The best supply chain management software depends on your size and stock: an inventory planner suits ecommerce brands, a planning tool for distributors suits wholesalers with many SKUs, and an enterprise platform suits global manufacturers. Ten options follow in no particular order.
Supply chain management software helps you decide what to buy, make and move, and when. It turns sales history, supplier lead times and stock levels into plans, so you're not stuck with a warehouse full of slow sellers and nothing left of the line everyone wants.
The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from planners built for Shopify brands to platforms used by global manufacturers. Every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. For a lighter starting point, my tips for managing a small business supply chain cover the habits that come before software.
Supply chain software at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free tool or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Yonder | End-to-end supply chain suite | Retail and grocery supply chains | Not stated |
| GAINSystems | AI supply chain planning | Automated replenishment for distributors | Not stated |
| Kinaxis | Agile supply chain planning platform | Planning through constant disruption | Not stated |
| Logility | AI-based supply chain planning | Decision-led planning for mid-sized firms | Not stated |
| Netstock | Inventory planning for SMBs | Wholesale distribution and building supplies | Not stated |
| o9 Solutions | AI-powered enterprise planning platform | Joining planning and execution | Not stated |
| Prediko | AI inventory planner for ecommerce | Shopify brands planning stock | Trial only |
| Sage Supply Chain Intelligence | Supply chain execution software, formerly Anvyl | Cutting purchase order back-and-forth | Not stated |
| SAP IBP | Integrated business planning from SAP | Companies already running SAP | Not stated |
| Slimstock | Supply chain planning platform | Plain planning for stock-heavy firms | Not stated |
Ten supply chain management tools to consider
Blue Yonder
Best for: Large retailers and manufacturers that want end-to-end supply chain planning and execution with AI from one vendor.
GAINSystems
Best for: Distributors with huge numbers of SKUs that want AI-powered planning and automated replenishment across the whole range.
Kinaxis
Best for: Global manufacturers that want concurrent supply chain planning to react quickly when demand or supply shifts.
Logility
Best for: Mid-sized manufacturers and distributors that want AI-powered supply chain planning built around faster, clearer business decisions.
Netstock
Best for: Small and mid-sized distributors and manufacturers that want inventory planning that works with the ERP they already have.
o9 Solutions
Best for: Large enterprises that want demand, supply and commercial planning connected to execution in one AI platform.
Prediko
Best for: Shopify and ecommerce brands that want AI inventory planning, transfers and purchase orders, with a free trial.
Sage Supply Chain Intelligence
Best for: Brands that want purchase order confirmations and supplier updates automated, from the product that used to be Anvyl.
SAP IBP
Best for: Enterprises on SAP that want integrated business planning for a risk-resilient supply chain in the same ecosystem.
Slimstock
Best for: Wholesalers and retailers that want end-to-end supply chain planning made easy for everyone through the Slim4 platform.
Planning, execution or both?
Planning tools forecast demand and work out how much stock you need and when to reorder it. Execution tools handle the day-to-day: purchase orders, supplier confirmations and shipment updates. Enterprise platforms try to join the two, so a change in the plan flows straight into what suppliers are asked to do.
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For a small or mid-sized business, the biggest wins usually come from better forecasting and automated reorder suggestions. Full end-to-end platforms make more sense once you're juggling many sites, suppliers and product lines.
Know who made what you sell
Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires certain organisations to develop a modern slavery statement each year, setting out the steps they've taken to make sure modern slavery isn't taking place in their business or supply chains, according to the Home Office's practical guide on GOV.UK.
Planning software tells you how much stock to order. It won't tell you how a supplier treats their workers. Keep supplier checks, audits and certificates alongside your planning data, so the same people who choose suppliers can see the full picture.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Does it connect to our ERP, ecommerce platform or accounting system?
- How does it forecast seasonal products and new lines?
- Can it suggest purchase orders automatically?
- Does it handle several warehouses or locations?
- How do suppliers confirm orders and update dates?
- Can planners override the forecast when they know something the data doesn't?
Signs your planning needs help
- Best sellers keep running out. Reorder points are wrong or missing.
- Slow stock piles up. Forecasts aren't adjusting to demand.
- Supplier dates live in email. Nobody has one view of what's coming.
- Planning happens in one person's spreadsheet. That's a single point of failure.
Do you make supply chain management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on supply chain software
Clean up your item data and supplier lead times before you switch anything on. Planning software is only as good as the numbers it's fed, and wrong lead times are the most common reason forecasts look silly in the first month.
Start with the products that tie up the most stock or run out most often, and let the tool prove itself there. Once planners trust its suggestions, widen it to the rest of the range. My piece on whether ChatGPT can help logistics teams looks at where AI helps and where it doesn't.
Frequently asked questions
What is supply chain management software?
It's software that helps businesses plan demand, inventory, purchasing and supplier activity so the right stock is in the right place at the right time.
Do small businesses need supply chain software?
Ecommerce brands and distributors with lots of products often benefit from an inventory planner long before they need a full enterprise platform.
What's the difference between planning and execution?
Planning decides what you should buy or make. Execution handles the orders, confirmations and shipments that carry the plan out.
Is there free supply chain software?
None of the tools in this list named a free plan on the pages I read, though one offers a free trial. Check the free plan column.
Can AI improve forecasting?
Several tools in this list describe AI-powered planning. It helps most when your sales history and lead times are accurate.
What is a modern slavery statement?
It's an annual statement certain UK organisations must publish describing the steps they take to prevent modern slavery in their business and supply chains.
