Fishbowl Inventory is one of the best manufacturing and inventory management systems to integrate with QuickBooks. If you are not a current Fishbowl Inventory Software user but are considering making the leap, take a look at our list of some of the most common issues that come with Fishbowl Inventory Software…and the solutions to those problems.
Those of you who are current Fishbowl Inventory users, and have run into some of these frustrations, take a look at the solutions below.
These solutions might make all of the difference you need to turn Fishbowl Software into a system that fits all of your needs for years to come.
1. Difficulty Setting Up Database
Any new software that you incorporate into your business will have its own set of inherent challenges. In the case of a system that controls your inventory, it comes in the form of setting up your database as a prerequisite to daily use. Many people do not realize the difficulty of entering hundreds, or thousands, of items, customers, vendors, bills of materials, etc. And those who do know how difficult it is usually prefer not to do the work alone.
That’s where a team of specialists can come in handy.
A group of people who have experience with database setup can help streamline the process and overcome any hurdles that might arise. Having worked with Fishbowl for many years, we have seen our fair share of difficulties when setting up databases. We understand the headaches that come with database setup, and we are here to help you succeed.
To get in touch with our experts, and receive professional help, Contact Us today
2. Employee Training
Once your database has been created, the last thing you want happening is for untrained employees to start using your Fishbowl Inventory database and making mistakes that can be time-consuming, or even impossible, to fix. We have worked with companies whose employees have caused such issues in the database that it had to be rebuilt, costing the company time and money.
The solution to this is simple:
Work with Fishbowl Inventory experts who know how the software functions, and who have experience training others how to use it.
The training can come in a number of formats, but the most important thing is to make sure your employees know their role, and how to perform their role within the software. A properly trained staff will be better equipped to help transition your company to using Fishbowl on a daily basis.
Need expert training? We’ve got your back. Get In Touch with our Training Coaches today.
3. Mistyped Orders
Now that your employees have been trained, and understand how Fishbowl works, there are still times when an honest order-entry mistake can cost your company a lot of money, and can make your customers unhappy. This is especially prominent when the majority of your orders come from conversations on the phone, or from emails. Re-typing orders into Fishbowl can leave a lot of room for errors.
The answer to this problem is to offer your customers a way, or several ways, to enter their own orders, and have those orders submit directly to your Fishbowl database.
LilyPad Vortex is your one-stop solution to give your customers that capability.
However, this can be accomplished in a number of ways:
Integrate Fishbowl to your online stores Integrate Fishbowl to your online stores
Integrate EDI orders into your Fishbowl Integrate EDI orders into your Fishbowl
Use LilyPad Vortex (a B2B portal that is integrated with Fishbowl)
In short, using integrations to automate order entry will help eliminate mistakes, and will help keep your customers happy.
If you need a new way to solve mistyped orders and are looking for better solutions, get expert help from LilyPad and Get Started today
4. Picking the Wrong Parts
Even if your order entry is streamlined and without error, an order can still fall victim to errors during the picking stage. When an order is picked, the person doing the picking is faced with the task of choosing the correct item from a warehouse that is potentially filled with other similar items.
Mistakes happen, but the implementation of a barcoding system can help reduce, or eliminate, these kinds of mistakes.
Your solution? LilyPad Mobile Warehouse.
LilyPad Mobile Warehouse allows you to scan barcodes when you are performing your warehousing functions, including during the picking process. By scanning the affixed barcodes, LMW for Fishbowl software gives you an immediate notification if you have scanned the wrong item, redirecting you to the correct item.
If you want to streamline your inventory management, and want to maximize your Fishbowl investment, LilyPad Mobile Warehouse is here to help. Contact Us for more information!
5. Incorrect and Misplaced Inventory
When moving inventory around in the warehouse, it can easily become misplaced. Or, even if the inventory has been put away in the correct location, a mistyped location in Fishbowl could cost time and money.
It is also important to keep an ongoing count of your inventory in order to ensure accuracy.
LilyPad Mobile Warehouse can help with both of these scenarios, because you are required to scan the location barcode as you put your inventory away, helping to keep your inventory straight. Additionally, you can perform cycle count activities with your scanners that keep your inventory quantities more precise.
If you’re looking for a Fishbowl software solution for incorrect or misplaced inventory, LilyPad for Fishbowl is sure to give you a budget-friendly solution.
If you want to know more, take a look at our website. Or, Contact Us for more information.
6. Insufficient Reporting
There are many standard reports in Fishbowl. However, there are some instances where you may need greater clarity than what those reports have to offer. When that is the case, a simple modification to an existing report, or a new customized report can make all of the difference.
Custom Fishbowl Reports can make your life a whole lot easier.
Our knowledgeable report writers can take your requests and turn them into a reality, giving you the information you need to more effectively run your business.
Learn more about our custom fishbowl reports.
To get in touch with our team, Contact Us today!
7. No Customer Portal
One of the most important requirements in today’s world to run a successful business is accessibility. Your customers must be able to access your products.
The easiest way to do this is with an online B2B platform that allows your customers to place orders whenever it’s most convenient for them, but Fishbowl Inventory Software does not come with a built-in online presence.
The answer? LilyPad Vortex!
While Fishbowl doesn’t have that capability, our LilyPad Vortex platform facilitates the ability for your customers to log in and see your product lines and their available quantities.
With just a few clicks, they can place an order that transfers directly to your Fishbowl database, making their life, and yours, easier.
Contact us for more information, pricing, and other Fishbowl Software solutions!
Lilypad for Fishbowl: A Premier Fishbowl Solution
Our LilyPad products have been designed in such a way as to complement and improve the functionality of Fishbowl Inventory Software to make it an even better system.
You don’t need to worry about any shortcomings in Fishbowl, because with LilyPad, you can be confident that you will have the solution you need.
Get Started Today with Lilypad for Fishbowl!
