I Need Some Simple Inventory Software/Database Suggestions

[Marc Bowker]

I've had an online store for about 16 months and am doing fairly well. But I am spending a lot of time with duplicate data entry and actually using binders with hand written pages for inventory. Basically, I have a page for each item that I sell where I can write in how many items ordered and when an initial order or reorder is placed. Then I have a column for the customer order number that the item was ordered on and the date of the customer's order. I know that there has got to be a better way to track my products and who has ordered them.

I have Quick Books Pro, but I'm finding their inventory system to be a bit difficult to use. Does anyone have any suggestions for a program/database that will allow me to enter items and also track which orders/customers have ordered those items?

[Corey Bryant]

Are you able to export your items to some type of a CSV format? If memory serves me right, you use osCommerce. I am sure they have some exporting available.

Have you thought of a MS Access or maybe Excel spreadsheet? Or even find another contribution in osCommerce so you can manage it online?

[Marc Bowker]

Yes, I can export my products and orders as .CSV files. The most basic thing that I am looking for is an MS Access database template for inventory/order tracking.

Is anyone familiar with Stone Edge Technologies "Order Manager?" Looks like it might suit my needs, but it costs a bit more than I wanted to spend.

[Corey Bryant]

You should be able to import it into a DB perhaps with a little SQL get it to exactly what you need. You might give Ken a chat over www.rockctech.com and see if he has a MS Access database built

[walker]

Spending the time to get rid of duplicate database entries is worth it because of the on-going time it will save you and because it helps avoid errors and out of sync data.

We developed some Perl scripts to automatically port order information into our Peachtree accounting software.

We went with Peachtree software instead of QuickBooks primarily because of it's better at handling inventory (assemblies, etc.). Still, it is a pain to use.

[BazaarBuilder]

A decent ecommerce software package with a stock control facility should solve most of your problems. Everything could be managed from a web based control panel and allow you to keep track of all incoming orders as well as provide facility for sending out invoices and despatch notes. The stock position would be taken care of automatically as the orders are received.