Searching for the ultimate guide to barcode scanner? You just landed on the right page. In this comprehensive walkthrough, I’ll explore how barcode scanners revolutionize small and mid-size inventory operations—and why switching to inFlow Inventory is the smartest move you can make. Try inFlow Inventory Free for 14 days Today and see for yourself how effortless inventory management becomes when you ditch spreadsheets.

Managing inventory with spreadsheets can feel like juggling blindfolded—and if you’re here, you know the pain. I’ve spent years testing different systems, and nothing compares to inFlow Inventory’s intuitive interface, robust feature set, and seamless barcode scanner support. By the end of this article, you’ll understand why thousands of businesses trust inFlow Inventory, and how you can leverage barcode scanners to save time, cut errors, and boost profits.

What is inFlow Inventory?

inFlow Inventory is a powerful yet user-friendly inventory management software designed specifically for small and mid-size businesses. It presents your stock, orders, and fulfillment processes in a clear, visual format—eliminating the need to wrestle with endless spreadsheet rows. With built-in support for barcode scanners and label printers, it streamlines receiving, picking, packing, and shipping.

inFlow Inventory Overview

Founded with the mission to simplify inventory management, inFlow Inventory emerged from a desire to free businesses from the chaos of manual tracking. Years of customer feedback and continuous innovation have shaped it into a robust platform used by entrepreneurs, wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers worldwide.

Over time, inFlow Inventory has scaled to support teams from solo owners to organizations of 50 users, adding advanced features like order management, barcode scanning, and multi-location tracking. Today, it remains committed to making inventory painless for businesses that outgrow spreadsheets but aren’t ready to invest in costly ERP systems.

Pros and Cons

Pros: inFlow Inventory integrates seamlessly with barcode scanners to automate data capture, reducing manual entry errors and speeding up inventory tasks.

Pros: The intuitive interface ensures anyone on your team can quickly learn the system, cutting onboarding time dramatically.

Pros: Comprehensive feature set—sales orders, purchase orders, stock alerts, multi-location support, and reporting—all in one platform.

Pros: Affordable pricing tiers tailored to small, growing businesses, with a risk-free 14-day trial.

Pros: Excellent customer support via chat, email, and an extensive knowledge base.

Pros: Built-in manufacturing module for companies that assemble products or create kits.

Cons: API access is an add-on for lower tiers, which may be a limitation for highly integrated workflows.

Cons: Limited advanced user permissions in the Entrepreneur plan, so growth may require an upgrade.

Features

inFlow Inventory offers a rich feature set that covers all aspects of inventory and order management. Below are the key capabilities that make it stand out.

Smart Barcode Scanning

With Android-based drop-tested scanners or any compatible USB scanner, you can:

• Instantly input item codes when receiving stock
• Quickly pick and pack orders by scanning rather than typing
• Conduct cycle counts in seconds to maintain accurate stock levels

Stock Level Tracking

Never run low or overstock again. inFlow Inventory lets you:

• Set minimum and maximum thresholds for each SKU
• Receive alerts for reorders before you run out
• Generate purchase orders automatically when stock dips below reorder points

Order and Purchase Management

Streamline sales and purchasing workflows with:

• Customizable order templates for quotes, invoices, and packing slips
• Integration with barcode scanners for faster order fulfillment
• Vendor and customer histories for smarter purchasing and selling decisions

Multi-Location Support

Manage inventory across warehouses, retail outlets, or consignment locations:

• Track stock levels by location and sub-location
• Transfer stock between sites with a few clicks
• View combined and per-site reports to optimize distribution

Reporting and Analytics

Make data-driven decisions using built-in reports:

• Sales performance dashboards showing top-selling products
• Stock valuation reports to assess inventory investment
• Order fulfillment times and backorder summaries

inFlow Inventory Pricing

inFlow Inventory’s tiered plans let you scale features and seats as your business grows.

Entrepreneur ($186/mo)

Ideal for solo entrepreneurs or very small teams:

• 2 team members
• 100 sales orders per month
• 1 integration
• Single location, no sub-locations
• Essential support

Small Business ($436/mo)

Best for growing businesses needing more scale:

• 5 team members
• 1,000 sales orders per month
• 2 integrations
• Unlimited locations
• Advanced user access rights
• Access to inFlow API as an add-on

Mid-Size ($999/mo)

Tailored for established operations:

• 10 team members
• 5,000 sales orders per month
• 3 integrations
• Unlimited locations
• Expanded technical support
• Advanced API add-on options
• Showroom Pro for B2B sales

inFlow Inventory Is Best For

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or mid-size operation, inFlow Inventory adapts to your needs.

Solo Entrepreneurs

If you’re handling inventory on your own, inFlow Inventory replaces error-prone spreadsheets with an easy-to-use interface and barcode scanner integration, saving you hours every week.

Growing Small Businesses

Need to manage multiple sales channels, warehouses, and vendors? inFlow Inventory’s multi-location support and reporting tools help you stay organized as you expand.

Manufacturers and Assemblers

With the manufacturing module, you can build kits or assemblies, track component usage, and use barcode scanners for Q&A checks during production.

Retailers and Wholesalers

Process high volumes of orders with barcode-driven picking and packing, while real-time stock levels ensure you never oversell.

Benefits of Using inFlow Inventory

• Reduced Errors: Barcode scanners eliminate manual entry mistakes, ensuring accurate counts and order fulfillment.
• Time Savings: Automate receiving, picking, and cycle counts to free your team for higher-value tasks.
• Scalable Growth: Plans that grow with you mean you pay only for what you need, when you need it.
• Improved Cash Flow: Stock alerts and reorder automation prevent stockouts and overstock, optimizing cash investment.
• Better Customer Satisfaction: Faster, more accurate orders lead to happier customers and repeat business.
• Comprehensive Insights: Built-in analytics and reporting help you understand trends, margins, and performance.

Customer Support

inFlow Inventory offers responsive support via email, live chat, and an extensive knowledge base full of guides and tutorials. Their team typically responds to inquiries within hours, ensuring your inventory questions get answered quickly.

For more complex issues, you can schedule one-on-one consultation sessions. Whether you need help setting up barcode scanners or customizing reports, inFlow’s support pros guide you every step of the way.

External Reviews and Ratings

Most users praise inFlow Inventory for its ease of use and barcode scanner integration. Common highlights include dramatic reductions in stock discrepancies and faster order processing times. Reviewers also appreciate the visual dashboard and seamless mobile scanning capabilities.

Some users have noted occasional feature limitations in the Entrepreneur plan, particularly around API access and advanced user permissions. However, inFlow’s roadmap and add-on options address these gaps quickly, and support teams often provide workarounds when needed.

Educational Resources and Community

inFlow Inventory maintains an active blog, regular webinars, and video tutorials covering topics from barcode scanner setup to advanced inventory reporting. Their user forum and Facebook community are great places to share tips, best practices, and custom templates with fellow business owners.

Whether you’re troubleshooting a specific workflow or looking for creative ways to optimize your supply chain, the inFlow community provides ongoing learning and peer support.

Conclusion

Barcode scanners can transform chaotic, error-prone inventory tasks into streamlined workflows—and when paired with inFlow Inventory’s comprehensive software, you gain full control over stock levels, orders, and fulfillment. From solo entrepreneurs to mid-size manufacturers, inFlow adapts to your needs, scales with you, and keeps your team focused on growing your business. Midway through your implementation, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without hardware integration and automated reorder alerts. Ready to leave spreadsheets behind and embrace efficient, accurate inventory management? Try inFlow Inventory Free for 14 days Today.

Don’t wait any longer—Try inFlow Inventory Free for 14 days Today and see how barcode scanners and intuitive software can simplify your inventory once and for all.