Does Xero have Stock Control / Inventory?

No, it doesn’t – so what can you do if you are using it in Sage and want to move to Xero?

Moving from Sage to Xero is a well-trodden path, but if you use Sage for your stock control, this can be a big stumbling block.

It looks like Xero has made the decision to focus on being an excellent accounts system and not get involved with other complex operational processes a business might have, such as Stock Control/Inventory. That leaves you with two paths - either you need to stick with Sage or find a Stock Control/Inventory solution that works with Xero.

There are two types of software available:

·         Stand-alone stock control systems

·         Full business management systems

What you need to consider for Xero stock control and inventory

How specialized does your stock control system need to be?

While most business systems will have a comprehensive stock control module, a stock control-only system will usually have more advanced functionality. An example is the ability to connect directly to specific couriers. 

How much non-accounts functionality do you use in Sage?

If you make quotes and track jobs in Sage then the benefits to a full business system will probably outweigh the advantages of a stock control-only system.

How will products be synchronized between systems?

Will you maintain your products in the stock system and post to Xero or the other way round? This will depend on who you want to have access to Xero and/or the stock system. One of the benefits of moving to a true cloud solution from Sage is that more people can have specific access to the system.

Do you need to Allocate Stock to Orders

If you need to make sure two orders don’t claim the same stock, a full business system will be more likely to do this.

Do you have an eCommerce Service

If you have an online store, how will you synchronize stock levels?

What do you need to post in Xero?

Many companies making the move initially look for the reporting in Xero, but virtually all stock systems will provide the reporting required on their own – so the data doesn’t need to be shoe-horned into Xero.

For example, if you are adjusting stock values at the end of each month, the necessity of real-time transfer of stock values to Xero is reduced as you will just post the adjustment for the whole stock value.

Summary

Think about what is most important to the way your business works – and it does vary between businesses. Use this table to help you think about your requirements and weigh up what is the best solution for you.

If you think that a full business system is the best solution for your business, Zigaflow might just be the answer. Please contact us for a chat about whether it will work for you.