Katana Cloud Manufacturing
by Katana · Manufacturing (MES / PLM)
Cloud MRP and shop-floor platform for small and mid-sized manufacturers.
Updated August 2026 · By the ERP Research Editorial Team · Independent and vendor-neutral.
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- Works with
- QuickBooks OnlineXero
NetSuite - Deployment
- Cloud
- Company size
- Small business, Mid-market
- Pricing
- Freemium + tiered subscription
Overview
Katana Cloud Manufacturing (also known as Katana MRP) is a cloud-based inventory and manufacturing platform built for small and mid-sized product businesses that make and sell physical goods. It combines live inventory management, multi-channel order management, manufacturing/MRP, purchasing, and warehousing in one system, positioning itself as an easier-to-adopt alternative to traditional ERP for manufacturers who have outgrown spreadsheets.
On the manufacturing side, Katana lets businesses build bills of materials, define production operations, and schedule and track work orders, with real-time updates to material availability, costs, and production status. Its Shop Floor App gives operators a task-level view of what to make next and lets them log progress from the production floor, while batch and serial tracking support traceability from raw material to finished, shipped product.
Because Katana is not a full financial ERP, it is designed to sit alongside accounting software: it connects natively to QuickBooks Online and Xero to push invoices and bills, and integrates with e-commerce channels (Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, BigCommerce) and other tools via its own native integrations, verified partner apps, Zapier, and an open API. For NetSuite and similar ERPs, connectivity is available through third-party integration platforms (e.g., Extensiv) rather than a Katana-built native connector.
Screenshots & demo
Demo video from the vendor's YouTube channel.
Modules & capabilities
Katana Cloud Manufacturing covers 12 of 50 capabilities we track in this category (+2 partial)
24%- Work order / production order dispatchWork order scheduling; task-level shop floor overviewSupported
- Electronic work instructionsNot evidenced
- Process routing & route enforcementProduction operations and routingsSupported
- No-code app / workflow builderNot evidenced
- Batch & recipe managementNot evidenced
- Andon & real-time exception alertsNot evidenced
- Barcode / RFID data captureBarcode scanning workflowsSupported
“Not evidenced” means our research found no public documentation of this capability — the vendor may still offer it. Confirm on a demo.
Common use cases
- Building bills of materials and scheduling work orders for a small batch manufacturer
- Giving shop floor operators a live task list and progress log via the Shop Floor App
- Tracking batches/lots and expiry dates from raw material to shipped finished good for traceability
- Syncing sales orders from Shopify/Amazon into a single production and fulfillment queue
- Automating purchase orders based on demand forecasts and current stock levels
- Pushing invoices and bills from Katana into QuickBooks Online or Xero to keep accounting current
- Coordinating in-house production alongside outsourced/contract manufacturers on one shared data set
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Purpose-built for SMB manufacturers as a lighter-weight, faster-to-adopt alternative to a full ERP's manufacturing module
- Dedicated Shop Floor App gives operators a live, task-level production view rather than relying on spreadsheets or the back-office system
- Native accounting integrations (QuickBooks Online, Xero) let it act as a manufacturing/inventory layer on top of existing accounting software instead of replacing it
ERP integrations
Native Katana-built integration; creates/updates invoices from Katana sales orders and converts purchase orders into bills. No apps.intuit.com marketplace listing confirmed.
Native Katana-built integration; creates/updates invoices from Katana sales orders and converts purchase orders into bills. No apps.xero.com marketplace listing confirmed.
No native Katana-built NetSuite connector; sales orders and shipment tracking are relayed through a third-party integration layer (e.g. Extensiv/CartRover).
Connector details independently verified against vendor marketplaces and documentation; last checked 2026-08-11.
Pricing
Free plan available for up to 30 SKUs (unlimited SKUs for a 15-day trial period). Core plan starts at $299/month with unlimited SKUs, users and integrations, one included location, and optional add-ons (Traceability, Warehouse Management, Manufacturing Management, Shop Floor app). Advantage plan is custom-priced for complex needs. Get an independent shortlist with pricing guidance below.
Technical & security
- Hosting
- SaaS (multi-tenant)
- Mobile app
- Yes
Alternatives to Katana Cloud Manufacturing in Manufacturing (MES / PLM)
Katana Cloud Manufacturing — frequently asked questions
Does Katana integrate with QuickBooks or an ERP like NetSuite?
Katana has native, bi-directional integrations with QuickBooks Online and Xero that sync invoices and bills. For NetSuite, Katana does not offer a native connector; connectivity is available through third-party integration platforms such as Extensiv.
How much does Katana cost?
Katana offers a Free plan for up to 30 SKUs, a Core plan starting at $299/month with unlimited SKUs and a 15-day unlimited-SKU trial, and a custom-priced Advantage plan for more complex needs.
Is Katana a full ERP or an add-on to existing accounting software?
Katana is a manufacturing and inventory management platform, not a full financial ERP. It's designed to sit alongside accounting systems like QuickBooks Online and Xero, handling production, inventory and orders while accounting stays in the connected system.
What does Katana's Shop Floor App do?
The Shop Floor App gives production operators a task-level view of what to make next, lets them log progress in real time, and supports batch tracking for traceability directly from the production floor.
Evaluating Manufacturing (MES / PLM)?
Tell us your ERP and requirements and we'll send an independent shortlist — including Katana Cloud Manufacturing and the best-fit alternatives — with honest pros and cons.