locations to plan for, how to account for seasonal demand, what to adjust manually and how to create the purchase order. Check the required history and paid modules before choosing a trial.
| Tool & fit | Forecast detail | Seasonality & promotions | Your adjustments | From plan to purchase | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inventory PlannerPlan replenishment alongside your current systemsFeatures & costsOfficial documentation | Forecast monthly demand for product variants. You can replace the forecast with your own quantities for a specific warehouse. | Seasonal mode uses patterns from previous years. Products with less history can use category patterns. For a planned campaign, adjust the forecast to reflect your expectations. | Adjust the forecast by quantity, revenue or percentage. Import your revised values in bulk when several forecasts need changing. | Create purchase orders from replenishment plans. Editing and receiving depend on the connected system. | Check that warehouses match between systems, the required history is available, and your connector supports the purchase-order steps you need. |
NetstockPlan around an existing ERPFeatures & costsOfficial documentation | Use monthly sales history to forecast demand for each item at each location. | Tests seasonal patterns, trends and other demand patterns when generating forecasts. Applying seasonality at group level requires Advanced Forecasting. | Enter forecasts manually where needed. Bulk editing and forecast imports require Advanced Forecasting. | Review the suggested orders, then send order information back to your ERP through the configured connection. | Check your ERP connection and whether the chosen bundle includes Advanced Forecasting. Ask how to enter promotions in that bundle. |
PredikoPlan Shopify purchases against a growth targetFeatures & costsOfficial documentation | You set a revenue target. Smart Model uses it to distribute a 12-month demand plan across SKUs and warehouses. | Smart Model uses the store's seasonal patterns. Category seasonality needs at least two years of history with a clear pattern; shorter histories may fall back to Simple Model. | Select manual refresh to edit Smart Model's monthly targets. Replanning can replace those edits. Simple Model cannot be edited directly. | Review stock and lead times in Supply, the supply-planning workspace. Then create and manage purchase orders in Buy. | Check which model your sales history supports. The growth target is your input, not a prediction of growth. Raw-material planning costs extra. |
FabrikatörPlan Shopify purchases and incoming stockFeatures & costsOfficial documentation | The Plan feature forecasts monthly demand for products and variants, including the components needed for bundles. | Plan includes inputs for seasonality and growth. Ask which forecasting method your account can use and how to set up promotions. | Edit projected sales and compare the result with the baseline forecast. Approving a plan change updates suggested orders, while existing purchase orders remain unchanged. | Supply Plan includes stock due from existing purchase orders in its calculations. It produces recommendations that you can convert into new purchase orders. | Check whether your subscription includes Plan. Its rules for longer-term planning differ from those in the separate Replenishment feature. |
Cin7 Core + ForesightAIForecasting add-on for teams already using CoreFeatures & costsOfficial documentation | Forecast demand by product and location. The Sales Forecast Report shows up to 12 months ahead. | Models seasonal sales patterns. Adjust the forecast manually to account for promotions you are planning. | Adjust forecasts and reorder quantities. Allow up to 24 hours for setting changes to appear in the recommendations. | Select recommendations in Smart Reorder and click Reorder to create purchase orders with authorized status. | ForesightAI costs extra and needs at least six months of sales history in Core. To use Smart Reorder, each product must also have a supplier assigned. |
Where a row says “confirm,” ask the vendor about your account's settings and included features; the capability may be available with the right setup or plan. This comparison uses documented features. We haven't tested or ranked forecast accuracy. Comparison checked
CHOOSE WHAT TO TRY
Three decisions before you book a demo
Your shortlist depends on what already works and what still needs fixing. Use your current inventory system, the sales pattern you need to forecast and your purchasing process to decide which tools are worth a demo.
Keep your inventory system, or change it?
Stock and purchasing already work
Compare Inventory Planner or Netstock for forecasting and replenishment while keeping stock and purchasing in your existing system. If you already use Cin7 Core, check whether ForesightAI covers the planning work you need and whether your sales history meets its requirements.
Stock records disagree across channels
Compare how Cin7, Finale Inventory and Extensiv record inventory and orders. First agree which system maintains the stock and receipt records, then use those records for forecasting. Otherwise, a planning tool will inherit the same conflicting inputs.
Are you planning for a recurring peak or a new promotion?
Your history contains seasonal patterns
Use your own SKUs to compare how the tools above handle seasonal demand. If you try Prediko, check whether your data supports Smart Model; category seasonality requires at least two years of history with a clear pattern.
The next campaign has no close precedent
Decide what demand you expect from the campaign, then test how you can enter that assumption. Try adjusting Inventory Planner's forecast values, Prediko Smart Model's targets or Fabrikatör Plan's projected sales, and check how the change affects purchasing recommendations.
Where will your team create the purchase order?
Keep procurement inside Cin7 Core
Compare Core's ForesightAI Smart Reorder with Inventory Planner connected to Core. For each option, follow a recommendation through purchase-order authorization and receiving in Core so you can see where the buying team does the work.
Create orders from a Shopify buying plan
Try Prediko's Demand–Supply–Buy flow, from demand planning through supply planning to purchasing, or Fabrikatör's Plan. In Fabrikatör, approving a plan change updates recommendations but leaves existing purchase orders unchanged, so check those orders separately.
EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
10 tools. Different places in your workflow.
The products below handle different parts of the job, from deciding what to buy to receiving stock and shipping orders. Compare the features you need, then check the plan, connection and cost conditions before opening the detailed guide.
01
Forecast demand. Plan your next order.
Use sales and stock data to decide what to buy, how much and when. Start with the tools that connect to your existing store or ERP so you can see how the plan fits your purchasing work.
Inventory Planner
Retailers keeping their current systems but needing a clearer buying plan
Inventory Planner uses sales and stock data from connected stores or inventory systems to help you decide what to buy, how much and when. Buyers review demand alongside stock already available or on order, then prepare purchases or transfers. Your existing system continues to handle the operational records assigned to it by the connection.
- Demand and order timing: review forecasts alongside available stock, incoming purchases and supplier lead times. Adjust forecast quantities, revenue or percentages to reflect a planned promotion or revised sales expectations.
- Purchasing and transfers: create purchase orders for supplier replenishment or transfer orders to move stock between supported locations, rather than treating every location's shortage as a new purchase.
- Multiple stores and warehouses: plan from connected sales and inventory records, with monthly forecasts for variants and warehouse-specific adjustments. Check that each location maps to the correct source record.
Before you choose
The connector determines where purchase orders are edited and receipts are recorded. With Cin7 Core, saved purchase orders sync from Inventory Planner to Core, where subsequent edits, cancellations and receiving are handled. Check the equivalent handoff for your own system before adopting the workflow.
Pricing
Pricing is quoted against managed inventory volume. Ask for the complete scope of setup and system connections as well as the subscription, using the stores and locations you intend to plan for.Official source
Netstock
Purchasing teams that already run inventory and transactions in an ERP
Netstock adds inventory planning to the data already held in your ERP. Buyers can see where stock may run short, where it is accumulating and which replenishment decisions need attention first. It suits teams that want to improve their buying plan while continuing to process transactions in the ERP.
- Item and location forecasts: use monthly sales history to review demand for individual products at each location. Seasonal and trend patterns inform the forecast; group seasonality requires Advanced Forecasting.
- Stock priorities: review shortages, excess stock and safety-stock settings before deciding what to replenish. Capabilities such as redistributing excess inventory depend on the planning bundle you choose.
- Order review and ERP handoff: inspect suggested orders and pass order information back through the configured ERP connection. Advanced Forecasting also adds bulk forecast edits and imports where that module is included.
Before you choose
Confirm the exact ERP connector and Inventory Advisor or Integrated Business Planning bundle. Forecasting depth, outputs and information returned to the ERP vary by setup. Have the vendor show where approval, supplier communication and receiving happen for your connection.
Pricing
Request a quote for the required planning bundle and implementation scope. Confirm whether ERP data mapping, setup and the advanced forecasting capabilities you need are covered in the proposed contract.Official source
Prediko
Shopify brands connecting demand targets, supply checks and purchase orders
Prediko organizes buying around a Demand–Supply–Buy flow: set a demand plan, check stock and lead times, then create and track purchase orders. The Buying Table gives the purchasing team a place to work through what to order. Brands that also buy production materials can add raw-material forecasting and bills of materials.
- Adjustable demand planning: Smart Model uses your revenue target to distribute a 12-month plan across SKUs and warehouses. Select manual refresh to edit monthly targets; replanning can replace those edits.
- Purchasing follow-through: check stock and supplier lead times, select the products and quantities to buy, and create purchase orders. Track orders from draft through sending, transit and receipt.
- Material planning: the paid raw-material and BOM module adds planning for the components behind your products. Evaluate that scope against your production needs; material planning alone does not establish a complete manufacturing workflow.
Before you choose
Check which forecast model your history supports: Simple Model is not directly editable, and Smart Model's category seasonality needs at least two years of clear historical patterns. Shopify receipt sync requires setup. Amazon supplies read-only planning data; it does not receive inventory updates, purchase orders or FBA shipments from Prediko.
Pricing
Plans are tiered by gross merchandise value (GMV), with raw-material forecasting and BOMs charged separately. Check the GMV tier and materials add-on together when budgeting for your store.Official source
Fabrikatör
Shopify stores coordinating replenishment, incoming stock and backorders
Fabrikatör connects the buying plan with stock expected from suppliers and orders accepted while products are unavailable. The team can plan replenishment, track purchase orders and arrival dates, and use incoming quantities when managing backorders. This makes the relationship between the next delivery and orders waiting to ship visible in the buying workflow.
- Demand and supply plans: Plan forecasts products, variants and bundle components by month. Supply Plan includes incoming purchases and turns the remaining requirement into recommendations you can convert to purchase orders.
- Purchase and arrival tracking: follow quantities and expected arrival dates as goods move toward the store. Freight Planner can split a purchase order across air and sea freight when the shipment needs different transport arrangements.
- Backorders tied to incoming stock: manage orders taken while an item is unavailable using the quantities and dates of expected stock. Check those settings against the shipping date you communicate to customers.
Before you choose
Confirm that your subscription includes Plan and the forecasting method you need. Approving a plan change updates recommendations, not existing purchase orders. Check backorder and arrival settings separately. The Katana connection passes specified purchase-order events rather than all production records.
Pricing
Pricing varies by revenue tier and monthly or annual billing. Check the quote for the website or Shopify listing you are buying through, including any backorder charges, so that your budget reflects how you will use the product.Official source
02
Bring stock and orders together.
Keep stock and order records consistent across sales channels, warehouses, purchasing and receiving. Some of these systems also offer replenishment or forecasting, so check those options before adding a separate planning tool.
Cin7
Multichannel businesses bringing stock, orders and purchasing into one operation
Cin7 provides the operational system for stock, sales orders, purchasing and receiving. It is relevant when the team needs reliable records across those steps as well as a plan for future demand. Core and Omni are distinct product lines; an existing Core team can also evaluate ForesightAI as an added forecasting capability.
- Inventory and sales orders: coordinate stock with orders across connected channels. Match the product line and plan to the warehouse, manufacturing and connection capacity your operation needs.
- Purchasing and receiving: in Core, purchase orders, receipts and supplier invoices are separate steps. Buyers can follow the order through those records while keeping receipt quantities distinct from the original purchase request.
- Forecasting for Core: the ForesightAI add-on forecasts by product and location. Smart Reorder lets you select recommendations and create purchase orders with authorized status; it does not itself establish that the supplier has received the order.
Before you choose
ForesightAI needs at least six months of Core sales history, and Smart Reorder requires a supplier assigned to each product. Check the chosen Core or Omni plan separately for manufacturing, warehouse and connection scope; Core-specific forecasting behavior should not be assumed to apply to Omni.
Pricing
Budget for the selected product-line plan plus the add-ons you need, including ForesightAI. User, connection and order allowances also affect the appropriate plan, so a base subscription alone is not the complete forecasting cost.Official source
Finale Inventory
Multichannel sellers who need stock records to match warehouse activity
Finale Inventory connects multichannel stock records with the warehouse work that changes them: receiving, reserving and shipping goods. It is useful when the team needs to understand what is available at each location and replenish from that position. Barcode workflows and buying rules based on minimum and maximum stock levels or sales velocity support those daily tasks.
- Channel and location stock: coordinate inventory across stores and warehouses. Distinguish quantities reserved for committed sales orders from stock actually deducted when shipments are recorded.
- Receiving and shipping: use barcode workflows to record warehouse activity. Purchase orders can be received in parts, so each arrival is recorded separately rather than marking the entire order as received at once.
- Replenishment rules: plan purchases by location using minimum and maximum stock levels or sales velocity. These rules help determine what to reorder; test seasonal or promotional needs against the specific forecasting functions available.
Before you choose
Check the plan for Barcode WMS, API access and electronic data interchange (EDI). Receiving goods, recording a supplier bill and paying that supplier are separate activities; confirm how the warehouse and accounting workflows pass information between them.
Pricing
Choose the plan by operating scale and required features. Include the barcode, API or EDI scope you need when comparing quotes, and confirm the contract length rather than treating a monthly price as a monthly cancellation option.Official source
Extensiv Order Manager
Sellers coordinating channels, purchasing and several fulfillment routes
Extensiv Order Manager brings orders, available stock and fulfillment routing into the same operating workflow. It is relevant when orders may be handled by your own warehouse, FBA, a supplier shipping directly to your customers or a third-party warehouse. The team can coordinate those routes and use demand-planning inputs to prepare purchases.
- Order and inventory coordination: connect sales channels, map SKUs and warehouse locations, and use routing rules to decide where orders are handled. Inventory updates depend on the records supplied by those connected systems.
- Demand-based replenishment: use sales velocity, growth assumptions and supplier lead times to calculate replenishment needs. Stock thresholds and buffers help determine when a purchase needs attention.
- Purchase-order follow-up: thresholds can trigger purchase-order preparation. The team reviews and approves the order, then tracks purchasing milestones and partial receipts as stock arrives.
Before you choose
Confirm the Order Manager package, channel permissions, SKU mapping and warehouse routing you need. Other Extensiv products, including separate warehouse-management services, are not automatically included. Additional connections through Integration Manager need their own scope and cost check.
Pricing
Ask for a quote covering your channels, order volume, warehouses and required modules. Include connection setup, implementation and support in the discussion so that the price matches the workflow you intend to run.Official source
03
Plan for the materials behind your products.
If you make or assemble products, the purchase plan needs to account for materials as well as finished goods. Compare how these tools connect available materials, purchasing and production schedules.
Katana
Brands buying materials and scheduling production as well as selling products
Katana coordinates raw materials, finished stock, purchasing and manufacturing orders. Teams can use it for products made after an order arrives, stock produced in advance, or finished goods bought for resale. The practical question is whether the materials and supply needed for a sale are available or must first be purchased or produced.
- Material and production planning: use bills of materials and manufacturing orders to connect component requirements with the goods you need to make. Review available materials before assigning production work.
- Purchasing alongside production: coordinate purchase orders for missing materials or resale goods with manufacturing orders. Keep purchased supply and in-house production visible within the same planning process.
- AI replenishment review: with sufficient history, review demand forecasts and minimum, recommended and maximum replenishment quantities. Suggestions can become draft purchase or manufacturing orders, with approval retained before execution.
Before you choose
AI Replenishment needs at least six months of sales history; that requirement applies to the forecasting feature, not every inventory task. Free is limited to 30 SKUs and currently supports Shopify for ecommerce connections. Confirm the required integration and implementation scope in an Advantage annual contract.
Pricing
Free supports up to 30 SKUs. Advantage uses a custom annual contract, so request a quote for the functionality, integrations and implementation you need instead of relying on historical plan prices.Official source
Fishbowl
Teams choosing between inventory, warehouse and manufacturing software
Fishbowl offers separate buying paths for inventory management, warehouse operations and manufacturing. Start with the work the team must complete: track purchased stock, receive and ship goods, or turn components into finished products. The selected product line determines which workflows and commercial terms are relevant.
- Inventory and warehouse work: manage stock records, purchasing, receiving and shipping, with barcode and reorder-point capabilities in the relevant product line. Match the workflow to Inventory or Advanced Warehouse before comparing plans.
- Manufacturing: Advanced Manufacturing provides bills of materials, material requirements planning and work orders to move from components to finished stock. The Inventory product does not include manufacturing.
- Forecasting and configuration: Inventory Growth offers demand forecasting as an add-on, while Scale includes forecasting and planning. Check forecasting scope separately for Advanced products, along with users and deployment requirements.
Before you choose
Advanced Warehouse starts at US$595 per month and Advanced Manufacturing at US$675 per month, with final quotes depending on users and deployment. Confirm the product line for each accounting or commerce connection instead of assuming an integration has the same scope throughout the Fishbowl family.
Pricing
Inventory, Advanced Warehouse and Advanced Manufacturing have separate plans. Confirm billing terms and the required implementation package in the quote, including the forecasting option applicable to the line you choose.Official source
04
Find a partner to store your stock and ship your orders.
If you need a partner to store stock, pick and pack orders, and ship them to customers, compare the service coverage and operating charges alongside the software.
ShipBob
Brands that need a partner to operate storage, picking, packing and shipping
ShipBob is an outsourced fulfillment service with software for the stock and orders handled through that service. You send inventory into its fulfillment network; warehouse teams receive and store it, then pick, pack and ship customer orders. It addresses the physical delivery work after purchasing, alongside the systems you use to plan replenishment.
- Receiving and storage: send goods into the agreed fulfillment locations and track the stock held there. Confirm inbound requirements and who handles shortages or receiving discrepancies before moving inventory.
- Order fulfillment: warehouse teams pick, pack and ship orders. Evaluate the service locations and handling requirements for your products, including any additional kitting, business-order or returns work you need.
- Store connections and visibility: the Shopify connection imports product and order information and returns inventory and fulfillment tracking updates. Reorder notifications help flag stock needs, while purchasing responsibility still needs to be assigned in your workflow.
Before you choose
Service software is included for fulfillment customers; it is not a free standalone forecasting product. ShipBob also offers a separate WMS option for businesses operating their own US warehouses. Confirm which service you are buying and the responsibility for inbound goods, exceptions and replenishment purchases.
Pricing
Request a service quote covering setup, receiving, storage, picking and packing, and shipping. Product size and weight, destinations and extra handling affect the quote; treat the self-operated warehouse WMS as a separate purchase.Official source
LOOK BEYOND THE FORECAST
How does a forecast lead to purchasing and receiving?
Once a tool recommends a quantity and order date, someone still needs to review the purchase, send it to the supplier and record what arrives. Use these four steps to check where each task happens and which person or system handles it. A single product may cover only part of the process.
- 01
Sales & stock
Gather sales history, available stock, purchase orders still awaiting receipt and supplier lead times.
Where does your data come from? - 02
Forecast & replenish
Review forecast demand, suggested quantities and order dates. Check what the recommendation is based on before making adjustments.
Can you explain and adjust the plan? - 03
Approve & purchase
Create a purchase order, review it and send it to the supplier.
Who approves and sends the order? - 04
Receive & update
Record what arrives, including partial deliveries, and update stock in the system responsible for inventory records.
Where are partial receipts recorded?
ONE CONNECTED EXAMPLE
Inventory Planner + Cin7 Core
Inventory Planner uses Core's records to prepare replenishment and purchase orders. After a saved purchase order syncs to Core, the team continues editing it and recording receipts in Core.
- Cin7 CoreProvides product, sales, supplier and purchase-order data.
- Inventory PlannerBuilds the replenishment plan; saved purchase orders sync to Core through the connector.
- Cin7 CoreHandles subsequent PO edits, cancellations and receiving.
Prediko or Fabrikatör?
Materials planning or backorders?If purchasing depends on raw materials and bills of materials, examine Prediko's materials add-on. If your daily work centers on incoming stock and orders waiting for replenishment, examine Fabrikatör's backorder handling. Try each against the purchasing and receiving steps you use with Shopify.
Inventory Planner or Cin7?
A planning layer or an inventory system?Inventory Planner prepares replenishment plans using data from your existing systems. Cin7 manages stock, purchasing and receiving, with forecasting available as an add-on. If you want Inventory Planner's planning alongside Cin7's operations, check the supported connector and where purchase orders are edited and received.
Katana or Fishbowl?
How do you make and track your products?Walk through how you check materials, schedule production and record finished goods arriving in stock. With Fishbowl, choose the product line that covers those steps. With Katana, check whether the current plan and supported connections cover the same work.
FROM SHORTLIST TO TRIAL
Check what the price includes. Then try your workflow.
What to include in the cost comparison
- Business scale
Check which measure sets your price: revenue, gross merchandise value (GMV), managed inventory or order volume. Compare quotes using the same figures for your business.
- Plans & modules
Ask whether the quoted plan includes the forecasting, materials or warehouse features you need, and which modules cost extra.
- Setup & connections
Ask about setup, data migration and connections to your existing systems. Check the contract term as well as the subscription charge.
- Fulfillment services
For outsourced fulfillment, ask for receiving, storage, picking and packing, and shipping charges separately so you can see what the service quote covers.
Bring a real replenishment cycle
- Choose representative SKUs
Choose products that reflect your usual replenishment work. Bring their sales history, available and inbound stock, supplier lead times and minimum order quantities.
- Assign the purchasing steps
Agree who approves the order, who contacts the supplier and where receipts are recorded. Check how the tools pass the order between those steps.
- Follow one recommendation
Pick one replenishment suggestion and check why it recommends that quantity and date. Adjust it where needed, then follow it through purchasing and receipt to see whether the handoffs work.
Questions before you choose
How is forecasting different from inventory management?
Forecasting estimates future demand so you can decide when to order and how much to buy. Inventory management records what you have and what changes through purchasing, receiving and shipping. Some products do both. Check the actual plan and workflow to see whether the forecast can use your stock records and lead to a purchase order.
Do I need another tool if I already use Shopify or an ERP?
Start with the task your current system leaves you to do manually. If stock records and purchasing work well but you still calculate replenishment yourself, a planning tool may help. If channels show conflicting stock figures, first resolve how inventory and orders are recorded. Check your existing system's forecasting add-ons before taking on another subscription.
Will a forecast automatically send purchase orders?
A forecast alone does not tell you whether an order will be sent. Replenishment suggestions, purchase-order drafts, approval and sending to the supplier are separate steps. Ask the vendor to show which steps the product handles, where a person reviews the order and where the eventual receipt is recorded.
What if my stock figures differ across channels?
First check that the same product or variant is matched to the right SKU in every system. Then compare what each system counts as available, reserved and inbound stock, and how receipts, returns and shipments update those figures. Resolve those inventory and order-record differences before using the numbers to plan replenishment.
What data should I bring to a trial?
Choose SKUs that reflect your usual buying work and bring their sales history, available stock, inbound purchase orders, supplier lead times and minimum order quantities. Ask which historical data the feature needs before importing it. Follow one recommendation through review, purchasing and receipt, then expand the trial once those steps work for your team.
Put a plan through a seasonal stress test
See how arrival dates and stock constraints affect a replenishment plan in an illustrative Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) scenario.
How we compare: business fit, workflow coverage, connected systems and commercial conditions. The summaries draw on our product guides and linked vendor documentation. Products are grouped by their main use; we have not benchmarked their forecast accuracy. Category facts reviewed . Editorial policy
Connect the next part of your workflow
If your next task is to improve product pages, convert more store visits or support customers, explore the relevant category. You can also browse all supply chain tools, skills and prompts.