Inventory Management Strategies
New to inventory software? Start with our complete guide to choosing the right inventory software.
is your go-to resource for practical, data-driven advice on controlling costs, improving accuracy, and streamlining operations. Designed for small to medium-sized businesses, our posts cover everything from avoiding stockouts to implementing software solutions, with a focus on real-world applications that drive profitability. Whether you’re new to inventory management or looking to optimize an existing system, you’ll find expert tips, proven strategies, and actionable insights to turn your inventory from a daily challenge into a strategic advantage.
At Mariner Consulting Group, we specialize in helping businesses take full control of their inventory and supply chain processes. From assessing current systems to implementing efficient, technology-driven solutions, we work alongside you to cut waste, prevent costly errors, and improve cash flow. Our team combines hands-on industry experience with proven best practices to create tailored inventory strategies that match your unique business needs, so you can spend less time firefighting and more time growing your bottom line.
Kevin Lacey, founder of Mariner Consulting Group, brings over two decades of experience in inventory management, operations, and process improvement. He has worked with companies across multiple industries including manufacturing, retail, distribution, and e-commerce, to design systems that reduce inefficiencies and boost profitability. Known for his practical approach and deep understanding of both the financial and operational sides of business, Kevin has helped clients save millions through smarter inventory practices and supply chain optimization. His passion lies in turning complex inventory challenges into simple, scalable solutions that deliver measurable results.
5 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Inventory System
Spreadsheets, limited inventory visibility, and growing manual workarounds may signal that your current inventory system no longer supports the business. Learn five signs manufacturers and distributors should recognize before these limitations begin affecting efficiency, working capital, and growth.
Keep reading
Intuit Enterprise Suite Inventory: When Growing Businesses Still Need a Dedicated Inventory Platform
Intuit Enterprise Suite is designed for larger, more complex businesses that have begun to outgrow a traditional QuickBooks Online environment. For a growing manufacturer or distributor, that can make Intuit Enterprise Suite inventory capabilities worth evaluating, particularly when the company…
Keep reading
Is SOS Inventory for Manufacturers Right for Your Business?
SOS Inventory for manufacturers can be a practical fit when production workflows, inventory control, and QuickBooks Online integration remain relatively straightforward. This article explains where the system fits well, where complexity may create limitations, and what manufacturers should evaluate before…
Keep reading
7 Signs You’ve Outgrown QuickBooks Inventory
QuickBooks can support inventory at an earlier stage of growth, but increasing SKU counts, locations, manufacturing requirements, reporting needs, and manual workarounds can expose its limits. Here are seven signs your business may need a more capable inventory system.
Keep reading
SOS Inventory vs OrderTime: Which Inventory Software Is Right for Your Manufacturing Business?
SOS Inventory and OrderTime serve different manufacturing needs despite sharing common roots. This comparison explains which businesses are best suited for each platform, how manufacturing complexity affects the decision, and why proper QuickBooks Online integration matters. Mariner Consulting Group implements…
Keep reading
Can QuickBooks Online Work as an Inventory System? Where Growing Businesses Run Into Trouble
QuickBooks Online can handle basic inventory needs, but growing manufacturers and distributors often discover its limitations after their operations become more complex. Learn when QuickBooks inventory management is sufficient, where problems begin, and why delaying the move to a dedicated…
Keep reading
When to Hire an SOS Inventory Consultant: 8 Signs You Need Expert Help
SOS Inventory can support growing manufacturers and distributors, but implementation and workflow problems can limit its value. Learn eight signs your business may benefit from an experienced SOS Inventory consultant.
Keep reading
SOS Inventory QuickBooks Integration Issues: Adjustments, Returns, and Exceptions
SOS Inventory and QuickBooks Online can work well together, but adjustments, returns, and transaction exceptions often expose weaknesses in workflow design and data handling. This article explains where integration problems typically surface, why they matter financially, and what manufacturers and…
Keep reading
SOS Inventory and QuickBooks Online Integration: Which System Should Own Each Transaction?
An effective SOS Inventory and QuickBooks Online integration requires one approved system of origin for each transaction. This guide explains where purchase orders, receipts, sales orders, fulfillment, invoices, bills, payments, and banking activity should begin.
Keep reading
Preparing QuickBooks Online for SOS Inventory: A Practical Implementation Readiness Guide
Preparing QuickBooks Online for SOS Inventory is an important step in reducing integration errors, reporting problems, and implementation delays. This guide explains how manufacturers and distributors should clean accounting data, reconcile balances, review item records, and define how transactions will…
Keep reading
9 Common SOS Inventory Setup Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
SOS Inventory can significantly improve inventory visibility for businesses using QuickBooks Online, but only when it’s implemented correctly. Many inventory problems begin during setup, not after go-live. In this guide, we explain the nine most common SOS Inventory setup mistakes…
Keep reading
Why Most Manufacturers Overpay for Inventory Software They Don’t Need
Choosing inventory software is one of the largest operational investments many manufacturers make, yet many businesses purchase systems that are far more complex and expensive than their operations require. This article explains why manufacturers overpay for inventory software, the operational…
Keep reading
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.