The joke goes around among supply chain managers: finding the right inventory management software can be as tricky as finding true love. Why is it so hard (to find the right inventory management solution, we mean)? Let’s look into this issue more deeply.
Many businesses rely heavily on their inventory. Despite this, they often need help with their inventory management software. Some issues include:
- Not being able to set up the software to check data in a way that suits the business.
- The software doesn’t help figure out the best amount of stock to keep or automatically order more when needed.
- It’s hard to get useful reports or spot trends without having to work on the data by hand.
What’s the problem with traditional inventory management software?
The main issue is that traditional software isn’t flexible enough to meet the unique needs of different companies. This makes managing inventory harder than it needs to be. That’s why we created this guide. In this guide, we’re going to cover:
- Why traditional inventory management software often disappoints
- How low-code/no-code platforms address these shortcomings
- The foundation of a powerful low-code inventory management software system
- How Amoga’s solution can revolutionise inventory management
Let’s go.
Why old-school software struggles with inventory management
Old-school inventory management software often falls short, and here’s why.
First, inventory management is complex and demands precision. Every company has its own unique way of managing inventory, making a one-size-fits-all solution ineffective. Second, traditional software is usually built with complex coding and based on average industry practices, making customization difficult.
The gap in capability with traditional software comes from its design. It’s not built for quick, easy adjustments by the people who actually manage the inventory. Instead, it relies heavily on IT professionals for development, which can be slow and inflexible. The solution: low-code/no-code inventory management.
Low-code and no-code platforms offer a powerful alternative. They put customization and speed into the hands of those who understand inventory best.
How low-code/no-code inventory management software addresses the shortcomings of traditional software
To truly work, inventory management software needs to do four things:
- It should empower those closest to inventory management to quickly develop solutions.
- It should speed up development to discourage reliance on inefficient workarounds.
- It should allow supply chain managers to approve costs confidently, knowing that developing custom applications for different departments is cost-effective.
- And it should manage data so well that anyone in the supply chain can make decisions with complete trust in the accuracy of the information.
Can traditional software meet these needs? In theory, yes, but in practice, it’s often too expensive, too complex, and too slow, requiring specific skills and extensive IT support. But low-code inventory management software is designed from the ground up, keeping these requirements in mind.
We can confidently claim this for Amoga’s low-code inventory management software, and that’s why it’s proven to be a game-changer. We’ll explore exactly why in the next section.
How Amoga makes inventory management better, fast, smart, and inexpensive
Amoga’s approach introduces four major advantages to make inventory management software truly work for your company:
- More Power for Citizen Developers: Those closest to inventory operations can build their own solutions, reducing reliance on overburdened IT teams.
- 10x Speed for IT: Tasks that used to wait on IT’s schedule can now happen 10x faster, breaking through previous delays caused by IT constraints.
- 1/4th the Cost: What was once too expensive becomes much more affordable, costing only a quarter of traditional development prices.
- Productivity Transformation: Amoga’s platform transforms how work gets done. This isn’t incremental; this is transformative, leading to significant improvements in productivity across the board.
Let’s understand each of these in detail.
1. More Power for Citizen Developers
Imagine these scenarios:
- Reorder point woes: A warehouse manager needs to constantly adjust reorder points for seasonal items, but IT is swamped.
- Data visibility gaps: The sales team wants real-time stock visibility for specific product lines, but the current system can’t provide it.
- Manual reporting overload: A supply chain analyst spends hours each week compiling reports in spreadsheets instead of finding cost-saving opportunities.
With Amoga’s low-code inventory management software, these challenges become opportunities for those closest to the process. Amoga’s visual, drag-and-drop interface puts the power of customization into their hands. Here’s how it works:
- Templates and Connectors: Get a headstart with pre-built components tailored to inventory management.
- Workflow Automation: Streamline processes, approvals, and notifications without writing code.
- Powerful Features for Inventory Teams:
- Customization: Refine forms and data views to match your exact workflow.
- User Interface Design: Create easy-to-use dashboards for your team.
- Data Import/Export Capability: Move data in and out using tools everyone already understands.
With Amoga, inventory teams take control, IT gets breathing room, and the entire business benefits from tailored solutions. Some of the use cases we’ve helped citizen developers at our client companies:
- Ensure accurate inventory counts with a mobile app with a barcode scanner, such that it eliminates manual data entry mistakes.
- Easily manage inventory across multiple warehouses, stores, or even specific shelves and racks.
- Track product quality issues, returns, and scrap for better inventory control and insights.
- Streamline the procurement process with vendor communication features and performance tracking.
- Monitor inventory costs and identify areas for savings through improved data visibility.
Of course, not all requirements are within the realm of citizen development. Sometimes, IT has to step in. But Amoga’s low-code inventory management platform means that even when a requirement is complex, IT can still deliver at 10X speed. Here’s how
2. 10x speed and 1/4th cost of development
Let’s consider a common request: connecting the inventory system to tools like email or chat for real-time updates on stock levels, critical orders, or delayed shipments. Traditionally, this is a complex project. Here’s why:
- Data Integration: Making different systems “talk” involves understanding APIs, secure communication protocols, and data mapping.
- Workflow Logic: Notifications need the right triggers, correct data, and go to the right people – otherwise, they’re just noise.
- Reliability and Scaling: The solution must work flawlessly under peak load and adapt as the business grows.
Amoga’s low-code approach changes this equation. IT teams can:
- Visually Build Integrations: Use pre-built connectors and intuitive tools to link systems in a fraction of the time.
- Design Workflows with Ease: Define complex logic without writing code, ensuring the right people are informed at the right moment.
- Focus on the Big Picture: Leverage Amoga’s robust foundation for security and scalability, freeing up time for strategic initiatives.
The Result: Complex inventory management requests that once took months can now be delivered in days or weeks. This is a win for IT and a major productivity boost for the business. Not only is new application development fast, but much more affordable too. Here’s how:
Imagine:
- Effortless Data Entry: “Image Recognition” automatically pulls product details from photos, eliminating tedious manual work.
- Smarter Inventory Management: “Inventory Forecasting” uses AI to predict demand and optimise stock levels, saving money on storage and preventing lost sales.
With Amoga’s low-code inventory management software, these aren’t just pipe dreams. What if you knew these cutting-edge features could be yours for just 25% of what you expected to pay? That’s the reality with Amoga. This platform makes it possible to request and implement features that were previously out of reach due to budget constraints.
Not only that, Amoga’s low-code inventory management platform is built for advanced reporting. Generate insightful reports for data-driven decision-making, including sales trends, inventory turnover, and more. This empowers you to optimise every aspect of your inventory operations.
The result? A significant boost to your bottom line and a powerful tool for transforming productivity.
Of course, productivity isn’t what you get with such advanced features, it has to be a core attribute of the inventory management software design. That’s exactly how we do it at Amoga.
3. Transform every aspect of work in inventory management
Imagine a manufacturing plant with an immediate need for the following digital solutions:
- Location-wise reporting, to understand where materials are at any given time and identify bottlenecks.
- Vendor performance tracking, to analyse on-time delivery rates and quality metrics to improve supplier relationships.
- Item-wise performance and momentum, to track sales trends and stock levels to optimize inventory and prevent shortages.
- Cost analytics, to analyse inventory-related costs and identify areas for savings.
- Forecasting, to predict future demand to optimize production and inventory levels.
Traditionally, this would involve a lengthy and expensive project to integrate various data sources and build custom analytics. With Amoga, insights are at your fingertips. Our low-code platform lets you quickly visualize data and track the metrics that matter most to streamline operations and reduce lead times.
Amoga’s inventory management solution lets you:
- Build custom scorecards that show every employee and manager exactly how their daily tasks contribute to the overall objective of faster lead times
- Set alerts and notifications so everyone stays informed about critical events like low stock levels or potential delays.
- Share insights across teams so they can collaborate effectively and drive data-driven decision-making.
This is a significant transformation.
Executives have a clear line of sight to the work that truly matters (improving lead measures), and managers can track progress in real time, fostering accountability across the team. Amoga’s flexibility allows you to adapt and adjust as needed, ensuring everyone is aligned and focused on achieving the common goal.
Move from chaos to clarity with low-code
Traditional inventory management software often feels limiting. Complex customizations are slow and expensive, and reporting leaves much to be desired. The result is frustrated teams, missed opportunities, and an unseen drain on the bottom line.
Amoga’s low-code approach shifts this paradigm. It empowers teams, reduces IT bottlenecks, unlocks previously unattainable features at a fraction of the cost, and transforms every aspect of inventory operations. It’s about more than just software – it’s about enabling your business to thrive in a competitive landscape. See the Difference: Book a Demo
Ready to see Amoga’s low-code inventory management platform in action? Book a demo to learn how we can tailor solutions to your exact needs, streamline your workflows, and help you achieve your inventory management goals.
