Katana Cloud Inventory vs. Descartes Zangerine

The Katana Cloud Inventory platform offers an integrated view of your business, featuring real-time inventory and manufacturing oversight, batch tracking for comprehensive traceability, a dedicated Shop Floor App for complete control at the manufacturing level, an open API for seamless integrations, and an expanding network of channel partners. With real-time inventory insights, you can access current data to make well-informed decisions, effectively avoiding issues like stockouts and overstocking. This ensures you maintain full visibility of product locations, arrivals, and quantities, which is crucial for operational efficiency and accurate stock management. The platform also includes built-in purchase order management, allowing businesses to make data-driven purchasing choices based on specific material needs and reorder thresholds. Users can generate purchase orders directly through Katana and monitor potential delays to fulfill customer demands promptly. In terms of manufacturing operations management, you can establish your bill of materials and processes to enhance production scheduling, balance raw material and finished goods levels, and keep a close eye on manufacturing costs for a more efficient production workflow. Moreover, the omnichannel sales management feature consolidates all your B2B and B2C sales orders, enabling quick identification of available items for sale, thereby significantly streamlining your order fulfillment process and enhancing overall operational effectiveness. This comprehensive approach not only drives efficiency but also supports sustainable growth in your business.

Zangerine, part of the Descartes Systems Group, is a comprehensive ecommerce and warehouse management solution built to replace spreadsheets, disjointed integrations, and manual inventory processes with a single unified platform. Specifically designed for small and mid-sized distributors, Zangerine consolidates your inventory, fulfillment, purchasing, and financial workflows into one easy-to-use system. The platform automates everything from barcode-based pick/pack/ship operations to real-time stock tracking, ensuring accuracy and speed across your supply chain. Users can connect multiple online stores—such as Shopify, Amazon, and other marketplaces—to manage product listings, inventory, and orders in real time. QuickBooks integration ensures accounting and inventory data stay perfectly aligned, reducing reconciliation errors and saving hours of manual work. The system also supports kitting and bill of materials (BOM), helping teams manage product bundles and manufacturing components efficiently. With automation at key points, businesses can reduce fulfillment time, eliminate overselling, and boost productivity without increasing headcount. Zangerine’s scalability means it grows alongside your business—adapting to new workflows, warehouses, and integrations as you expand. Its intuitive, web-based interface provides full operational visibility, so you can make smarter, faster decisions from anywhere. By removing the friction of multiple disconnected systems, Zangerine empowers businesses to scale confidently, efficiently, and profitably.