Katana MRP Review: Analysis of Its Features and Benefits

If you're a small or medium-sized business owner looking for an affordable and flexible manufacturing ERP solution, then you might want to consider Katana MRP. This cloud-based platform offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that can grow and scale with your business.

Katana MRP is designed to help you streamline your manufacturing processes, from raw materials to finished products. With its multi-tiered pricing, you can choose the number of locations and users that fit your needs and budget. The platform also offers a range of features, including inventory management, order management, and production scheduling, that can help you optimize your operations and improve your bottom line.

Overall, Katana MRP has received positive reviews from users and industry experts alike. Its affordability, flexibility, and ease of use make it a great option for small and medium-sized businesses looking to improve their manufacturing processes. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the features, pros, and cons of Katana MRP to help you decide if it's the right solution for your business.

Katana MRP Overview

If you are looking for a cloud-based manufacturing ERP system that can help you manage your inventory, orders, raw materials, finished products, production recipes, manufacturing, sales, and stock in real-time, you should consider Katana MRP.

Katana MRP is a materials resource planning system designed to help small and medium-sized businesses get control over their materials and products. It offers a range of features that can help you streamline your manufacturing processes, reduce waste, and improve your bottom line.

One of the key benefits of Katana MRP is its user-friendly interface. The system is easy to use, even if you have no prior experience with manufacturing software. It offers a range of customization options, so you can tailor the system to meet your specific needs.

Another advantage of Katana MRP is its real-time inventory tracking. You can see exactly how much raw material and finished product you have on hand at any given time, which can help you avoid stockouts and overstocking.

Katana MRP also offers a range of integrations with other software systems, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and QuickBooks. This can help you streamline your operations and reduce the amount of time you spend on manual data entry.

Overall, if you are looking for a cloud-based manufacturing ERP system that is easy to use, offers real-time inventory tracking, and integrates with other software systems, you should definitely consider Katana MRP.

Key Features

Katana MRP offers a wide range of features to help you streamline your manufacturing operations. Here are some of the key features that make Katana MRP a powerful tool for managing your inventory, production, and sales.

Inventory Management

Katana MRP provides real-time inventory management, allowing you to track your inventory levels and stock movements with ease. You can manage your inventory across multiple locations and warehouses, and set reorder points and safety stock levels to ensure that you never run out of stock. With Katana MRP, you can also perform cycle counts, adjust inventory levels, and track inventory costs.

Production Planning

Katana MRP's visual production planning tool lets you plan your production schedule and manage your resources with ease. You can create production orders, assign tasks to your team members, and track the progress of your production orders in real-time. You can also manage your bills of materials (BOMs) and track your raw material and finished goods inventory levels.

Sales and Order Management

Katana MRP's sales and order management features allow you to manage your sales orders and order fulfillment process with ease. You can create sales orders, track order statuses, and manage your order fulfillment process. You can also create invoices, manage payments, and track your sales performance.

Integration Capabilities

Katana MRP integrates natively with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, allowing you to automate your order fulfillment process. You can also integrate Katana MRP with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, and use Zapier to connect with over 2,000 apps.

User Interface and Accessibility

Katana MRP's user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and use. You can access Katana MRP from anywhere, on any device, with its mobile-friendly interface. Additionally, you can customize your dashboard to display the information that matters most to you.

Overall, Katana MRP provides a powerful set of features to help you manage your manufacturing operations with ease. With its real-time inventory management, visual production planning, sales and order management, integration capabilities, and user-friendly interface, you can streamline your manufacturing operations and focus on growing your business.

Pricing and Plans

Katana MRP offers two pricing plans: Essential and Advanced. Before committing to a plan, you can take advantage of their 14-day free trial.

Free Trial

The free trial allows you to test out all the features of Katana MRP, including inventory management, order management, and production management. During the trial period, you can add unlimited users and connect to your existing e-commerce or accounting software.

Essential Plan

The Essential Plan starts at $99 per user per month (billed annually). This plan includes all the features of the free trial, plus additional benefits such as priority support, barcode scanning, and multi-location inventory management.

Advanced Plan

The Advanced Plan is designed for larger businesses with more complex manufacturing needs. This plan includes all the features of the Essential Plan, plus advanced analytics and reporting, custom integrations, and a dedicated account manager. Pricing for the Advanced Plan is available upon request.

Both plans are cloud-based and require no installation or setup fees. Katana MRP offers a simple and transparent pricing model that is easy to understand and budget for.

In conclusion, whether you are a small business owner or a large manufacturer, Katana MRP has a pricing plan that can meet your needs. With a free trial available, you can test out the software before committing to a plan.

Accounting and Financial Management

When it comes to accounting and financial management, Katana MRP has got you covered. With its integrations with Xero and Quickbooks, you can easily manage your finances and keep your books up to date.

Xero Integration

If you use Xero for your accounting needs, you'll be pleased to know that Katana MRP integrates seamlessly with Xero. This integration allows you to automatically sync your sales orders, purchase orders, invoices, and bills between Katana MRP and Xero. This means that you don't have to manually enter data into both systems, saving you time and reducing the risk of errors.

In addition, the Xero integration allows you to track your inventory and cost of goods sold (COGS) in real-time. This means that you can get a better understanding of your profitability and make informed decisions about your business.

Quickbooks Integration

If you use Quickbooks for your accounting needs, you'll be happy to know that Katana MRP also integrates seamlessly with Quickbooks. This integration allows you to automatically sync your sales orders, purchase orders, invoices, and bills between Katana MRP and Quickbooks. This means that you don't have to manually enter data into both systems, saving you time and reducing the risk of errors.

In addition, the Quickbooks integration allows you to track your inventory and cost of goods sold (COGS) in real-time. This means that you can get a better understanding of your profitability and make informed decisions about your business.

Overall, the Xero and Quickbooks integrations make it easy to manage your finances and keep your books up to date. With real-time inventory and COGS tracking, you can make informed decisions about your business and stay on top of your finances.

Warehouse and Supply Chain Management

Warehouse and supply chain management is a critical aspect of any manufacturing business, and Katana MRP provides a comprehensive solution to help you manage your inventory and supply chain effectively. This section will cover the various aspects of warehouse and supply chain management in Katana MRP.

Location Management

Katana MRP allows you to manage multiple locations, including warehouses, storage areas, and production floors, all from a single platform. You can easily add or remove locations, and assign products to specific locations to streamline your inventory management.

Warehouse Management

Katana MRP's warehouse management module provides you with real-time visibility into your inventory levels, allowing you to track stock movements, manage stock levels, and automate inventory replenishment. You can also set up reorder points, safety stock levels, and lead times to ensure that you always have the right amount of stock on hand.

In addition, Katana MRP's warehouse management module allows you to manage your bills of materials (BOMs) and production orders, allowing you to track the progress of your manufacturing processes and ensure that you have the necessary raw materials on hand to meet production demands.

Supply Chain Management

Katana MRP's supply chain management module allows you to manage your suppliers, purchase orders, and incoming inventory, all from a single platform. You can easily create purchase orders, track deliveries, and manage your supplier relationships, ensuring that you always have the materials you need to keep your production processes running smoothly.

In addition, Katana MRP's supply chain management module provides you with real-time visibility into your supplier lead times, allowing you to make informed decisions about your inventory levels and production schedules.

Overall, Katana MRP's warehouse and supply chain management features provide you with the tools you need to manage your inventory and supply chain effectively, allowing you to focus on growing your business and meeting your customers' needs.

Customer Support and Service

When it comes to customer support, Katana MRP is known for its responsive and knowledgeable team. The company understands that manufacturing businesses often have unique needs and challenges, and it strives to provide personalized support to each customer.

Support Team

The support team at Katana MRP is composed of experienced professionals who are familiar with the software and its features. They are available to answer questions, resolve issues, and provide guidance on how to get the most out of the software. You can contact the support team via email or phone, and they will respond promptly.

Live Chat

For more urgent matters, Katana MRP also offers a live chat feature that allows you to connect with a support representative in real-time. This feature is especially useful if you need immediate assistance or have a quick question that you need answered.

Customer Service

Katana MRP's customer service is top-notch, with a focus on providing a positive experience for every customer. The company offers a 14-day free trial, so you can try out the software and see if it's a good fit for your business. If you decide to sign up, you can expect ongoing support and assistance from the Katana MRP team.

Overall, Katana MRP's customer support and service are reliable and knowledgeable. Whether you need help getting started with the software or have a more complex issue that needs to be resolved, the support team is there to help you every step of the way.

Reporting and Analytics

Katana MRP offers a comprehensive reporting and analytics feature that allows you to track your manufacturing processes and make data-driven decisions. The platform provides a dashboard that gives you an overview of your business operations, including production progress, inventory levels, and sales orders.

The dashboard is customizable, allowing you to choose the metrics that matter most to you. You can also drill down into specific data points to get a more detailed view of your operations. The platform offers real-time data, so you can make informed decisions quickly.

In addition to the dashboard, Katana MRP also provides reporting services that allow you to generate custom reports based on your business needs. You can choose from a variety of report templates or create your own reports from scratch. The reporting service is user-friendly, and you don't need any technical knowledge to use it.

The reporting service allows you to export reports in various formats, including PDF, Excel, and CSV. You can also schedule reports to be generated automatically and sent to your email inbox. This feature is particularly useful if you need to share reports with other members of your team or stakeholders.

Overall, Katana MRP's reporting and analytics feature is robust and user-friendly. The platform provides real-time data and customizable dashboards, allowing you to make data-driven decisions quickly. The reporting service is also flexible, allowing you to generate custom reports based on your business needs.

Pros and Cons

When it comes to Katana MRP, there are several pros and cons to consider before making a decision. Here are some of the key advantages and disadvantages of using this software:

Pros

• User-friendly interface: One of the biggest advantages of Katana MRP is its user-friendly interface. The software is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even for those who are not tech-savvy. This means that you can get up and running quickly without spending a lot of time on training.

• Affordable pricing: Another benefit of Katana MRP is its affordable pricing. Compared to other inventory management systems, Katana MRP is reasonably priced, making it a great option for small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets.

• Good integrations: Katana MRP integrates well with other software, such as Shopify, Quickbooks, and more. This allows you to streamline your operations and reduce the amount of time you spend on manual data entry.

• Efficient inventory tracking: With Katana MRP, you can track your inventory in real-time, which can help you avoid stockouts and overstocking. You can also set up automatic reorder points to ensure that you always have the right amount of inventory on hand.

Cons

• Limited user levels: One of the biggest drawbacks of Katana MRP is its limited user levels. There are only two user levels: superusers and warehouse operators. This means that there is no intermediate level of access, which can be a problem for businesses with more complex organizational structures.

• No sales team access: Another disadvantage of Katana MRP is that there is no sales team access. This means that you cannot give your sales team access to the software, which can make it difficult to manage your sales and inventory in one place.

• Not suitable for all industries: While Katana MRP is a great option for manufacturing and e-commerce businesses, it may not be suitable for all industries. For example, if you run a service-based business, you may not need all of the features offered by this software.

Overall, Katana MRP is a solid inventory management system with several key advantages. However, it may not be the right fit for every business, so it's important to carefully consider the pros and cons before making a decision.

Alternatives to Katana MRP

If you are looking for an alternative to Katana MRP, there are several options available in the market. Here are some of the top alternatives to Katana MRP:

Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory is a cloud-based inventory management software that helps businesses of all sizes to manage their inventory and orders efficiently. It offers features such as order management, inventory tracking, and warehouse management. Zoho Inventory integrates with several popular online marketplaces and shipping carriers, making it easy to manage orders from multiple channels.

Fishbowl Inventory

Fishbowl Inventory is an inventory management software that offers features such as inventory tracking, order management, and warehouse management. It is designed for small and medium-sized businesses and can be integrated with several popular accounting software such as QuickBooks. Fishbowl Inventory also offers barcode scanning and mobile access, making it easy to manage inventory on the go.

MRPeasy

MRPeasy is a cloud-based manufacturing software that helps businesses to manage their production processes efficiently. It offers features such as inventory management, production planning, and scheduling. MRPeasy integrates with several popular accounting software such as QuickBooks, making it easy to manage your manufacturing and accounting processes in one place.

L2L Smart Manufacturing Platform

L2L Smart Manufacturing Platform is a cloud-based manufacturing software that helps businesses to improve their manufacturing processes. It offers features such as real-time monitoring, data analytics, and predictive maintenance. L2L Smart Manufacturing Platform also integrates with several popular ERP and MES systems, making it easy to manage your entire manufacturing process in one place.

ERPAG

ERPAG is a cloud-based ERP software that offers features such as inventory management, order management, and accounting. It is designed for small and medium-sized businesses and can be integrated with several popular online marketplaces and shipping carriers. ERPAG also offers mobile access, making it easy to manage your business on the go.

These are just a few of the many alternatives to Katana MRP available in the market. When choosing an alternative, it is important to consider your business needs, budget, and the features that are most important to you.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Katana MRP is a cloud-based manufacturing ERP software that offers a range of features to help small and medium-sized businesses manage their inventory, production, and supply chain. With its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing, it is an excellent choice for companies looking for an all-in-one solution to streamline their operations.

One of the standout features of Katana MRP is its real-time inventory management, which allows you to track your stock levels and receive alerts when you need to reorder. This can help you avoid stockouts and ensure that you always have the materials you need to fulfill your orders.

Another benefit of using Katana MRP is its production planning and scheduling tools, which enable you to create and manage production orders, track progress, and allocate resources. This can help you optimize your production processes and increase efficiency, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved customer satisfaction.

Overall, Katana MRP is a robust and reliable manufacturing ERP software that can help you take your business to the next level. Whether you are a small startup or a growing company, it is definitely worth considering as a solution to your manufacturing needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Katana MRP suitable for small businesses?

Yes, Katana MRP is a great option for small businesses looking for inventory management software. It offers essential features such as inventory tracking, order management, and production scheduling, which are all necessary for small businesses. Additionally, it has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for small business owners to learn and use.

What are the key features of Katana MRP?

Katana MRP has several key features, including inventory tracking, order management, production scheduling, and batch tracking. It also offers real-time inventory updates, which can help businesses avoid stockouts and overstocking. Additionally, it has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for businesses to learn and use.

How does Katana MRP compare to other inventory management software?

Compared to other inventory management software, Katana MRP offers a unique set of features that are specifically designed for manufacturing businesses. It offers production scheduling and batch tracking, which are not available in many other inventory management software. Additionally, it has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for businesses to learn and use.

What integrations does Katana MRP offer?

Katana MRP offers integrations with several popular e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon. It also offers integrations with accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero. Additionally, it has an open API that allows businesses to connect it with other software tools if needed.

Can Katana MRP be used for manufacturing businesses?

Yes, Katana MRP is specifically designed for manufacturing businesses. It offers features such as production scheduling, batch tracking, and raw material tracking, which are all essential for manufacturing businesses. Additionally, it has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for manufacturing businesses to learn and use.

What is the pricing model for Katana MRP?

Katana MRP offers a subscription-based pricing model. It has three pricing plans: Essential, Business, and Premium. The Essential plan starts at $99 per month and includes one user, while the Business plan starts at $249 per month and includes three users. The Premium plan starts at $599 per month and includes ten users.