Production management software helps small businesses plan, track and coordinate what they’re making as their order volume grows.
When spreadsheets are no longer enough, the right tools can bring clarity back to the production process. They can also help small teams streamline operations as their order volume grows.
This guide covers the best production management software small businesses can choose from today. You’ll discover five top solutions and learn what each does best. You’ll also get practical guidance on choosing the right option for your manufacturing workflow.
Key takeaways for small business production software
Small business production software helps SMBs plan, track and coordinate production work without the complexity of broader MRP or ERP systems.
The right solution depends on your production model, your visibility needs and how your sales demand drives production activity.
When evaluating production software options, SMBs should prioritize usability, adoption and alignment among sales, operations and prodcuction teams.
Pipedrive connects sales demand to production planning, helping SMBs forecast orders, align teams and grow confidently. Try it today with a 14-day free trial.
How small business production software helps SMBs
Small business production management software helps SMBs plan, track and coordinate production work as orders move from intake to delivery.
The software gives small teams a clear view of what they’re making, what materials they need and how work moves through the manufacturing process.
Note: Small business production software differs from both material requirements planning (MRP) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems:
- MRP software focuses on manufacturing processes. It supports material planning, bills of materials and procurement.
- ERP software has a broader focus. It manages production alongside finance, human resources and supply chain operations in a single system.
SMBs need manufacturing software when simple tools like spreadsheets can no longer keep up with production demands. At this stage, manual tracking can result in costly gaps, delays and rework.
Small business production software addresses these challenges by giving SMBs a reliable and accurate way to:
Track work orders and production status in one system
Improve inventory visibility and reduce stock issues
Align production schedules with real customer demand
Reduce errors caused by spreadsheets and manual updates
Create more repeatable, predictable production workflows
Small business production software streamlines day-to-day business operations for growing SMBs. It also helps small teams keep production under control as order volume increases.
The 5 best small business production software solutions
Here are five top SMB production software solutions and a summary of their standout features.
Software | Benefits |
1. MRPEasy |
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2. Katana |
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3. Oracle NetSuite for Manufacturing |
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4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central |
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5. Craftybase |
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Now that you have some insight into these solutions, let’s look at each in greater detail.
1. MRPeasy
MRPeasy is a cloud-based MRP system for small and midsize manufacturers that need more structure around production and materials planning as operations grow.
The software bridges the gap between spreadsheets and full manufacturing ERP software. It focuses on production, inventory and purchasing rather than company-wide management.
MRPeasy centralizes several core production and inventory capabilities. For example, teams can use it to:
Plan production schedules using forward and backward scheduling
Manage work orders across defined production stages
Track inventory as materials are allocated and consumed
The software gives production teams a clearer view of what’s planned and what’s in progress. It can also highlight where capacity may come under pressure in the production process.
MRPeasy includes detailed bill of materials and purchase order functionality. Materials are allocated to work orders in advance and inventory levels update automatically as production progresses.
Note: MRPeasy integrates with Pipedrive, allowing sales orders and customer demand to stay connected to production planning decisions.
2. Katana
Katana is a production and inventory management platform designed for small manufacturers that need real-time visibility across stock, production and sales.
Katana brings together several core production and inventory capabilities that help small teams stay aligned as orders change.
Teams most often use Katana to:
Track raw materials and finished goods in real time
Manage production orders with clear status visibility
Link bills of materials directly to live inventory levels
This real-time model helps teams react quickly to changes in demand. It also reduces the risk of stockouts or overproduction.
Katana supports production scheduling, purchasing workflows and day-to-day inventory control. Teams can see what they need to produce, which materials they need and when they should order new stock.
Note: Katana integrates with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify. The connection allows sales orders to flow directly into production planning.
This software is a strong option for SMBs that need live inventory and production visibility tied closely to sales activity. It works especially well in fast-moving e-commerce environments.
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3. Oracle NetSuite for Manufacturing
Oracle NetSuite for Manufacturing is a full ERP platform with manufacturing capabilities.
NetSuite is designed for manufacturers that need unified visibility across production, inventory, finance and supply chain operations.
The software supports complex manufacturing by combining multiple operational capabilities within a single ERP platform. These capabilities allow manufacturers to manage production at scale while maintaining consistency across departments.
Manufacturing teams typically use NetSuite to:
Manage work orders, routings and multi-level bills of materials
Coordinate inventory, procurement and supply chain workflows
Plan production and forecast demand across locations
Production data connects directly to the company’s financials. As a result, leaders can analyze manufacturing performance alongside costs, margins and revenue.
Note: For manufacturing companies seeking additional functionality, NetSuite offers advanced modules for financial management, human resources and supply chain management.
4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an ERP solution with manufacturing and production functionality.
The software is commonly used by SMB manufacturers already operating in the Microsoft ecosystem. Business Central combines manufacturing capabilities with financial management, purchasing and project management functionality.
SMB manufacturers typically use the platform for core workflows such as:
Creating and managing production orders and bills of materials
Planning capacity and schedule production at a basic level
Tracking inventory sales and trigger replenishment workflows
These features help teams coordinate production. They also keep operational and financial data aligned. Meanwhile, dashboards and reporting views connect production activity with financial management data.
Note: Business Central integrates with tools like Excel, Outlook and Power BI. Teams can analyze their production performance using these familiar reporting interfaces.
Microsoft-first businesses might adopt Business Central with support from a Microsoft Dynamics Partner. These experts can help configure manufacturing workflows, integrations and reporting based on a business’s production model and operational goals.
5. Craftybase
Craftybase is production and inventory software built for makers and small-batch manufacturers.
The platform is for businesses that produce goods using recipes or batches. These SMBs often need clear visibility into materials, costs and profitability.
Rather than focusing on complex production planning, Craftybase centers on accuracy and traceability.
Makers and small producers commonly use the platform to:
Track inventory across raw materials, work in progress and finished goods
Manage bills of materials or recipes with automatic cost calculations
Record batch and lot information for end-to-end traceability
This approach helps teams understand how materials flow through production and how costs accumulate at each stage.
Craftybase places strong emphasis on cost of goods sold (COGS) tracking. As materials are consumed during production, costs update automatically.
This real-time visibility gives business owners clearer insight into their product margins. It also shows the impact of pricing decisions.
Note: The platform integrates with e-commerce tools like Shopify and Etsy, keeping inventory and orders aligned as sales volume increases.
Craftybase is a strong fit for creative SMBs focused on batch production and cost control as they scale.
How to choose small business production software that fits your SMB workflow
The right production software matches how your business actually produces, sells and scales.
Here are seven practical tips to help SMBs choose production software that supports real workflows, realistic adoption and sustainable growth.
1. Match the software to your production model
Before comparing tools, clarify how your orders move from intake to delivery and which steps are hardest to manage.
Avoid this common mistake: Choosing software based on popularity or brand name instead of how well it supports your actual production model.
Imagine a small manufacturing business that produces custom metal fixtures for retail clients. It handles repeat orders and one-off jobs. The team manages a growing number of SKUs and relies on spreadsheets to track production and inventory.
In practice, this business operates as a mix of job shop and make-to-order production. Each order is slightly different and lead times vary by customer. That context immediately rules out software designed mainly for batch or make-to-stock environments.
The table below shows how common SMB production models typically map to software priorities for this kind of business.
Production model | What the software needs to support |
Job shop | Flexible work orders, adjustable scheduling, clear job status |
Batch or made-to-stock | Inventory planning, reorder logic, demand forecasting |
Make-to-order | Real-time order visibility, lead times, production status |
For SMB manufacturers, identifying the production model upfront helps narrow the software category and reduces the need for workarounds later on.
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2. Prioritize visibility across inventory and production
Production software should make it easy to see what’s in stock, what’s in progress and what’s at risk of delay.
Avoid this common mistake: Assuming reports updated once a day are sufficient when production decisions depend on real-time data.
In the example business, a lack of visibility creates daily friction. The team often doesn’t know whether materials are available or which orders are behind schedule until issues escalate.
As the business owners evaluate small business production software, they focus on tools that surface key information in one place, including:
Levels of raw materials and finished goods through real-time inventory tracking
Clear production status for each active order
Early indicators when work is delayed or materials are missing
For SMB manufacturers, this shared visibility enables more informed decisions. It also helps teams address issues before they impact delivery dates.
3. Evaluate production planning and scheduling capabilities
Strong production software supports both planning and execution once work is underway.
Avoid this common mistake: Focusing only on planning tools while overlooking how work orders are executed day to day.
For our example business, planning features alone don’t solve day-to-day production challenges. The team needs tools that handle scheduling adjustments and track execution as work moves through production.
Tracking work as it progresses also supports more consistent quality control across orders.
During demos, the team looks closely at whether the software can:
Plan production based on real demand and available capacity
Schedule work orders across stages, work centers or teams
Track progress as work moves through production, not just at the start and end
These execution-focused capabilities often matter more than advanced planning features as order volume and product complexity increase.
4. Consider inventory and supply chain needs
Production software needs to support inventory and supply chain workflows to deliver real value.
Avoid this common mistake: Overlooking supply chain workflows and discovering too late that inventory data lives in disconnected systems.
The example business stores most of its materials and finished goods on-premises, so production relies on accurate inventory tracking. When materials run out, jobs stop and delivery dates slip.
As the business’s leaders compare software options, they prioritize tools that will help the team:
Track stock levels accurately as materials are consumed
Set reorder points tied to real demand
Coordinate purchasing with production schedules
For SMB manufacturers, keeping inventory and production data connected supports steadier cash flow and more reliable delivery timelines.
5. Decide between lightweight tools, MRP or ERP systems
Choosing the right category of production software helps SMBs get the functionality they need.
Avoid this common mistake: Adopting ERP software too early and paying for complexity your team is not ready to use.
For our example business, lightweight tools feel too limited, while full ERP systems introduce more complexity than the team is ready to manage. That prompts a step back to assess category fit before evaluating vendors.
The table below outlines how production software options typically differ as businesses grow.
Software category | What it supports |
Lightweight production tools | Basic production tracking, simple scheduling and inventory visibility for small teams |
MRP systems | Structured material planning, bills of materials and manufacturing workflows as complexity increases |
ERP systems | Company-wide coordination across production, corporate finance, supply chain and operations, |
Some manufacturers also use Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software alongside MRP or ERP software. MES tools focus on execution and traceability on the shop floor.
Starting with the right category helps SMBs choose the most cost-effective option. It also helps them balance control with scalability as their operations evolve.
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6. Assess usability, automation and integrations
Production software should be user-friendly, easy for teams to adopt and able to fit cleanly into existing workflows.
Avoid this common mistake: Ignoring integration with CRM, accounting software and e-commerce tools.
In the example business, production leads and operators will use the system every day. If the interface feels clunky or adds steps, adoption will stall.
During evaluation, the team pays close attention to whether the software:
Feels intuitive for day-to-day users
Uses automation to reduce manual updates
Integrates with CRM, e-commerce and project management tools
Each provider’s approach to onboarding and customer support also plays an important role in the decision-making process.
For SMB manufacturers, usability and integrations often determine whether software becomes part of daily operations or another system that teams work around.
7. Weigh up pricing, implementation and long-term scalability
Production software should support business growth without adding unnecessary cost or complexity.
Avoid this common mistake: Focusing only on immediate requirements and overlooking how additional products, orders or locations could affect future workflows.
The example business expects more customers, more SKUs and higher order volume over time. That makes it important to look beyond immediate needs.
With this in mind, the business owners review:
How pricing changes as users and functionality expand
Implementation effort and internal ownership
Whether the system can support new product orders or locations
The right production software helps SMBs optimize current workflows. It also supports sustainable growth over time.
How integrating Pipedrive with production software helps SMBs plan and deliver orders
Pipedrive connects sales demand to production activity to give SMBs a clear commercial view.
Used together, small business production software and Pipedrive’s manufacturing CRM help SMBs align sales activity with production capacity.
Pipedrive in action: UK-based manufacturing business Reliable Maintenance Systems used Pipedrive to bring structure and visibility to its sales pipeline as the business grew.
With Pipedrive, the team tracked deals, customers and expected close dates in one place. With a clearer view of incoming demand, the business could plan next steps with greater confidence.
Pipedrive gives teams a shared source of truth for demand by tracking deals, customers and expected close dates in a visual sales pipeline.
Centralizing this data makes it easier for operations and production teams to understand what’s coming next and plan accordingly.
As deals progress, Pipedrive helps teams handle order management and forecast demand more reliably.
Sales forecasting highlights likely orders weeks or months ahead. This insight gives production teams earlier signals to plan materials, schedules and capacity.
Pipedrive also improves visibility once orders move toward fulfillment. Custom deal stages and fields can capture production-related information such as order status, promised delivery dates or production readiness.
For SMBs using tools like MRPeasy, Pipedrive integrates directly with production systems. The connection helps teams keep sales and manufacturing data aligned.
The result is better coordination between sales and operations, without forcing an all-in manufacturing ERP decision too early.
Small business production software FAQs
Final thoughts
As production complexity increases, SMBs across the manufacturing industry face similar decisions about structure, scale and control.
The right production management software supports current production workflows and order volumes. It also supports business growth. Pipedrive plays a clear role alongside production software by connecting sales pipelines, forecasts and customer commitments to operational planning.
Pipedrive’s CRM for manufacturing gives SMBs the commercial clarity they need to help production teams plan ahead and deliver reliably. Start your free 14-day trial of Pipedrive today.
