ECI Spruce
ECI Spruce is a comprehensive cloud-based management software designed specifically for lumberyards and home improvement centers to streamline point-of-sale, inventory tracking, and back-office operations in one integrated system.
Katana
Katana is a cloud-based manufacturing enterprise resource planning software that gives you real-time visibility into inventory, production, and sales to streamline your entire small-to-medium manufacturing business operations.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ECI Spruce | Katana |
|---|---|---|
| Website | ecisolutions.com | katanamrp.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $179/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1985 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth, USA | Tallinn, Estonia |
Overview
ECI Spruce
ECI Spruce is a purpose-built management platform designed to help you run your lumberyard or hardware store more efficiently. Instead of juggling separate systems for sales and accounting, you get a unified cloud-based solution that handles everything from the front counter to the back office. You can manage complex special orders, track multi-location inventory in real-time, and automate your purchasing processes to ensure you never run out of high-demand building materials.
The software focuses on the specific needs of the building materials industry, allowing you to handle contractor pricing, loyalty programs, and delivery logistics from a single interface. By moving your operations to the cloud, you eliminate the need for expensive on-site servers while gaining the ability to access your business data from any device, whether you are in the yard or at a job site.
Katana
Katana gives you a live look at your entire manufacturing business by unifying your sales, inventory, and production workflows. Instead of juggling messy spreadsheets, you get a visual interface that automatically prioritizes orders based on material availability. You can track raw materials and finished goods in real-time, ensuring you never overstock or run out of essential components during a production run.
The platform is designed specifically for scaling manufacturers who need to move beyond basic accounting tools. You can easily sync your shop floor with your online store, manage outsourced production, and calculate accurate product costs automatically. It helps you eliminate production bottlenecks and fulfill customer orders faster by providing a single source of truth for your entire team.
Overview
ECI Spruce Features
- Point of Sale Process transactions quickly while accessing customer-specific pricing, credit limits, and detailed purchase histories right from the checkout screen.
- Inventory Management Track stock levels across multiple locations and manage items by various units of measure common in the lumber industry.
- Document Management Go paperless by capturing digital signatures and attaching photos or related documents directly to your specific customer orders.
- Purchasing & Receiving Automate your reordering process based on historical trends and verify incoming shipments against purchase orders to maintain accurate records.
- Delivery Tracking Optimize your delivery routes and provide customers with real-time updates and digital proof of delivery for every shipment.
- Integrated Accounting Sync your sales data directly with your general ledger to eliminate manual data entry and keep your financial statements current.
- Manufacturing Tools Manage simple manufacturing processes like door hanging or truss assembly with integrated bills of materials and labor tracking.
- Mobile Access Check stock levels, look up pricing, and manage your yard operations from any mobile device using the dedicated application.
Katana Features
- Live Inventory Management. Track your raw materials and finished products in real-time to maintain optimal stock levels and prevent production delays.
- Master Production Scheduling. Drag and drop your manufacturing orders to prioritize jobs and see how changes impact your material requirements instantly.
- Omnichannel Sales Sync. Connect your e-commerce stores and marketplaces to centralize all your sales orders and inventory levels in one place.
- Contract Manufacturing. Manage your outsourced production processes by tracking purchase orders and inventory levels at your partner locations seamlessly.
- Shop Floor App. Give your operators a digital task list on their mobile devices to track time and material consumption accurately.
- Automated Costing. Calculate your precise manufacturing costs based on your bill of materials and production operations without manual calculations.
Pricing Comparison
ECI Spruce Pricing
Katana Pricing
- Up to 3 users
- 1 inventory location
- Real-time inventory tracking
- Sales order management
- Basic production planning
- E-commerce integrations
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Unlimited inventory locations
- Shop Floor mobile app
- Batch and lot tracking
- Multi-currency support
- Full API access
Pros & Cons
ECI Spruce
Pros
- Industry-specific features built for lumber and hardware
- Excellent document linking and digital signature capture
- Cloud deployment eliminates the need for local servers
- Strong reporting capabilities for tracking business performance
- Reliable customer support with deep industry knowledge
Cons
- Initial setup and data migration takes significant time
- Interface can feel dated compared to modern apps
- Steep learning curve for staff new to ERPs
Katana
Pros
- Intuitive visual interface is easy to navigate
- Seamless integration with Shopify and QuickBooks Online
- Real-time material availability tracking saves significant time
- Excellent customer support and onboarding resources
Cons
- Starting price is high for very small businesses
- Mobile app functionality is limited for administrators
- Advanced reporting requires higher-tier paid plans