Order management software automates inventory and shipping, keeping your stock levels accurate and your deliveries on schedule.
Since platforms prioritize different workflows – like tracking inventory or managing logistics – finding the right fit for your tech stack takes work.
Below, you’ll find the seven best order management software solutions for SMBs. You’ll learn which platforms handle e-commerce and retail and how to manage orders using a CRM like Pipedrive.
Key takeaways from order management software
Order management software ranges from shipping tools to full inventory platforms, and the right solution depends on what you sell and how you handle order fulfillment.
To choose the right tool, start with your biggest bottleneck – shipping costs and inventory control are two of the most common challenges for SMBs.
Most SMBs get value from a focused tool rather than paying for a more expensive, comprehensive tool with features they haven’t grown into yet.
Try Pipedrive’s CRM free for 14 days to connect your order management workflows to a sales pipeline your whole team can work from.
7 top order management software solutions for SMBs
Depending on your fulfillment process, you might need a dedicated shipping app, omnichannel inventory tracking software or a platform to manage raw materials.
Whatever you’re looking for, here’s a quick breakdown of the main categories of order management systems (OMS) on the market to help orient your search.
Software category | When to use it |
Multi-channel e-commerce OMS: Syncs inventory and sales data across online storefronts and marketplaces. | When you’re selling across platforms like Shopify, Amazon and eBay and need to prevent overselling and stockouts. Examples: Veeqo, Linnworks |
Shipping and fulfillment software: Provides carrier integrations, compares shipping rates and prints shipping labels in bulk to keep your supply chain moving. | When your main bottleneck is getting boxes out the door and finding the best shipping options. Examples: ShipStation, Ordoro |
Inventory and manufacturing (MRP): Tracks raw materials, bills of materials (BOMs) and production runs alongside finished goods inventory. | When you assemble products in-house or need to manage warehouse and B2B inventory. Examples: Katana, Cin7 Core, inFlow Inventory |
The seven tools below highlight the best options across these different categories.
1. Veeqo: best sales order management software for multi-channel e-commerce
Veeqo is an Amazon-owned order management solution that centralizes inventory and shipping operations for online retailers.
The Shipping Plan is free to use because Veeqo generates revenue through its partner carriers.
The model gives growing brands access to multi-channel syncing and warehouse distribution tools without a monthly subscription fee. However, you’ll need to pay $19 per month to access inventory features.
How small businesses use Veeqo:
Sync storefronts like Shopify and Amazon to a single dashboard to maintain accurate stock counts across channels
Access pre-negotiated shipping rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL directly on the platform
Process bulk outbound shipments and print up to 100 shipping labels simultaneously to streamline dispatch
Generate purchase orders based on past sales data to replenish inventory before a stockout occurs, safeguarding your profitability
It’s worth noting that Veeqo offers up to 5% in credits on eligible shipments, which users can apply to future shipping costs.
The takeaway: Veeqo suits scaling direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands that need to connect multiple sales channels and manage order tracking without adding another monthly software expense.
2. Linnworks: best purchase order management software for high-volume brands
Linnworks automates the end-to-end order lifecycle using a rules engine and AI that identifies and eliminates manual tasks in your operation.
With its scalability and extensive integrations, you can launch into new regions and manage local fulfillment without hiring an operations team for each channel.
How small businesses use Linnworks:
Sync inventory levels in real time across 100+ marketplaces and manage every SKU from one platform to eliminate overselling
Build automated order routing workflows using the Rules Engine to sort, prioritize and action orders
Analyze historical sales data, track seasonal trends and replenish inventory before stockouts occur
Connect to shipping providers, including FedEx, Amazon Shipping and ShipStation, and automate shipping service assignment across all orders
Linnworks also includes Spotlight AI, which reviews weekly operational activity to help you find time-intensive tasks and automate them.
The platform prices plans on monthly order volume rather than sales revenue, with no percentage fees. It doesn’t publish rates publicly, so you’ll need to ask for a demo to get a quote.
The takeaway: Linnworks suits retailers with high order processing volumes that need to manage fulfillment, warehousing and shipping. Cost can be a factor for smaller operations, so it suits SMBs that have outgrown entry-level tools rather than businesses just starting.
3. ShipStation: best order management software for SMBs that want to cut shipping costs
ShipStation connects to your existing sales channels and carriers, then automatically finds the cheapest or fastest shipping option for every order.
Its biggest draw for small businesses is the discounted carrier rates that help you meet customer expectations. It offers 80% to 90% off every major carrier on every label you print, which can completely cover the subscription cost for some sellers.
How small businesses use ShipStation:
Compare rates across 200+ carriers automatically and select the cheapest, fastest or best-value option based on your own criteria
Set automation rules to batch and print labels so fulfillment keeps pace as order volume grows
Manage returns in one platform with prepaid labels and a self-service returns portal to improve the customer experience
Connect stores, marketplaces and carriers, including Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, eBay, USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL from a single dashboard
Pricing starts at $14.99 per month for up to 50 shipments on the Starter plan. For $29.99 per month, the Standard plan adds unlimited automations, inventory sync, a branded returns portal and the ability to bring your own carrier accounts.
The breadth of inventory management features increases at the Premium tier ($349.99/month), which adds purchase orders, forecasting and scan-to-receive. SMBs that need those features from the start may find the jump steep. It also offers a 30-day free trial.
The takeaway: ShipStation suits sellers who ship daily and want to reduce fulfillment costs immediately. The entry price is low enough to trial without commitment, and the discounts give SMBs a financial reason to give it a go.
4. Ordoro: best e-commerce order management software for SMBs on a budget
Ordoro offers shipping, inventory and dropshipping platforms.
It sells three separate apps for each feature, which work individually or together, letting e-commerce sellers buy only the modules they need rather than pay for a bundled product.
This structure means a small business can start with a free shipping plan and add inventory or dropshipping management when the operation demands it.
How small businesses use Ordoro:
Print shipping labels and compare rates across USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL and Sendle with discounted carrier rates available on every plan, including the free tier
Centralize orders from Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Etsy and other channels into a single dashboard, then batch-print labels and assign orders to specific warehouses or carriers using automation rules
Flag specific products as dropship SKUs, automatically split orders that contain items going to multiple suppliers and send each supplier their portion
Add suppliers to the account, send purchase orders, track goods receipts and run vendor reports from one place
The shipping app starts free for up to 100 labels per month on one sales channel. The Advanced plan is $59 per month for up to 3,000 labels across five channels, and the Premium plan is $149 per month for unlimited labels and channels.
The inventory app starts at $349 per month, and the dropshipping app at $299 per month. Bundled pricing is available if you need more than one app, and a 15-day free trial is available.
The takeaway: Ordoro’s purchase order management software suits sellers who want to start lean and add capability as they grow. The free shipping tier makes it accessible from day one, and the modular structure lets you pay only for what you use.
5. Katana: best software for small manufacturers
Katana is a cloud-based inventory and manufacturing platform that connects production planning, raw material tracking and sales orders.
It targets small manufacturers, like fashion brands, that need to manage both what they make and what they ship.
Most tools on this list handle inventory after products are created. Katana works upstream, letting businesses track raw materials, define bills of materials, schedule production runs and automatically adjust stock as manufacturing progresses.
How small businesses use Katana:
Monitor raw material and finished product availability in real time, issuing purchase orders directly from the platform when stock falls short
Set up manufacturing routings that put production operations in the right order, then track actual material and time usage against what was planned to identify overruns
Assign operator tasks and track production progress in real time through the Shop Floor App, giving the whole team visibility over what’s in progress
Sync sales orders from Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and Amazon so incoming orders automatically feed into production and inventory planning
The Core Plan starts at $299 per month and includes unlimited users, unlimited SKUs, unlimited integrations and one inventory location. However, it offers a free version with up to 30 SKUs and unlimited users.
Pricing scales based on monthly sales order volume and additional locations. Manufacturing management, warehouse management, traceability and the Shop Floor App are available as paid add-ons.
The takeaway: Katana suits small manufacturers that have outgrown spreadsheets and need a system that optimizes both production and fulfillment. However, it isn’t the right fit for businesses that buy and resell finished goods with no manufacturing steps.
6. Cin7 Core: best B2B order management software for product businesses
Cin7 Core is an inventory and order management platform that lets product businesses run wholesale, retail and e-commerce operations from a single stock system.
Its clearest advantage over simpler tools is its depth of functionality on the inventory side. Every plan includes unlimited inventory locations, purchase order management and expiration tracking – key features that other tools usually gate behind higher tiers.
How small businesses use Cin7 Core:
Track inventory in real time across multiple locations and sales channels, with automated purchasing workflows that trigger replenishment based on stock levels
Manage B2B wholesale orders through a self-serve portal where customers and sales reps can browse products, compare prices and place orders
Connect to accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks to sync inventory, order status and financials
Integrate with over 700 platforms, including Shopify, Amazon, shipping carriers and your point-of-sale (POS) system
Cin7 Core starts at $349 per month for up to five users and 6,000 sales orders per year, with two e-commerce or app integrations included. The Pro plan is $599 per month for 10 users, 24,000 orders per year and four integrations. It also offers a 14-day free trial.
The takeaway: Cin7 offers more inventory features in its base tier, making it a good fit for businesses that run wholesale and retail alongside e-commerce. It costs more than entry-level tools, but covers ground that shipping-focused platforms do not.
7. inFlow Inventory: best software for small wholesale and distribution businesses
inFlow Inventory is an order and inventory management platform for businesses in wholesale, distribution, light manufacturing and e-commerce.
It covers stock tracking, purchase and sales orders and both B2B and retail selling.
Its clearest differentiator for SMBs is the built-in B2B Showroom. It lets businesses create private or public storefronts where wholesale customers can browse products, compare prices and place orders, without needing a separate e-commerce tool.
How small businesses use inFlow:
Track stock in real time across multiple locations, set reorder points to trigger restocking alerts and manage transfers between warehouses
Generate quotes, sales orders and invoices, manage payments, process returns and print barcode labels
Receive shipments by scanning items on a mobile device, and track vendor balances and payment history
Connect to Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, Xero and QuickBooks Online to sync orders and financials
The Entrepreneur plan starts at $129 per month for two team members, 100 sales orders per month and one integration. The Small Business plan starts at $349 per month for five team members, 1,000 orders per month and three integrations.
Orders over the monthly limit cost $0.20 each. The Small Business plan requires a one-time onboarding fee of $499, but a 14-day free trial is available.
The takeaway: inFlow’s B2B order management software is worth considering if you sell the same products to retail customers and wholesale buyers at different prices, and you want both managed in one place without custom development.
Selling B2B or wholesale? How to track custom orders in Pipedrive
While the platforms above excel at managing inventory and shipping, they aren’t always focused on the nuances of B2B sales.
If you’re a wholesaler or service-based SMB dealing with bespoke quotes and custom orders, Pipedrive is the ideal alternative to a traditional e-commerce OMS.
Below, you’ll learn how to make Pipedrive the center of your order management process.
Note: If your business is high-volume D2C retail and you need to fulfill thousands of daily purchases, you should invest in one of the e-commerce order management software tools above.
You can still integrate that OMS with Pipedrive’s CRM to handle the customer relationship side of your business.
1. Map your custom fulfillment stages to your pipeline
If you manage wholesale or custom manufacturing, you need a system that tracks bespoke stages like sampling, proofing and production.
Instead of forcing these into a spreadsheet, build custom pipelines in Pipedrive.
Each deal card becomes the order record. Open it, and you’ll see the customer, deal value and activity history.
The even more useful part is custom fields. You can add fields for delivery window, product specs or whatever your orders need.
For example, a boutique skincare brand might build custom fields for “units ordered”, “retailer tier” and “next reorder date”. Instead of chasing emails to find out where a quote landed, the sales rep opens Pipedrive to see what stage each order is at and what needs to happen next.
Even better, you can use Pipedrive’s workflow automation to handle every routine and repetitive task.
Pipedrive in action: EV charging station manufacturer JuiceBar migrated to Pipedrive to handle a massive influx of inbound sales. It used Pipedrive’s automations, custom fields and the LeadBooster add-on to handle data entry and qualify leads.
In just 18 months, JuiceBar cut its sales cycle in half and doubled its web traffic conversion rate.
2. Standardize your orders with the Products feature
If you’re managing wholesale accounts, you need line items like SKUs, quantities and pricing to live inside the deal.
Pipedrive’s Products feature lets you store all these details in a centralized catalog.
Go to the Products tab, build your catalog and attach items to deals as orders come in. You can also add price variations to store different rates per customer, so you don’t have to manually edit prices every time.
Your reps can now automate order entry and send quotes from each deal without re-entering line items.
Note: Pipedrive integrates natively with invoicing tools like QuickBooks and Xero, so you can generate invoices from deals in your CRM. If you need real-time inventory sync, tools like Cin7 and inFlow connect to Pipedrive via Zapier. See Pipedrive’s Marketplace to explore options.
3. Turn your deals into quotes with Smart Docs
Once you set up your pipeline stages and catalog, you need a way to send quotes without manually entering them into another tool.
Pipedrive’s Smart Docs add-on pulls the line items, quantities and pricing from the deal and drops them into a quote template. Your rep fills in any details, sends it to the customer and gets notified when they open it.
Here’s how Smart Docs works and how you can use it to manage your documents:
You can also request an e-signature for the document, so the quote, approval and order record all live in the same place.
Download five free sales order templates
Final thoughts
Getting order management right frees up the time and budget to grow your business.
The tools in this list cover every stage of that journey, from shipping software to full inventory and fulfillment platforms. Start wherever your operation needs the most help today and build from there.
When your fulfillment runs smoothly, your sales pipeline becomes the next priority. Pipedrive gives your team one place to manage prospects, deals and customer relationships so nothing falls through the cracks.
Try it free for 14 days and see how much easier it is to close business when your pipeline is as organized as your fulfillment.
