Best Inventory Management Software NZ (2026)

Choosing inventory management software is one of the more consequential decisions a growing NZ business makes. Get it right and your operations become smoother, your data more reliable, and your team more productive. Get it wrong and you're stuck with a system that doesn't fit, or worse, you're migrating again in 18 months.

We've put together this comparison to help you evaluate the main options available in New Zealand in 2026. We've tried to be fair and honest throughout. Yes, we make Frostbyte Pro and obviously think it's excellent, but every platform on this list has genuine strengths, and the best choice depends entirely on your business.

What to Look for in Inventory Software (NZ Context)

Before diving into specific platforms, here's what matters most for NZ businesses:

• Xero integration. The vast majority of NZ businesses use Xero for accounting, so seamless integration is non-negotiable.
• GST handling. The software needs to understand NZ tax requirements.
• NZD pricing and support. Dealing with USD pricing and US-hours-only support gets old fast.
• Scalability. Can it grow from 1 warehouse to 3? From 50 SKUs to 5,000?
• Industry fit. A food manufacturer has very different needs from a parts distributor.
• Local compliance. MPI traceability, food safety requirements, industry-specific regulations.

Implementation and Onboarding

Beyond features and price, consider the implementation experience:

• Time to go live. How long from sign-up to processing real transactions? Some platforms can be operational in a day; others require weeks of setup and data migration.
• Data migration support. If you're moving from another system or spreadsheets, does the provider help with migrating your product catalogue, supplier data, and customer records?
• Training resources. Are there tutorials, documentation, and onboarding guides? Is live training available?
• Ongoing support. What are the support channels (email, phone, chat)? What are the response times? Is support included or is it a paid add-on?

For NZ businesses specifically, the implementation question is also a timezone question. If your software provider's support and onboarding team is in San Francisco, your implementation process involves a lot of late-night video calls. Local providers with NZ-based teams make the transition significantly smoother.

The Real Cost of Getting It Wrong

It's worth pausing on this, because the cost of choosing the wrong inventory software is higher than most people expect. Beyond the wasted subscription fees, you lose:

• Implementation time. The hours your team spent setting up, configuring, and learning the system.
• Opportunity cost. The business improvements you would have achieved with the right system during those months.
• Migration pain. Moving data out of one system and into another is disruptive and error-prone.
• Team fatigue. Asking your team to learn a new system twice in two years damages morale and creates resistance to the replacement system.

This isn't to create anxiety. Most of the platforms on this list are solid choices for the right business. But it underscores why it's worth doing thorough evaluation upfront rather than picking the first option that looks reasonable.

With that context, let's look at the top eight options.

1. Frostbyte Pro

Overview

Frostbyte Pro is a New Zealand-built inventory and manufacturing management platform designed specifically for NZ businesses that make, assemble, or process products. It covers the full operational workflow, from purchasing raw materials through production to dispatch, with particularly strong capabilities in batch tracking, traceability, and manufacturing execution. Its LineConnect+ module connects directly to production line equipment for real-time OEE monitoring.

Key Features

• Full batch tracking and traceability. Forward and backward traceability from raw material receipt through production to customer dispatch, with expiry date management and FEFO allocation.
• Manufacturing execution. Bill of materials, production orders, work orders, and real-time production tracking with LineConnect+ equipment integration.
• Multi-warehouse management. Zone-based storage, stock transfers, barcode scanning, and pick-pack-dispatch workflows.
• Deep Xero integration. Bi-directional sync of invoices, purchase orders, bills, and payments with real-time COGS tracking.
• Stock take management. Zone-based counting, cycle counting schedules, variance reporting, and approval workflows.

Pricing

Per-user pricing in NZD with no lock-in contracts. See the Frostbyte Pro pricing page for current rates. Free trial available with no credit card required.

Best For

NZ manufacturers, food producers, and businesses that need batch tracking with MPI-compliant traceability. Particularly strong for companies that both manufacture and distribute.

Xero Integration

Yes. Deep, bi-directional integration.

2. Unleashed (by MYOB)

Overview

Unleashed has been a staple of the NZ inventory management market for years. Originally a standalone Kiwi-built platform, it was acquired by MYOB and has continued to evolve. It's a well-established, mature product with a strong feature set for inventory-heavy businesses. Unleashed is particularly popular among wholesale distributors and product-based businesses that need solid stock control without the manufacturing complexity. If you're evaluating alternatives to Unleashed specifically, see our detailed Unleashed software alternatives comparison.

Key Features

• Comprehensive inventory control. Multi-warehouse, multi-currency, serial and batch tracking.
• Sales and purchasing workflows. Quotes, sales orders, purchase orders, and supplier management.
• B2B eCommerce integration. Connects with Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, and other sales channels.
• Reporting and analytics. Detailed inventory reports, margin analysis, and demand insights.
• Established ecosystem. A wide range of integrations and add-ons through MYOB's partner network.

Pricing

Tiered pricing starting from $399 NZD/month, with higher tiers for additional users and features. Unleashed bills in NZD, AUD, USD, or GBP (customer's choice). Annual plans available with discounts. (Prices last updated early 2026.)

Best For

Wholesale distributors, product-based businesses, and companies already in the MYOB ecosystem. If you're a distributor who buys and sells finished goods (rather than manufacturing), Unleashed is a strong contender.

Xero Integration

Yes. Unleashed has had Xero integration since its early days, though the MYOB acquisition has naturally shifted some focus toward MYOB integration. Xero integration remains available and functional.

3. Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR Systems)

Overview

Cin7 Core (rebranded from DEAR Systems in 2023) is a feature-rich inventory and order management platform that targets mid-market businesses. It covers inventory, purchasing, sales, manufacturing, and accounting integration in a single platform. DEAR/Cin7 Core has a strong reputation for breadth of features. It tries to do a lot, and largely succeeds, though the depth in any single area can vary. For a detailed look at how it stacks up, see our Frostbyte Pro vs Cin7 comparison and Frostbyte Pro vs DEAR Inventory comparison.

Key Features

• End-to-end order management. From purchase orders through to sales fulfilment and returns.
• Manufacturing module. BOM management, production orders, auto-assembly, and disassembly.
• Multi-channel sales. Integrates with major eCommerce platforms and marketplaces.
• Warehouse management. Pick, pack, ship with barcode scanning and bin locations.
• Extensive integrations. Connects with Xero, QuickBooks, Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, and many more.

Pricing

Starts from approximately USD $349/month for the Standard plan. Enterprise pricing available. Note that pricing is in USD, which adds currency exposure for NZ businesses.

Best For

Mid-market businesses selling across multiple channels (wholesale + eCommerce + marketplace) who need a single system to manage it all. DEAR's strength is breadth, so if you need a bit of everything, it delivers.

Xero Integration

Yes. Solid integration with Xero for syncing invoices, bills, and payments.

4. Cin7 Omni

Overview

Cin7 Omni is the original Cin7 platform, a multi-channel inventory and order management system designed for businesses selling across retail, wholesale, eCommerce, and marketplaces simultaneously. It's the more enterprise-focused offering in the Cin7 family, with 500+ integrations and a strong focus on channel management at scale. It's more complex and more expensive than Cin7 Core, suited to larger businesses with high multi-channel volume.

Key Features

• Streamlined inventory management. Stock control, multi-location, and demand forecasting.
• B2B commerce. Built-in B2B portal for wholesale customers to place orders.
• Order management. Centralised order processing across sales channels.
• Automation rules. Automate repetitive tasks like order routing, stock alerts, and reorder triggers.
• Clean user interface. Intuitive design that's relatively quick to learn.

Pricing

Custom pricing only; contact Cin7 sales for a quote (8 users included in base). No fixed public price. (Prices last updated early 2026.)

Best For

Small to mid-sized product businesses (especially those with wholesale and B2B operations) who want a clean, modern interface without the complexity of a full enterprise system.

Xero Integration

Yes. Cin7 Omni integrates with Xero for accounting sync.

5. Katana MRP

Overview

Katana is a cloud-based manufacturing resource planning (MRP) platform that's gained significant traction among small to mid-sized manufacturers. It combines inventory management with production planning, providing visibility into raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. Katana's visual production scheduling is particularly well-regarded because it makes complex manufacturing workflows more intuitive.

Key Features

• Visual production planning. Drag-and-drop production scheduling with real-time material availability.
• Live inventory management. Real-time stock levels across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Bill of materials. Multi-level BOMs with auto-booking of raw materials when production orders are created.
• Shop floor control. Production order tracking with operator-level task management.
• Integration marketplace. Connects with Xero, QuickBooks, Shopify, and various shipping providers.

Pricing

Free plan available (limited to 30 SKUs). Core plan from ~$299 USD/month with usage-based scaling. No per-user fees. Pricing in USD. (Prices last updated early 2026.)

Best For

Small to mid-sized manufacturers who want production planning and inventory management in one platform. Katana's visual scheduling is genuinely excellent for businesses running multiple production orders simultaneously.

Xero Integration

Yes. Katana offers Xero integration for syncing sales orders, purchase orders, and financial data.

6. Sortly

Overview

Sortly takes a different approach from the other platforms on this list. It's a visual, photo-first inventory management tool designed for simplicity. Rather than complex workflows and manufacturing features, Sortly focuses on making it dead simple to track what you have, where it is, and how much of it there is. It's more of an asset and inventory tracker than a full operational platform.

Key Features

• Visual inventory. Photo-based item tracking with custom fields and tags.
• QR code and barcode support. Generate and scan codes for quick item lookup.
• Simple folder structure. Organise inventory into folders and sub-folders (like a filing system).
• Low stock alerts. Basic notifications when items fall below a threshold.
• Mobile-first design. The mobile app is arguably better than the desktop version.

Pricing

Free plan available for up to 100 items. Paid plans start from approximately USD $49/month. Very affordable compared to other options on this list.

Best For

Very small businesses, sole traders, or teams that need simple asset and inventory tracking without operational complexity. Also useful for non-manufacturing use cases like tool tracking, equipment management, or supplies inventory.

Xero Integration

No. Sortly does not offer native Xero integration. This is a significant limitation for NZ businesses.

7. Zoho Inventory

Overview

Zoho Inventory is part of the broader Zoho ecosystem, a suite of business applications covering CRM, accounting, helpdesk, and more. As an inventory management tool, it's competent and affordable, with solid order management and multi-channel selling features. The real value proposition is if you're already using other Zoho products, because the inter-app integration is seamless.

Key Features

• Multi-channel order management. Sell on Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and Etsy from a single dashboard.
• Warehouse management. Multi-warehouse support with inter-warehouse transfers.
• Batch and serial tracking. Track items by batch number or serial number.
• Shipping integration. Connects with major shipping carriers for label printing and tracking.
• Zoho ecosystem. Deep integration with Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, and other Zoho apps.

Pricing

Free plan available (50 orders/month, 1 user). Paid plans start from ~$39 USD/month (Standard), with Professional at $99, Premium at $159, and Enterprise at $299. Lower rates on annual billing. (Prices last updated early 2026.)

Best For

Businesses already in the Zoho ecosystem, or those selling across multiple online channels who want integrated order management and shipping. The free plan is genuinely useful for very small businesses getting started.

Xero Integration

Limited. Zoho Inventory integrates natively with Zoho Books (Zoho's own accounting software). Xero integration is available but not as deep or well-maintained as the Zoho Books integration. This can be a friction point for NZ businesses committed to Xero.

8. inFlow Inventory

Overview

inFlow is a straightforward inventory management platform that's been around for a long time. It started as a desktop application and has transitioned to cloud-based in recent years. inFlow's strength is simplicity: it does inventory management, purchasing, and sales without overwhelming you with features you don't need. The interface is clean and the learning curve is gentle.

Key Features

• Inventory tracking. Real-time stock levels with low-stock alerts and reorder points.
• Purchase orders and sales orders. Complete procure-to-pay and order-to-cash workflows.
• Barcode scanning. Mobile app for barcode-based receiving, picking, and counting.
• Reporting. Inventory valuation, sales reports, and purchasing analysis.
• Showroom feature. Shareable online catalogue for B2B customers.

Pricing

Starts from ~$161 USD/month for the Entrepreneur plan (2 users). Small Business plan at ~$436/month (5 users), Mid-Size at ~$874/month (10 users), Enterprise at ~$2,249/month (25 users). 20% discount on annual billing. USD pricing. (Prices last updated early 2026.)

Best For

Small businesses that want reliable, no-frills inventory management without manufacturing or production features. Good for distributors, retailers, and service businesses that carry parts or supplies.

Xero Integration

Yes. inFlow offers Xero integration for syncing invoices and financial data.

Comparison Table

Note: Pricing is indicative only and subject to change. Always check provider websites for current rates.

How to Choose the Right Inventory Software for Your Business

With eight solid options to consider, how do you narrow it down? Here's a practical framework.

Step 1: Define Your Core Requirement

What's the single most important thing you need the software to do? Be specific:

• "Track stock across 3 warehouses with batch-level traceability" → Frostbyte Pro, Unleashed, or Cin7 Core
• "Manage orders from Shopify, Amazon, and our wholesale channel" → Cin7 Core, Cin7 Omni, or Zoho Inventory
• "Plan and schedule manufacturing production runs" → Frostbyte Pro or Katana
• "Simple stock tracking for 200 items" → Sortly or inFlow
• "Integrate tightly with our existing Zoho CRM" → Zoho Inventory

Your core requirement eliminates most options immediately.

Step 2: Check the Non-Negotiables

For most NZ businesses, these are non-negotiable:

• Xero integration. If you use Xero (and most NZ businesses do), the software must integrate properly. Not "we have a Zapier connection," but a real, maintained integration that syncs invoices, bills, and payments.
• GST handling. The system needs to handle NZ GST correctly, including inclusive and exclusive pricing.
• NZ support hours. When something breaks at 2pm on a Tuesday in Auckland, you need to reach someone. US-only support means waiting until midnight.

Step 3: Match Your Industry

Different industries have different requirements:

• Food manufacturing → batch tracking, expiry management, MPI traceability, FEFO allocation. Frostbyte Pro is purpose-built for this.
• Wholesale distribution → multi-channel sales, B2B portals, shipping integration. Unleashed or DEAR handle this well.
• General manufacturing → BOM management, production planning, shop floor control. Katana or Frostbyte Pro.
• eCommerce → marketplace integrations, order routing, shipping labels. DEAR or Zoho Inventory.
• Small/simple operations → basic stock tracking, purchase orders, low-stock alerts. inFlow or Sortly.

Step 4: Consider Total Cost

Don't just compare monthly subscription prices. Factor in:

• Currency. USD pricing adds 5-10% depending on the exchange rate, and it fluctuates.
• Per-user costs. How much does it cost to add your warehouse team?
• Implementation. Some platforms require paid onboarding or consultant setup.
• Integrations. Are connectors included or do they cost extra?
• Training. How long will it take your team to become proficient?

Step 5: Run a Real Trial

Every platform on this list offers either a free trial or a demo. Use them. But don't just click around the interface. Run a real scenario:

1. Set up 10-20 of your actual products
2. Create a purchase order and receive stock
3. Create a sales order and dispatch it
4. Run a basic report
5. Test the Xero integration (if applicable)

You'll learn more in two hours of hands-on testing than from any comparison article, including this one.

Step 6: Talk to Other NZ Businesses

Before committing, try to find other NZ businesses in your industry that use the platform you're considering. Ask them:

• How was the implementation process?
• What do they wish they'd known before starting?
• How responsive is support?
• What's the one thing they'd change about the platform?
• Would they choose it again?

Industry associations, business networks, and online forums (even LinkedIn) are good places to find these connections. A 15-minute conversation with someone who's been through the implementation is worth more than hours of reading feature comparison pages.

Step 7: Plan for the Future

Don't just evaluate based on what you need today. Think 2-3 years ahead:

• Will you add more products or categories?
• Are you likely to open additional warehouses or locations?
• Will you start manufacturing or assembling products?
• Are you planning to sell online or through additional channels?
• Will you hire more warehouse or operations staff?

Choose a platform that can accommodate your likely future needs without requiring a migration. Paying slightly more now for a system that grows with you is almost always cheaper than outgrowing a budget option and migrating in 18 months.

Common Implementation Pitfalls

Regardless of which platform you choose, these mistakes trip up NZ businesses regularly:

Starting without clean data. If your product names are inconsistent, your stock levels are inaccurate, and your supplier information is outdated, putting that data into a new system just gives you a more expensive version of the same mess. Clean your data before you import it.

Trying to replicate your old processes exactly. If you're moving from spreadsheets to software, the software will have opinions about how things should work. Fighting the system to replicate your spreadsheet workflow defeats the purpose. Be willing to adapt your processes to take advantage of what the software offers.

Going live without training the team. The operations manager sets up the system, understands it perfectly, and then goes on holiday. The warehouse team has never seen the system and reverts to the old process. Train everyone who will use it before you go live, not after.

Skipping the Xero reconciliation check. In the first week after connecting Xero, verify that transactions are syncing correctly, accounts are mapped properly, and GST is calculated right. Catching a mapping error in week one is easy. Untangling it after three months of transactions is painful.

Not doing a stock take at go-live. Your opening stock quantities must be accurate. If you import 500 units from your spreadsheet but there are actually only 430 on the shelf, your system is wrong from day one. Do a physical count before you go live.

What Makes Frostbyte Pro Different

We built Frostbyte Pro because we saw a gap in the NZ market. There were good inventory platforms for distributors and good manufacturing platforms for large enterprises, but nothing purpose-built for NZ manufacturers, food producers, and assemblers who need both, at a price point that doesn't require an enterprise budget.

Three things set Frostbyte Pro apart:

1. NZ-built, NZ-focused. We understand MPI compliance, Xero integration, GST, and the realities of running a manufacturing operation in New Zealand. Our support team is in NZ, on NZ time.

2. Manufacturing depth. We don't bolt manufacturing onto an inventory system. Production management, BOMs, work orders, and batch tracking are core to the platform, not afterthoughts.

3. LineConnect+. Our production line integration module connects directly to your equipment for real-time OEE monitoring, downtime tracking, and production data capture. No other mid-market inventory platform offers this.

Explore the full feature set or check out pricing to see if Frostbyte Pro is the right fit.

Ready to see how Frostbyte Pro compares in practice? Start a free trial (no credit card required) and test it with your real products and workflows.