Top Sortly Alternatives for Effortless Inventory

In the trades, you have a specific tool for every task because the right tool makes the job faster, safer, and more efficient. The same principle applies to your software. While a general app like Sortly can track items on a shelf, it wasn’t designed for the complexities of managing materials across service trucks, a warehouse, and active job sites. When your inventory app doesn’t speak the same language as your field service and accounting software, you’re left with frustrating data gaps. This guide explores the best Sortly alternatives built specifically for contractors, ensuring you have the right tool to manage your most critical assets and keep your operations running smoothly.

Key Takeaways

• Evaluate if your current tool is built for the trades: General inventory apps often can’t handle the complexities of truck stock, job costing, and multi-location management, leading to wasted time and inaccurate data for your business.
• Demand a seamless field-to-office workflow: The right software must have a fast, full-featured mobile app for your technicians and integrate directly with the field service and accounting platforms you already use to eliminate double entry.
• Choose a scalable partner, not just a subscription: Look beyond the monthly fee and select a system that can grow with your business by supporting more trucks, users, and locations, ensuring you won’t have to switch again in a few years.

Is It Time to Look for a Sortly Alternative?

Sortly is a popular choice for inventory management, and for good reason. It’s a solid tool for getting a basic handle on your stock. But as your business grows, the tool that got you started might not be the one that can take you to the next level. If you’re starting to feel some friction in your daily operations—like your inventory system is creating more work instead of less—it might be time to see what else is out there. The right software should feel like a partner in your growth, not a roadblock. Let’s look at a few signs that you might have outgrown your current setup.

Common Inventory Headaches You Might Recognize

Do you find yourself spending more time fighting with your inventory app than actually managing materials? Maybe the subscription cost keeps creeping up, making you question if it’s still worth it. Many small business owners find that what was once an affordable solution becomes a significant expense as their needs change. Or perhaps your team is struggling with a clunky mobile app in the field, leading to inaccurate stock counts on service trucks. When your software doesn’t speak the same language as your other essential tools, you end up with frustrating data silos and time-consuming manual entry. If these issues sound familiar, you’re not alone, and it’s a clear signal that your current system isn’t scaling with you.

What’s the Real Cost of Your Inventory Tool?

The monthly subscription fee is just one piece of the puzzle. The true cost of your inventory software includes the hidden expenses of inefficiency. Think about the time your technicians waste searching for parts or the money lost on duplicate material purchases because your stock levels are off. When your inventory tool doesn’t connect with your accounting software, you’re also spending valuable hours on manual reconciliation. These costs add up quickly. A truly effective system should save you money, not just track your stuff.

• PRO TIP: Use an ROI calculator to get a clearer picture of how much a streamlined process for purchasing and materials management can impact your bottom line.

Does Your Software Keep Up With Your Business?

The inventory needs of a growing trade business are unique. You’re not just tracking items on a shelf; you’re managing stock across multiple service trucks, a central warehouse, and maybe even a few job sites. A generic inventory app often can’t handle this complexity. As you add more technicians and take on bigger jobs, you need a system that can accurately track materials from purchase order to final installation. This means having seamless field service software integration to connect inventory usage directly to jobs. An effective system ensures your team has the right parts on hand, helping you align supply with customer demand and complete more jobs on the first visit.

The Best Sortly Alternatives for Trade Businesses

Finding the right inventory tool means looking for a solution that fits how your team actually works. While Sortly is a popular general-purpose app, businesses in the trades have unique needs that demand a more specialized approach. From managing truck stock on the go to integrating with the field service software you already use, the right alternative can make a world of difference. Let’s look at some of the top contenders and see how they stack up for contractors and other field service professionals.

Ply

If you’re running a trade business, Ply was built for you. It’s designed from the ground up to solve the specific inventory challenges that plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs face every day. The platform offers real-time material management, so you always have an accurate count of what’s in the warehouse and on each truck. This means no more last-minute trips to the supply house. What really sets Ply apart is its seamless connection with the tools you already rely on. It offers deep integrations with field service software like ServiceTitan and Jobber, plus accounting platforms like QuickBooks. This creates a single, streamlined workflow from job scheduling to invoicing, eliminating double entry and saving you hours of administrative work. It’s a mobile-first solution that works where you do—in the field.

Shelf

Shelf is a strong option if your primary focus is on tracking high-value company assets rather than consumable materials. It excels at things like monitoring equipment depreciation, maintaining a complete asset history, and managing items across multiple office locations. You can create custom data fields to track specific information, like warranty dates or maintenance schedules, which is perfect for keeping tabs on expensive tools or company vehicles. While it offers barcode scanning and cloud-based access, Shelf is geared more toward internal asset management than the fast-paced material consumption of a trade business. If you need to track the lifecycle of your company’s computers and machinery, it’s a great fit. But for managing parts and supplies for customer jobs, it might feel less intuitive.

inFlow

For smaller businesses, particularly those with a retail or point-of-sale component, inFlow is a solid and affordable choice. It covers the fundamentals of inventory tracking well, allowing you to manage purchase orders, track stock levels, and even handle sales directly through its POS features. Its mobile app lets your team work from anywhere, and it supports multiple warehouse locations, which is helpful as you grow. However, inFlow is a more generalized inventory system. It lacks the specific features that make a contractor’s life easier, like direct integrations with field service management software or detailed truck stock management. While it’s a capable tool for getting started, you might find you outgrow it as your service business becomes more complex and requires more specialized workflows.

Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory is part of the larger Zoho suite of business apps, making it a powerful choice for companies that want an all-in-one solution. It’s highly scalable and offers end-to-end order management, from purchasing to fulfillment. With advanced reporting and analytics, you can get deep insights into your sales and inventory trends. Plus, it integrates with a huge range of other applications, both within and outside of the Zoho ecosystem. The main consideration with Zoho is that it’s a general tool, not one built specifically for the trades. While you can customize it, you won’t find the out-of-the-box workflows for job costing or truck stock replenishment that a specialized tool like Ply provides. It’s a decent option for a growing ecommerce or retail business, but contractors may find it requires more setup to fit their unique operational needs.

🟢 = Strong  🟡 = Partial  🔴 = Not included / Not designed for trades

Must-Have Features in an Inventory Management App

Choosing the right inventory management app feels like a big decision, but it gets a lot easier when you know what to look for. While every trade business has unique needs, there are some core features that separate the truly helpful tools from the ones that just create more work. Think of it as building a toolkit: you need the essentials that you’ll use every day, but you also want specialty tools that will help you take on bigger, more complex jobs as you grow. Let’s break down the non-negotiables and the features that will set you up for future success.

The Fundamentals

First, let’s cover the basics. Any app you consider should nail these fundamentals, no questions asked. You need simple organization that lets you categorize parts and materials in a way that makes sense for your business. Barcode and QR code scanning is a must-have for quickly checking items in and out, whether in the warehouse or on a truck. The system should also send you automated low-stock alerts so you’re never caught without a critical part. And since your team works in the real world, not always in a Wi-Fi hotspot, reliable offline access is crucial. Finally, all of this needs to be wrapped in a fast, easy-to-use mobile app with secure user permissions to control who can see and do what.

Features for Growth

Once you’ve confirmed the basics are covered, it’s time to think about the future. A great inventory tool should grow with you. Look for customizable reports that give you clear insights into job costs and material usage. The software should also offer flexible integration options to connect with the accounting and field service software you already use. As your business expands, you’ll need support for multiple trucks, warehouses, and job sites. Having a system that can easily manage multi-location inventory prevents chaos down the line. A tool with these growth-oriented features ensures you won’t have to switch systems in a few years, saving you a major headache.

Learn more about how NJ-based Budd’s Plumbing saved $thousands using Ply

How to Choose the Right Inventory Mangaement Tool for Your Team

Switching software can feel like a huge undertaking, but finding the right fit makes all the difference. A great inventory management system should feel like a natural extension of your team—one that simplifies your day, not complicates it. To find that perfect match, it helps to have a clear game plan. Think about what your business truly needs today and where you see it going tomorrow. Let’s walk through a few key steps to help you pick a tool that will genuinely support your team in the field and in the office.

1. Map Out Your Business Needs

Before you even look at a demo, grab a notepad and jot down the biggest inventory headaches you’re facing. Are you constantly running out of parts on service trucks? Is tracking materials for specific jobs a manual nightmare? An effective inventory management system is designed to streamline your operations by accurately tracking stock levels, orders, and deliveries. Get specific about your must-haves. Do you need to manage multiple warehouse locations, track tool usage, or create purchase orders on the fly? Listing your non-negotiables first will help you quickly filter out the tools that aren’t built for the unique demands of a trade business.

2. Look Beyond the Sticker Price

It’s easy to get fixated on the monthly subscription fee, but the true cost of any software goes far beyond that number. When you’re comparing options, think about the total investment. How much time will your team spend learning the new system? Are there hidden fees for implementation or support? More importantly, what’s the cost of not having certain features? If a cheaper tool can’t track truck stock accurately, the money you save on the subscription will be quickly lost to unnecessary supply house runs and project delays. A good tool should save you money in the long run, so it’s worth calculating the potential return on your investment.

3. Test Its Mobile Capabilities

For any trade business, the real work happens in the field, not behind a desk. Your inventory app has to be fast, reliable, and easy to use on a mobile device. When you’re testing alternatives, make sure the mobile app isn’t just a stripped-down version of the desktop software. Your techs should have access to full functionality from their phones, whether they’re checking stock on a truck or adding materials to a job. Pay attention to the user experience. Is it intuitive? Can someone use it with one hand while holding a tool? A powerful mobile app is a non-negotiable for keeping your inventory accurate and your team efficient.

4. Check for Key Integrations

A standalone inventory tool can quickly become another silo of information you have to manage. The best systems work seamlessly with the software you already rely on every day. Does the tool connect with your field service management platform, like ServiceTitan or Jobber? How about your accounting software, like QuickBooks? These key integrations are what turn a simple tracking app into a central hub for your operations. When your inventory system can automatically sync data with your other platforms, you eliminate double entry, reduce errors, and give everyone a clear, up-to-date picture of job costs and material usage.

5. Plan for Where You’re Headed

The tool that works for you today should also be able to support you in a year, or even five years from now. As you evaluate your options, think about your growth plans. Are you planning to add more technicians, expand your service area, or open a new warehouse? Choose a system that can scale with you. Look for features like multi-location management and customizable user permissions that will provide the flexibility you need as your business evolves. An effective inventory system empowers you to align your material supply with customer demand, ensuring you’re prepared for the jobs you have today and the ones you’ll win tomorrow.

Related Articles

• Smart Inventory Management Tips for Field Service Teams
• Inventory Management Archives
• Truck Stock Management Basics: Auditing, Barcoding, and Organization
• Bagging Your Loose Items: Yay or Nay?

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the real difference between a generic inventory app and one built for the trades?

Think of it this way: a generic app is like a basic toolbox with a hammer and a screwdriver. It can handle simple tasks. A system built for the trades is like a fully-stocked service truck. It has specialized tools designed for the specific workflows you deal with every day, like managing parts across multiple vehicles, creating purchase orders from the field, and connecting material usage directly to customer jobs.

My business is still small. When is the right time to switch to a more advanced system?

The right time to switch has less to do with the size of your business and more to do with the friction you’re feeling. If you find yourself creating complicated spreadsheets to track what a generic app can’t, or if your technicians are constantly calling the office to check on parts, you’re already spending valuable time working around your software. It’s better to switch when you first notice these headaches, rather than waiting until they become major operational problems.

How exactly do integrations with my other software save me time and money?

Integrations create a smooth flow of information between the tools you already use. For example, when your inventory system connects to your field service software, a technician can mark a part as “used” on a job, and your stock levels will update automatically. That same information can then sync with your accounting software to ensure the job is costed correctly and the customer is invoiced accurately. This eliminates hours of manual data entry and reduces the risk of costly human errors.

We manage inventory across multiple trucks and a warehouse. Can a single app handle that?

Absolutely. This is one of the main reasons to choose a system designed for field service. A good inventory platform will give you a clear, real-time view of your entire stock, no matter where it is. You can see what’s in the main warehouse, what’s on Truck A, and what’s on Truck B, all from one central dashboard. This helps you make smarter purchasing decisions and ensures your techs always have the parts they need for the job.

Isn’t switching inventory software a complicated and time-consuming process?

It’s true that any change in your business requires some effort, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. The best software providers understand this and offer support to make the transition as smooth as possible, from helping you import your existing data to training your team. The short-term effort of setting up a new system is a small price to pay for the long-term gains in efficiency, accuracy, and profitability.