Written by Stephen Beard, Managing Director of Plyo Bookkeeping, a Vancouver-based bookkeeping firm.

I recently took a free online webinar offered by the SOS Inventory Management team to learn more about their product. As someone who’s worked with major ERP systems in the past, I was curious to see what SOS had to offer. To start with, SOS is built from the ground up to integrate with QuickBooks Online (QBO), and it exists to fill the deficiencies in QBO surrounding inventory. QuickBooks was never intended to deal with more complex inventory situations like manufacturing or assembly work, and such functionality is unlikely to be in the scope of a small cloud accounting software. This is mainly what makes SOS Inventory so unusual, in that it’s offering a low cost ($59.95 CAD per month for the basic package) for functionality that one would frequently pay six figure sums to set up in a manufacturing business.  

What SOS Inventory can do

SOS Inventory is not a full ERP system, but it does allow you to manage up to 40,000 unique items, which should cover just about any small business. It also integrates with Shopify, Big Commerce and PayPal, meaning it allows orders to automatically flow into your warehouse and to then generate picking or assembly instructions. It has a two-way sync with QuickBooks, and the idea is that all purchase invoices and sales orders should be entered into SOS Inventory, where they will then automatically be synced with QuickBooks.

SOS Inventory provides advanced tools for tracking and managing inventory effectively. Users can easily monitor stock levels, set up reordering thresholds, and track item movements across multiple locations. The software offers real-time updates, ensuring accurate inventory data at all times.

SOS allows you to run a proper inventory management system, with purchase orders, goods receipt notes and purchase invoices allowing for a complete paper trail of inventory ordered, received and charged for.

SOS Inventory offers comprehensive manufacturing and assembly capabilities, allowing users to create bills of materials (BOMs), track work orders, and manage production processes efficiently. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses involved in manufacturing or assembly operations.

With a range of customizable reports and analytics tools, SOS Inventory empowers users to gain valuable insights into their inventory performance. From inventory valuation reports to sales analysis, users can access actionable data to make informed business decisions.

Usability:

SOS Inventory boasts an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. It’s certainly much more user friendly than a full-scale ERP such as Microsoft Dynamics or Oracle. The software’s layout is well-organized, with key functionalities easily accessible from the dashboard. Additionally, SOS Inventory offers comprehensive documentation and customer support, ensuring users can leverage the software effectively.

Integration with QuickBooks:

One of the standout features of SOS Inventory is its seamless integration with QuickBooks. This integration enables users to synchronize data between the two platforms, eliminating the need for manual data entry and ensuring consistency across financial and inventory records. QuickBooks users can seamlessly import and export data, simplifying accounting processes and enhancing overall efficiency.

Pricing:

SOS Inventory offers flexible pricing plans tailored to the needs of different businesses. Pricing is based on the number of users and includes access to an excellent customer support team. The basic package currently costs $59.95 per month, and the pro package costs $169.95 per month. Compared to the alternative systems available, this represents an absolute steal. Its comprehensive feature set and integration with QuickBooks justify the investment for businesses with more complex inventory management needs.

Conclusion:

SOS Inventory Management Software offers a compelling value proposition for businesses seeking to streamline their inventory management processes. With its robust features, user-friendly interface, seamless integration with QuickBooks, and comprehensive customer support, SOS Inventory empowers businesses to optimize their inventory operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth. While the pricing is not insignificant for a small business, the benefits of using SOS Inventory outweigh the costs for businesses looking for a reliable and feature-rich inventory management solution.