Running a small eCommerce business can feel like walking a tightrope—especially when it comes to managing orders and keeping track of inventory. The right tools can mean the difference between chaos and seamless operations. While many sellers are aware of industry giants like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, there are several lesser-known apps that provide exceptional utility specifically tailored for small-scale operations.
TLDR (Too long, didn’t read)
If you’re a small eCommerce entrepreneur looking to streamline order management and inventory tracking, don’t just rely on mainstream platforms. There are several underrated apps with rich features, affordability, and ease-of-use built specifically for small businesses. This article highlights five such tools, explaining how each can improve your workflow and profitability. From mobile-first interfaces to smart dashboards and cost-effective automation, these hidden gems might just be the upgrade your business needs.
1. Ordoro – The All-in-One Shipping & Inventory Tool
Ordoro might not have the same brand recognition as other platforms, but it packs incredible value into a single dashboard. Made for small to medium-sized businesses, it combines order management, shipping, dropshipping, and inventory syncing under one roof.
- Shipping Management: Automate shipping label creation and track shipments easily across multiple carriers.
- Inventory Control: Keep tabs on stock across multiple sales channels like Amazon, eBay, and your storefront.
- Dropshipping Features: Assign certain products to dropshipping vendors and route orders accordingly.
What truly sets Ordoro apart is its intuitive user interface and powerful automation tools. With support for barcode scanning and kitting (bundling multiple SKUs), it simplifies complex tasks quickly.
2. inFlow Inventory – Designed for Simplicity
Geared toward small business owners who may not consider themselves tech-savvy, inFlow Inventory provides a clean and accessible interface with solid functionality. It works both as a desktop-based and mobile-friendly app, which adds flexibility for on-the-go updates.
- Inventory Tracking: View product levels, locations, and reorder points in real-time.
- Order & Invoice Management: Create purchase orders, invoices, and receipt records effortlessly.
- Custom Reporting: Generate detailed reports that provide insight into popular products and turnover rates.
The free plan limits advanced options, but for small operators, it’s often more than enough. With offline capabilities, inFlow excels in environments with limited internet connectivity—such as pop-up shops or remote warehouses.
3. Zoho Inventory – Seamlessly Scalable
Most people know Zoho for their suite of office apps, but Zoho Inventory is an under-the-radar gem when it comes to managing sales, orders, and stock control. It integrates with platforms such as Amazon, Shopify, and Etsy, making it perfect for multichannel sellers.
- Warehouse Management: Track stock levels across different warehouse locations for better fulfillment planning.
- Serial Number Tracking: Ideal for businesses working with serialized products or batch numbers.
- Automation: Set up workflows for reordering, shipping updates, and customer notifications.
With a generous free tier and integration with the rest of the Zoho ecosystem (like CRM and finance), it’s an ideal gateway to expanding your operations without switching tools completely.
4. QuickBooks Commerce (formerly TradeGecko) – Inventory Meets Finance
QuickBooks Commerce marries inventory management with financial oversight, making it a solid pick for business owners already using QuickBooks for accounting. The app simplifies backend logistics while syncing real-time data with your bookkeeping.
- Real-Time Inventory Sync: Keep product counts accurate across all platforms, avoiding over or under-selling.
- B2B Storefront Options: Create private wholesale portals for large clients alongside retail inventory.
- Integration: Connects to Xero, Shopify, Amazon, and multiple payment gateways.
This solution is more expensive than others on the list, but its robust feature set and tight QuickBooks integration can save time and reduce error-related costs. For businesses wanting hands-off account syncing, it’s a game-changer.
5. Sortly – Visual Inventory for Visual Thinkers
Sortly takes a unique approach to inventory control by emphasizing visual design. Instead of just numbers and rows of SKU data, Sortly allows you to use images, tags, and custom fields—making it ideal for creatives, artists, and hands-on retailers.
- Visual Categorization: Organize products with photos, tags, and QR/barcodes.
- Mobile Scanning: Use your smartphone to update inventory levels or assign items to new categories.
- User-Friendly Interface: Easily train team members with no prior inventory management experience.
Sortly’s free and low-cost plans support small businesses with inventory under 1000 items. It also works offline, making it useful at event venues and temporary locations like markets.
Why These Apps Matter for Small Ecommerce Businesses
Choosing an app tailored to your scale can significantly impact your operational efficiency and bottom line. While large enterprise solutions offer thousands of features, they often come with large price tags and steep learning curves. These lesser-known apps discussed here are designed to meet the specific needs of small eCommerce sellers by focusing on:
- Affordability – Pricing models suitable for modest budgets and predictable growth.
- User Simplicity – Interfaces built for busy owners, not programmers or data scientists.
- Function over Frills – Robust core features without unnecessary bloat.
By adopting one of these apps, you can better prepare for growth, prevent clerical errors, and spend more time enhancing product quality and customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Are these apps free?
Most of the apps mentioned offer free trials or limited free plans. However, to unlock advanced features such as automation and multi-channel selling, a paid version is usually required.
2. Do these apps integrate with Shopify or WooCommerce?
Yes, many of them like Zoho Inventory, QuickBooks Commerce, and Ordoro offer built-in integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and Amazon.
3. Which one is best for a business with under 100 items?
Sortly is particularly well-suited for small inventories and offers an intuitive, image-based tracking system perfect for product catalogs under 1000 items.
4. Can I use these tools offline?
Yes, both inFlow and Sortly offer offline functionality, which can be extremely useful for businesses operating in non-traditional retail environments such as markets or events.
5. Which app is best for dropshipping?
Ordoro excels in dropshipping functionalities by allowing you to route certain products to external vendors automatically.
6. What about mobile support?
All of the apps listed offer mobile apps or mobile-friendly interfaces, but Sortly and inFlow stand out for their clean mobile UX and feature-rich utility on smartphones and tablets.
In conclusion, small-scale eCommerce operations don’t need mammoth platforms to operate effectively. These five lesser-known apps offer manageable, worthwhile, and often game-changing alternatives that can scale with your business’s growth path.