For manufacturers and distributors, inventory tracking isn’t just about knowing what’s in stock. It’s about maintaining real-time visibility, reducing waste, and making sure your operations pipeline is running smoothly. Whether you’re managing raw materials, tracking work-in-progress, or monitoring finished goods, an accurate and efficient inventory tracking system is a must if you want your business to grow.
Many businesses start with Excel or QuickBooks, but as operations scale, manual tracking becomes a bottleneck. Some manufacturers upgrade to barcode or RFID inventory tracking systems, while others implement warehouse and manufacturing inventory tracking software that integrates with an ERP system like Infor SyteLine.
If stock discrepancies, production delays, or inefficient warehouse management are slowing your business down, it might be time for a change.
Why Inventory Tracking is So Important for Manufacturers
Inventory issues can quickly spiral into bigger problems. Stockouts lead to production delays, excess inventory ties up capital, and manual errors create costly miscalculations. Without real-time tracking, businesses operate in the dark, making panicked last-minute adjustments instead of proactively managing stock levels.
A well-implemented inventory tracking system makes it so you always know what’s on hand, what’s running low, and what needs to be reordered. This means fewer surprises, reduced carrying costs, and, most of all, improved customer satisfaction.
Excel and QuickBooks for Inventory Tracking: A Temporary Solution
Many small businesses begin with Excel because it’s simple and familiar. It allows teams to list part numbers, track quantities, and manually update stock levels. But as order volumes increase, spreadsheets become a liability. Tracking inventory across multiple locations or syncing stock data with sales channels becomes nearly impossible without automation.
Some businesses move to QuickBooks, which offers basic inventory tracking features like automated stock updates, reorder alerts, and simple reporting. While it’s a step up from Excel, it lacks barcode scanning, multi-location tracking, and demand forecasting, making it less effective for manufacturers and distributors with complex inventory needs.
When to Upgrade to Inventory Tracking Software
Once inventory management becomes too complex for spreadsheets or QuickBooks, businesses look to dedicated inventory tracking software for better efficiency. In fact, 51% of new inventory tracking software customers reported upgrading due to inefficiency.
Cloud-based platforms provide real-time inventory updates, automated restocking alerts, and seamless integration with purchasing, sales, and shipping systems.
Unlike manual methods, these systems sync stock levels across multiple locations and automatically adjust for new orders, preventing costly discrepancies. Businesses that rely on just-in-time inventory especially benefit from automated replenishment and demand forecasting.
Barcode and RFID Inventory Tracking: Taking Automation to the Next Level
For manufacturers and warehouses handling high-volume stock, barcode and RFID inventory tracking systems provide more speed and accuracy.
Barcode inventory tracking systems allow businesses to assign a unique barcode to each product, which can be scanned to update stock levels instantly. This reduces human errors, speeds up warehouse operations, and improves order accuracy. Barcodes are widely used in warehouse inventory tracking and manufacturing environments to make sure materials are accounted for at every stage.
For even greater automation, RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) tracking systems eliminate the need for manual scanning. Unlike barcodes, which require line-of-sight scanning, RFID uses radio signals to track multiple items simultaneously, making it ideal for high-speed production environments, large warehouses, and businesses managing high-value inventory.
While RFID requires a larger upfront investment, it eliminates manual scanning and provides real-time inventory visibility across multiple locations.
The Role of ERP in Inventory Tracking
If you’re managing complex supply chains and demand-driven production, integrating inventory tracking into an ERP system is the best solution.
ERP systems designed for manufacturers, like Infor SyteLine ERP, provide full visibility into raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. Inventory levels are automatically updated as production, purchasing, and sales activities happen. This prevents stockouts, eliminates manual errors, and makes sure materials flow seamlessly through the supply chain.
An ERP-integrated inventory tracking system also gives your team access to advanced demand forecasting, barcode and RFID integration, and real-time reporting so you can quickly and easily optimize stock levels and reduce carrying costs.
Choosing the Right Inventory Tracking System for Your Business
The right system depends on your business size and operational complexity. Small businesses may get by with Excel or QuickBooks, but as inventory needs grow, cloud-based inventory tracking software provides better automation and accuracy.
Integrating inventory tracking with an ERP system like Infor SyteLine comes with real-time accuracy, automation, and complete visibility across production, warehousing, and fulfillment. If your inventory system can’t keep up with demand, creates inaccuracies, or slows down operations, it’s time to explore a smarter, automated ERP solution.
Take Control of Your Inventory with Godlan
Struggling with inventory tracking? Whether you need better stock visibility, automated tracking, or full ERP implementation and integration, Godlan has over 40 years of experience helping manufacturers optimize their operations with Infor SyteLine ERP.
If you’re ready to get rid of headaches and get ahead of your competitors, contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you improve inventory accuracy, efficiency, and profitability.
