Unleashed Inventory Review: Managing Inventory for Shopify and BigCommerce Stores

For growing e-commerce businesses using Shopify and BigCommerce, the transition from basic inventory tools to a comprehensive inventory management software often marks a critical phase in their development. As operations become more complex with multiple sales channels, warehouses, or product variants, the need for a robust solution becomes increasingly apparent.

Unleashed Software positions itself as a sophisticated cloud-based inventory management solution designed for established small to mid-sized businesses with more complex requirements than entry-level systems can handle. This review examines how effectively Unleashed serves Shopify and BigCommerce store owners seeking to upgrade their inventory operations with professional-grade functionality.

Company Background

Unleashed Software was founded in 2009 in New Zealand and has since established itself as a respected player in the cloud-based inventory management space. The company focuses exclusively on inventory and order management, deliberately maintaining a narrower but deeper feature set than broader ERP solutions.

In recent years, Unleashed has been acquired by Access Group, a UK-based business management software provider, which has strengthened its market position and resources. The company maintains offices in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, providing global support coverage for its user base.

Unleashed targets established small to mid-sized businesses, particularly those involved in wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, and multi-channel retail. The company has built its reputation on delivering robust inventory control capabilities without the complexity and cost of full ERP systems, making it particularly relevant for growing e-commerce operations.

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Core Features of Unleashed Software

Real-Time Inventory Control

Unleashed provides comprehensive visibility into inventory and effective stock control:

• Live stock tracking across multiple warehouses and locations

• Real-time updates as transactions occur across all channels

• Batch and serial number tracking for regulated products

• Bin location management for organized storage

• Minimum stock levels and reorder point alerts

This real-time visibility helps Shopify and BigCommerce merchants maintain accurate stock levels and prevent overselling across channels.

Multi-Channel Integration

Unleashed centralizes inventory across multiple sales channels:

• Native Shopify integration with two-way synchronization

• BigCommerce connector for inventory and order management

• Connections to additional platforms like WooCommerce

• Marketplace integrations for Amazon and eBay

• B2B portal for wholesale customer ordering

This unified approach prevents inventory silos and ensures consistent stock information regardless of where sales occur. Additionally, Unleashed integrates data from both online and offline sales channels, helping businesses track inventory levels automatically based on sales.

Sales Order Management

The order processing functionality streamlines fulfillment:

• Consolidated view of orders from all sales channels

• Order status tracking throughout the fulfillment process

• Back-order management for out-of-stock items

• Partial shipment handling for complex orders

• Credit and returns processing

These capabilities help e-commerce businesses manage order flow efficiently as they scale beyond platform-native tools.

Purchasing and Supplier Management

Unleashed offers robust procurement features:

• Supplier database with performance metrics

• Purchase order creation and management

• Landed cost tracking including freight, duties, and other expenses

• Receiving and putaway workflows

• Supplier price breaks and alternative suppliers

These purchasing tools enable more strategic inventory decisions and accurate cost tracking.

Light Manufacturing and Assemblies

For businesses that create or modify products, Unleashed provides:

• Bill of materials (BOM) creation and management

• Assembly builds and disassembly tracking

• Component-level inventory management

• Production cost calculation

• Recipe/formula management for process manufacturing

These manufacturing capabilities benefit e-commerce merchants who offer bundled, assembled, or customized products.

Reporting and Business Intelligence

Unleashed delivers comprehensive analytics:

• Inventory valuation and stock level reports

• Sales performance analysis by product, channel, or customer

• Profitability and margin reporting with accurate costing

• Inventory turnover and movement analysis

• Forecasting tools for inventory planning

The built-in business intelligence module provides deeper insights than simpler inventory systems, supporting data-driven decision making. Unleashed’s reporting features help businesses save time through automated workflows and accurate reporting.

API and Integration Ecosystem

Unleashed connects with numerous business systems:

• Accounting integrations with Xero and QuickBooks

• CRM connections including Salesforce

• E-commerce platforms beyond Shopify and BigCommerce

• Point-of-sale systems for retail operations

• Zapier integration for workflow automation

This connectivity creates a flexible ecosystem that can adapt to various business configurations.

Integration Capabilities

Shopify Integration

Unleashed offers a robust Shopify connection:

• Two-way inventory synchronization with real-time updates

• Automated order import and processing

• Product catalog management with variants

• Fulfillment and shipping status synchronization

• Customer data sharing between platforms

The official Shopify app makes setup straightforward and provides reliable ongoing synchronization.

BigCommerce Integration

Similarly, the BigCommerce integration provides:

• Centralized inventory control across BigCommerce stores

• Automated order import and management

• Product information synchronization

• Fulfillment tracking and shipping updates

• Historical data import during setup

This integration ensures BigCommerce merchants can leverage Unleashed’s sophisticated inventory capabilities without disrupting their storefront operations.

Accounting System Integration

Unleashed places particular emphasis on accounting connections:

• Deep integration with Xero for seamless financial synchronization

• QuickBooks Online connection for accounting alignment

• Automated journal entries for inventory transactions

• Accurate cost of goods sold calculations

• Financial visibility across inventory operations

These accounting integrations eliminate double-entry and ensure financial records reflect accurate inventory valuations.

Additional Platform Connections

Beyond core e-commerce platforms, Unleashed connects to:

• WooCommerce for WordPress-based stores

• Amazon marketplace for expanded reach

• eBay selling channels

• Magento and other e-commerce platforms

• Custom storefronts via API

These additional connections make Unleashed suitable for businesses with diverse sales channels beyond their primary platform.

B2B Portal

Unleashed includes a dedicated B2B ordering system:

• Custom branded portal for wholesale customers

• Customer-specific pricing and terms

• Self-service ordering with real-time inventory visibility

• Order approval workflows

• Credit limit management

This B2B capability allows Shopify and BigCommerce merchants to efficiently handle wholesale alongside direct-to-consumer sales.

User Experience

Interface Design and Usability

Unleashed features a professional interface with comprehensive functionality:

• Clean, web-based dashboard with customizable views

• Logical organization of features by business function

• Consistent navigation and workflow design

• Detailed but navigable product and inventory screens

• Advanced filtering and search capabilities

While powerful, the interface presents a steeper learning curve than simpler systems due to its breadth of functionality.

Cloud Architecture

As a true cloud-based solution, Unleashed offers:

• Access from any device with an internet connection

• No on-premise servers or installation required

• Automatic updates and maintenance

• Secure data storage with regular backups

• Multi-user access with permission controls

This cloud approach aligns with the expectations of Shopify and BigCommerce merchants accustomed to web-based management.

Implementation Process

Unleashed typically requires completing a structured implementation:

• Initial consultation and needs assessment

• Data migration from existing systems

• Configuration and customization

• Integration setup with e-commerce platforms

• User training and system testing

Most businesses allocate several weeks for full implementation, reflecting the system’s comprehensive nature.

Support Options and Quality

Unleashed provides robust support services:

• Comprehensive knowledge base and documentation

• Email and phone support on all plans

• Implementation assistance packages

• Regular webinars and training resources

• User community for peer assistance

The company has earned recognition for its customer support quality, with dedicated teams across global time zones ensuring responsive assistance. This support infrastructure is particularly valuable for the initial setup phase and for resolving any integration challenges that may arise.

Pros for E-commerce Stores

Depth of Inventory Control – Unleashed’s primary strength is its comprehensive inventory management capabilities. For Shopify and BigCommerce merchants with complex inventory requirements, the system provides granular control over stock levels, locations, costing, and movements that far exceeds platform-native tools or entry-level inventory systems.

Accurate Cost Tracking – The landed cost tracking functionality gives e-commerce businesses precise visibility into true product costs, including purchase price, freight, duties, and other expenses. This accuracy enables better pricing decisions and margin management, particularly valuable for importers or businesses with complex supply chains.

Manufacturing Capabilities – For merchants who assemble, bundle, or manufacture products, Unleashed’s bill of materials and production features eliminate the need for separate manufacturing systems. This integration between inventory and production provides a complete view of component availability and finished goods without manual reconciliation.

Omnichannel Management Excellence – Unleashed excels at unifying inventory across multiple sales channels beyond just Shopify or BigCommerce. This centralization allows merchants to expand to additional platforms, marketplaces, or wholesale without creating inventory silos or risking overselling.

B2B and Wholesale Support – The included B2B portal enables seamless management of both direct-to-consumer and wholesale operations within a single system. For merchants looking to expand into wholesale without implementing separate systems, this integrated approach offers significant efficiency advantages.

Cons for E-commerce Stores

Significant Investment Required – Unleashed represents a substantial investment compared to entry-level inventory tools. The system’s pricing model targets established businesses rather than startups, potentially putting it out of reach for very small operations or those just beginning to scale beyond basic platform tools.

Learning Curve and Complexity – The system’s comprehensive functionality comes with corresponding complexity. New users typically require significant training to fully leverage its capabilities, and implementation demands more planning and resources than simpler systems. This complexity can be daunting for businesses without dedicated inventory management staff.

Additional Costs for Growing Volume – Unleashed’s usage-based pricing model can introduce additional costs for rapidly growing e-commerce businesses. As order volume increases or additional sales channels are added, merchants may incur surcharges beyond their base subscription, making budgeting less predictable during growth phases.

Limited Shipping Functionality – Unlike some inventory systems that include integrated shipping label generation and carrier rate shopping, Unleashed requires third-party integrations for complete shipping functionality. This limitation necessitates additional connections and potential costs for businesses seeking end-to-end order fulfillment capabilities.

Mobile Limitations – While Unleashed is accessible via mobile browsers, its mobile experience is less comprehensive than some competitors that offer dedicated warehouse apps with full barcode scanning and inventory management capabilities. This can impact operational efficiency for businesses with significant warehouse operations.

Comparison with Native Tools

Compared to the built-in inventory features in Shopify and BigCommerce, Unleashed offers substantially enhanced capabilities:

• Native platform tools provide basic stock tracking and simple order management

• Unleashed adds multi-warehouse management, landed cost tracking, and production capabilities

• Platform tools lack the supplier and purchase order management found in Unleashed

• Native reporting is limited compared to Unleashed’s business intelligence features

• Platform inventory functions typically cannot handle batch/serial tracking or BOM management

Unleashed makes sense for Shopify and BigCommerce merchants who:

• Have outgrown platform-native inventory capabilities

• Manage inventory across multiple physical locations

• Need accurate landed cost tracking for proper margin calculation

• Assemble or manufacture products from components

• Operate across multiple sales channels including wholesale

• Require advanced inventory analytics and forecasting

Smaller merchants with straightforward inventory needs may find platform-native tools sufficient, while those with simple requirements might consider entry-level systems before investing in Unleashed’s more comprehensive solution.

Alternatives Overview

When evaluating Unleashed for Shopify or BigCommerce inventory management, several alternatives merit consideration:

• Cin7 offers similar depth with additional built-in EDI and POS capabilities but at a comparable or higher price point.
• Brightpearl provides a more comprehensive back-office solution including accounting and CRM but requires a larger investment and implementation effort.
• Fishbowl offers strong manufacturing capabilities with deeper QuickBooks integration but lacks the cloud architecture of Unleashed.
• Zoho Inventory provides similar functionality at a lower price point but with less depth in certain areas like landed costing and manufacturing.

Unleashed distinguishes itself through its balance of comprehensive inventory capabilities, manufacturing features, and accounting integration without expanding to full ERP complexity, making it particularly well-suited for established e-commerce businesses with sophisticated inventory needs.

Conclusion

Unleashed Software represents a robust solution for Shopify and BigCommerce merchants who have outgrown basic inventory tools and require professional-grade inventory management. The system excels at providing deep inventory control, accurate costing, production capabilities, and multi-channel synchronization for established e-commerce operations.

The comprehensive feature set comes with corresponding investment in both cost and implementation effort, making Unleashed best suited for businesses with sufficient scale and complexity to justify the resources required. The return on investment becomes increasingly clear as businesses leverage the system’s advanced capabilities to improve inventory efficiency and accuracy.

For the right users—typically established e-commerce businesses with multiple sales channels, complex inventory requirements, or light manufacturing needs—Unleashed delivers significant operational benefits and scalability. Smaller merchants or those with straightforward inventory requirements should carefully evaluate whether their current complexity justifies the investment or if an interim solution might better serve their immediate needs.

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Need Help Choosing the Right Inventory System?

Selecting and implementing the right inventory management solution for your Shopify or BigCommerce store is a crucial decision that impacts your entire business operation. The best system depends on your specific business needs, growth plans, and existing technology stack.

We specialize in e-commerce platform consulting, including inventory system selection and integration with Shopify and BigCommerce. Our services include:

• Platform assessment to determine which inventory solution best fits your business model

• Data migration from your current system to your new inventory management solution

• Integration configuration between your store and inventory systems

• Staff training on new inventory processes and software

• Ongoing support to ensure your systems continue working seamlessly together

Whether you’re considering Unleashed or exploring other options, our team can help you make the right choice and implement it effectively. We’ve helped numerous businesses streamline their inventory management while migrating between platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, and BigCommerce.

Let’s Chat About Your Inventory Management Needs!

Contact us today for a consultation on how to optimize your e-commerce operations with the right inventory system for your specific requirements.

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