OMS software comparison: Learn which is right for you
Order management systems can streamline order tracking, among other advantages, but buying teams should ensure an OMS meets all their company’s requirements. Learn more.
The right order management system, or OMS, can increase efficiency, improve inventory management and raise customer satisfaction. The software buying team should make sure to carefully evaluate potential OMSes before making a choice.
A good OMS can be especially valuable for companies that sell through more than one channel or fulfill orders from multiple locations. Selecting an OMS should include consideration of an organization's size, budget and integration requirements. Software buying teams should also look for a system that can scale effectively over time and for prebuilt integration with preferred ERP, CRM and e-commerce software.
Here's a comparison of some of the top OMSes. Vendors are listed alphabetically and were chosen based on information from sources like Gartner's Capterra and G2, as well as analysis of user reviews and industry trends.
Blue Yonder Order Management
Blue Yonder Order Management is part of the Blue Yonder Platform, which uses AI and machine learning for real-time inventory visibility, order fulfillment and commerce insights. Blue Yonder is designed for complex B2B and B2C operations and includes tools for customer order tracking, order routing and predictive analytics.
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The Blue Yonder Platform includes a collection of microservices that enable integration with e-commerce platforms and ERP systems. These services enable flexibility, but setup and management often require deep technical expertise and can be time-consuming.
The product's AI-driven insights enable companies to anticipate and resolve order issues, making Blue Yonder Order Management a potentially good choice for enterprises with high-volume operations. Although Blue Yonder Order Management can operate as a standalone product, it works best when paired with other elements of the Blue Yonder Platform.
Blue Yonder's premium pricing can be a barrier for smaller companies with modest budgets, so it's generally best suited for larger organizations with significant resources.
Brightpearl by Sage
Brightpearl is designed for multichannel e-commerce retailers and offers centralized order management, inventory tracking and analytics. It provides automated order processing, shipping and accounting capabilities and can help streamline operations for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Brightpearl integrates with platforms such as Shopify, Amazon and Magento, as well as SME accounting and ERP systems such as Sage Intacct, QuickBooks and Xero.
One advantage of using Brightpearl is its intuitive interface and customizable dashboards that provide real-time insights into sales and inventory performance. However, Brightpearl is best suited for organizations with annual revenues of $1 million or more.
Cin7 Core
Cin7 Core is a real-time inventory management platform that is well suited for smaller companies looking to step up to a more powerful OMS. It offers real-time inventory tracking, multi-warehouse management capabilities and integration with over 100 sales channels, including Shopify and Amazon.
Cin7 Core offers a wide range of tools for picking, packing and shipping, which can help improve operational efficiency, as well as manufacturing and kitting functions, which make it a versatile platform for growing companies. However, the large number of features means the product has a relatively steep learning curve, so platform adoption will require ample resources for training and configuration.
In addition, some advanced features are only available for customers in higher pricing tiers.
Manhattan Order Management
Manhattan Order Management is a cloud-based OMS that's designed for global retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. It offers inventory visibility, inventory management and real-time inventory tracking across all channels, including in-transit and third-party stock. It integrates with e-commerce platforms and warehouse management systems, and the product's scalability and technical agility enable companies to adapt quickly to changing demands.
Manhattan is especially well suited for global organizations, as it offers optimized fulfillment sourcing and support for cross-border goods transit.
However, Manhattan's complexity could overwhelm smaller companies, and the implementation process could require significant time and expertise. Manhattan's feature set is aimed at larger enterprises and is priced accordingly, so smaller organizations will likely look elsewhere, in any case.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management is a standalone cloud-based application within the Dynamics 365 portfolio.
It can help streamline order tracking and fulfillment for companies of all sizes and consolidates online, in-store and customer service channels into a single system. It integrates with other products in the Microsoft catalog, including Power BI for analytics and Azure for scalability, which could make it a good fit for companies that are already committed to the Microsoft platform.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management also offers inventory forecasting to help prevent stockouts and overstocking. However, users might find the initial configuration complex, particularly if their company has a unique workflow. In addition, using the product to its full potential often requires adding extra Microsoft services, which can increase costs.
SAP Commerce Cloud
SAP Commerce Cloud offers order management and sourcing capabilities, as well as personalized customer experiences.
Its microservices-based architecture enables extensive customization. The AI-driven product recommendations and self-service returns capabilities help bring about a good customer experience, while SAP Commerce Cloud's integration with the company's ERP and CRM systems make it a good fit if companies are already using SAP for other needs.
Like most of SAP's products, Commerce Cloud is best suited for larger B2B and B2C organizations with complex, high-volume requirements. Implementation and ongoing management can be resource-intensive, so smaller organizations might be better off choosing a simpler OMS.
James Kofalt spent 16 years at SAP working with SME business applications and was a product manager for integration technology at Microsoft's Business Solutions division. He is currently the president of DX4 Research, a technology advisory practice specializing in ERP and digital transformation.
