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.
Wherefour
Wherefour is a cloud-based ERP and inventory management software designed to help food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturers track production, manage traceability, and streamline their entire supply chain.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Katana | Wherefour |
|---|---|---|
| Website | katanamrp.com | wherefour.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $179/month | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No 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 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | Petaluma, USA |
Overview
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.
Wherefour
Wherefour is a specialized ERP and inventory management platform built specifically for the needs of modern manufacturers. You can manage your entire production lifecycle from a single dashboard, moving away from messy spreadsheets and disconnected systems. It allows you to track raw materials, manage complex recipes or formulas, and monitor work-in-progress in real-time to ensure your margins stay healthy.
The platform excels at compliance and safety by providing instant, one-click recall reports and full forward-and-backward traceability. You can integrate it directly with your accounting tools like QuickBooks or Sage to keep your financial data in sync. Whether you are a growing craft brewery or a large-scale food processor, it helps you maintain strict quality control while scaling your operations efficiently.
Overview
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.
Wherefour Features
- One-Click Traceability. Generate complete recall reports in seconds to see exactly where every ingredient came from and where every finished product went.
- Production Planning. Schedule your production runs and calculate exactly how much raw material you need based on your current inventory levels.
- Mobile Barcode Scanning. Use your smartphone or tablet to scan inventory in and out, reducing manual errors and keeping your stock counts accurate.
- Cost Tracking. Monitor your true landed costs and production margins in real-time so you can price your products for maximum profitability.
- Quality Control. Create custom checklists and logs to ensure every batch meets your safety standards before it leaves the warehouse.
- Formula Management. Store and scale your recipes or formulas automatically based on batch size while tracking version history for consistency.
Pricing Comparison
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
Wherefour Pricing
Pros & Cons
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
Wherefour
Pros
- Excellent traceability features for food safety compliance
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks and Sage accounting
- Intuitive interface that is easy for floor staff
- Responsive customer support team during initial setup
- Strong mobile functionality for warehouse inventory tasks
Cons
- Initial implementation requires significant time and effort
- Reporting customization can be limited for complex needs
- Higher price point than basic inventory-only tools