Top 5 Order Processing Software for Brand and Manufacturers
Discover top 5 order process software solutions to enhance efficiency and improve your workflow. Read the article to optimize your operations today!
Running a consumer brand is hard enough without spending hours untangling purchase orders and chasing down order details. Manual orders, long email threads, and incomplete information slow down fulfillment, damage vendor relationships and frustrate customers. The right order management system (OMS) removes the chaos and gives teams tools to streamline processes and reduce errors.
This guide reviews five of the best order process software options for consumer brands: Shopify, Buddy, Pipe17, NetSuite, and Faire/NuORDER, with Brightpearl as a bonus recommendation. Each has unique strengths that can help you manage orders more efficiently and control costs.
What is Order Process Software?
Order process software automates and streamlines the order management process from capture through fulfillment. Unlike basic ecommerce tools, it can handle complex wholesale workflows with multiple formats, custom rules, and retailer-specific requirements.
Key functions include automated order capture from different sources, validation against inventory and pricing rules, intelligent routing to fulfillment centers, and tracking through delivery. For consumer brands, this means transforming scattered email threads and PDF attachments into organized, trackable workflows.
Wholesale operations often involve minimum order quantities, special pricing, promotions, and customer-specific needs. Generic ecommerce platforms are not designed to handle this. Purpose-built OMS connects sales, inventory, fulfillment and service, creating a central hub that integrates with your supply chain.
Key Features to Look For
When evaluating order management software, focus on practical features:
Automation: Reduce manual tasks like entering sales orders and invoices
Inventory management: Track stock in real time to avoid shortages
Integration: Connect with accounting systems, ecommerce platforms, and fulfillment tools
Audit trail: Keep accurate records of order details, invoices, and accounts payable
Centralized platform: Manage fulfillment, vendors, and customer experience in one place
Real time updates: Stay on top of order status, delivery, and product availability
A good OMS should make operations more efficient, cut costs, and deliver clear business benefits without requiring a large team.
The Top 5 Order Processing Software
1. Shopify
Shopify is known for ecommerce but also has strong order management features. Orders flow directly from your online store, and you can manage fulfillment, review order details, and track delivery. It integrates with accounting tools, inventory systems, and shipping carriers.
For consumer brands already selling DTC on Shopify, it can extend into wholesale through apps and integrations. While not built for wholesale, it supports automation, syncing and order tracking across channels.
2. Buddy
Buddy is built for brands and manufacturers selling in wholesale, retail, and B2B channels. It automates order management from unstructured purchase orders in email, PDF or EDI. Buddy reads the data, creates sales orders, automate order routing and pricing rules, generates invoices and updates PO tracker automatically.
It offers integrations with QuickBooks, Shopify, Gmail, Slack and ERP systems, so order status, invoices, and accounting are updated in real time across your workflows. Brands save time, reduce errors and strengthen customer relationships without heavy software or long setup. For operators buried in manual tasks, Buddy delivers greater efficiency with minimal effort.
3. Pipe17
Pipe17 connects sales channels, warehouses, and accounting systems into one platform. It is ideal for brands selling across multiple channels that need automated order routing, fulfillment, and inventory control.
The advantage is integration. Pipe17 syncs with Shopify, NetSuite, QuickBooks, and other systems, reducing manual effort and keeping data consistent. It provides insights into performance and helps control costs as companies scale.
4. NetSuite
NetSuite is a full enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with advanced order management capabilities. It covers everything from capturing sales orders to invoicing, accounts payable, and supply chain management. It allows operators to manage inventory, automate fulfillment, and track delivery on one system.
The tradeoff is complexity. NetSuite is powerful but requires significant setup and expertise. It is best for larger consumer brands with dedicated teams that need audit trails, cost control, and deep integration across business systems.
5. Faire and NuORDER
Faireand NuORDER are wholesale marketplaces that double as order management systems. Retailers place orders directly with brands, while operators get visibility into order status, delivery, and customer interactions.
For brands already active on these marketplaces, the built-in OMS features work well. They provide updates, automate parts of order processing, and integrate with other tools. They are not as comprehensive as dedicated OMS platforms but serve brands tied to these ecosystems.
Bonus: Brightpearl
Brightpearl is designed for omnichannel retail brands. It supports ecommerce sites and physical stores with inventory management, order fulfillment, accounts payable, and accounting integration. Teams can track sales orders, invoices, and deliveries with real time updates.
For consumer brands with both online and in-store sales, Brightpearl simplifies management, reduces manual effort, and improves the customer experience across channels.
How They Compare
Software | Best For | Key Features | Setup Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
Shopify | Brands already on Shopify | Ecommerce + OMS, integrations, ease | Low |
Buddy | Wholesale, retail, B2B channels | Automates order workflows, real time updates, sales and freight reporting, powered by AI | Low |
Pipe17 | Multichannel scaling | Centralized platform, seamless sync | Medium |
NetSuite | Enterprise operations | Full OMS + ERP, audit trail, control | High |
Faire/NuORDER | Marketplace selling | B2B ordering, order tracking, catalogs | Low |
Brightpearl | Omnichannel retail | POS + ecommerce + OMS | Medium |
Integration Considerations for Your Existing Tech Stack
Your OMS must connect with existing accounting systems like QuickBooks or NetSuite to avoid duplicate data entry. Real time synchronization ensures orders create accurate accounting entries and inventory updates.
Robust APIs support smooth communication between systems, enabling order details to update inventory, trigger fulfillment, and generate invoices automatically. Clean data mapping and clear governance help maintain accuracy across platforms.
Integration challenges can include mismatched data formats and timing conflicts. Planning ahead and working with vendors experienced in your tech stack helps reduce delays and implementation risks.
Measuring ROI and Success
The fastest ROI comes from cutting manual orders. Automating order entry reduces processing time by 75 - 90%, freeing teams for higher-value work. Automated systems also reach accuracy rates near 95%, preventing costly errors and preserving customer relationships.
Faster, more accurate order processing improves customer satisfaction. Real time updates on order status build trust, strengthen vendor relationships, and often drive higher order volumes. Over time, this means more sales and stronger brand reputation.
Automation boosts productivity by allowing teams to process more orders without adding headcount. Even one or two saved orders per month can justify the investment. Analytics provide insights into order cycle times, bottlenecks, and customer behavior to support ongoing improvements.
Implementation Best Practices for CPG Brands
Start with a pilot program using a few high-volume customers. This allows you to test, refine, and minimize risk before scaling. Involve team members early in setup decisions to build buy-in and reduce resistance.
Audit your data before migration to clean inconsistencies and back up everything. Provide training based on team roles and appoint internal champions to support adoption. Roll out in phases, mastering core functions before adding advanced features.
Finally, define success metrics upfront. Track order cycle time, error rates, and customer satisfaction to confirm the system is delivering results and guiding further optimization.
Choosing the Right OMS
Your choice depends on your challenges:
If B2B orders dominate, go with Buddy
For managing multiple channels and vendors, choose Pipe17
For enterprise-level control and audit trails, NetSuite fits
If you sell heavily through marketplaces, use Faire or NuORDER
If you run both ecommerce and retail stores, Brightpearl works well
If you already run on Shopify, you can start there.
Final Take
Order management directly affects customer satisfaction, vendor relationships, and scalability. A centralized system that automates manual effort, provides real time updates, and integrates with other tools creates greater efficiency and cost control.
For consumer brand operators, the right OMS is about saving time, reducing errors, and giving teams confidence in every order. Whether you are buried in PDFs or scaling across multiple channels, these platforms offer practical solutions to streamline processes and deliver better customer experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is order process software?
Order process software is a system that automates and manages the entire order management process from capturing sales orders to fulfillment and invoicing. Unlike basic ecommerce tools, it handles wholesale workflows with purchase orders, EDI, and retailer-specific requirements. It gives teams visibility into order status, inventory, and delivery in real time, reducing manual effort and errors.
2. What are the benefits of using order management software for consumer brands?
The main benefits include saving time by automating manual orders, improving order accuracy, streamlining inventory control, and providing real time updates across sales channels. Consumer brands also gain better cost control, stronger vendor relationships, and the ability to scale order volume without adding more staff. These improvements lead to greater efficiency and stronger customer satisfaction.
3. Which order processing software is best for wholesale operations?
For wholesale-focused consumer brands, Buddy is one of the best options. It automates purchase orders from email, PDF, or EDI, generates invoices, and updates fulfillment automatically. With integrations to QuickBooks, Shopify, Slack, and Gmail, Buddy is purpose-built for wholesale, retail, and B2B workflows. Other strong tools include Pipe17 for multichannel operations and NetSuite for enterprise-scale management.
4. How does order management software integrate with other systems?
Modern order management systems integrate seamlessly with accounting software like QuickBooks or NetSuite, ecommerce platforms like Shopify, and communication tools like Slack and Gmail. These integrations ensure that order details, invoices, and inventory updates stay consistent across all systems. Real time synchronization prevents duplicate data entry, reduces errors, and keeps the entire team aligned.
5. How do I measure ROI from order processing software?
ROI is measured by time saved, error reduction, and improved customer experience. Automating order entry cuts processing time by up to 90%. Order accuracy improves from about 85–90% manually to 98% with automation, reducing chargebacks and returns. Faster delivery and real time order status updates increase customer satisfaction and order volume. Even one or two saved wholesale orders per month can justify the investment.
