When your e-commerce operation outgrows spreadsheets and basic stock tracking, the search for a proper inventory management platform begins in earnest. Two names that consistently appear on shortlists are Cin7 and Skubana (now part of the Extensiv family). Both promise to streamline warehouse management for e-commerce businesses, but they take notably different approaches to getting the job done.
Having spent years working with brands navigating the complexities of multi-channel fulfilment, we know that the best inventory management software is rarely the one with the longest feature list — it is the one that fits your operation. In this comparison, we will walk through everything that matters so you can make a confident decision.
Overview: What Are Cin7 and Skubana?
Cin7 at a Glance
Cin7 is a cloud-based inventory and order management platform designed for product-selling businesses. It covers the full spectrum from point-of-sale (POS) to warehouse management, making it a popular choice for brands that sell across brick-and-mortar retail, online marketplaces, and wholesale channels simultaneously. Cin7 offers two main products: Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR Inventory) for small to mid-sized businesses, and Cin7 Omni for larger, more complex operations.
Skubana at a Glance
Skubana, now operating under the Extensiv brand as Extensiv Order Manager, was purpose-built for high-volume e-commerce sellers. It focuses heavily on order orchestration, multi-warehouse routing, and analytics. If your business lives and breathes online marketplaces and direct-to-consumer (DTC) fulfilment, Skubana was designed with your workflow in mind.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Below is a side-by-side look at the core capabilities that matter most for growing e-commerce brands evaluating the best inventory management software for their needs.
| Feature | Cin7 | Skubana (Extensiv) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-channel inventory sync | Yes — marketplaces, retail, wholesale, EDI | Yes — marketplaces and DTC-focused |
| Warehouse management (WMS) | Built-in WMS with bin/location tracking | 3PL and warehouse routing; lighter native WMS |
| Order orchestration | Standard order workflows | Advanced auto-routing by cost, location, SLA |
| Built-in POS | Yes | No |
| B2B / wholesale portal | Yes | Limited |
| Manufacturing / production | Yes — BOM, assemblies, production planning | No native manufacturing module |
| Demand forecasting | Basic forecasting tools | Advanced predictive analytics |
| Marketplace integrations | Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce + more | Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Walmart + more |
| Accounting integrations | Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB | QuickBooks, Xero |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & analytics | Good — customisable dashboards | Excellent — profitability analytics per SKU/channel |
Inventory and Warehouse Management for E-commerce
For brands specifically searching for strong warehouse management e-commerce capabilities, this is where the two platforms diverge most clearly.
Cin7’s Warehouse Approach
Cin7 offers a genuinely integrated warehouse management system. You get bin and location tracking, barcode scanning, pick-pack-ship workflows, and stock transfer management between multiple warehouses — all within the same platform you use for orders and purchasing. For brands running their own warehouse or managing inventory in-house, this is a significant advantage. Everything lives in one place, which reduces data lag and eliminates the need for middleware.
- Bin and zone-level location management
- Barcode scanning for receiving, picking, and stocktakes
- Multi-warehouse stock transfers with full visibility
- Batch and serial number tracking
- Integrated with Cin7’s purchasing and production modules
Skubana’s Warehouse Approach
Skubana takes a different philosophy. Rather than providing a deep native WMS, it excels at orchestrating orders across multiple fulfilment nodes — whether those are your own warehouses, third-party logistics (3PL) providers, or FBA. Its intelligent order routing engine can automatically direct orders to the optimal fulfilment centre based on proximity, cost, stock levels, and shipping SLAs.
- Automated order routing across warehouses and 3PLs
- Native integrations with major 3PL providers
- FBA inventory management and replenishment tools
- Shipment tracking and carrier rate shopping
- Less suited for hands-on, in-house warehouse operations
If you operate your own warehouse floor, Cin7 gives you more granular control. If you rely on a distributed fulfilment network with 3PLs, Skubana’s routing intelligence is hard to beat.
Ease of Use and Onboarding
Neither platform is something you will master over a lunch break, but the learning curves differ.
Cin7 packs a tremendous amount of functionality into its interface, which can feel overwhelming during the first few weeks. The trade-off is that once configured, it serves as a genuine all-in-one system. Cin7 offers guided onboarding, and the Cin7 Core product is generally more approachable than Cin7 Omni for smaller teams.
Skubana has a cleaner, more modern interface that e-commerce-native teams tend to find intuitive. The dashboard-first design puts key metrics front and centre (or center, for our US readers). However, setting up complex order routing rules and automation workflows requires time and careful planning.
Both platforms provide onboarding support, knowledge bases, and dedicated account management for higher-tier plans.
Integrations and Ecosystem
Modern e-commerce runs on integrations, and both platforms deliver here — though with different strengths.
Cin7 Integrations
- Over 700 integrations via native connectors and partners
- Strong accounting links (Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB)
- EDI support for retail and wholesale compliance
- Shopify, Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, Magento
- Shipping carriers and 3PL connectors
Skubana Integrations
- Deep marketplace integrations (Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Shopify)
- Native 3PL and FBA integration
- QuickBooks and Xero for accounting
- Carrier integrations for rate shopping
- Open API for custom builds
Cin7 edges ahead for businesses that need EDI compliance for retail partnerships and wholesale channels. Skubana is stronger when your world revolves around marketplace selling and DTC fulfilment.
Pricing
Pricing is always a moving target with enterprise-grade software, but here is the general landscape as of early 2026.
Cin7 Pricing
- Cin7 Core: Starts from around $349/month (billed annually). Scales based on users and modules.
- Cin7 Omni: Custom pricing, typically starting higher and aimed at larger operations with complex requirements.
- Free trials and demos are available.
Skubana (Extensiv) Pricing
- Custom pricing based on order volume and feature requirements.
- Generally positioned as a mid-to-premium solution; expect to budget $1,000+/month for meaningful usage.
- Demo available upon request.
For smaller teams and brands earlier in their growth journey, Cin7 Core represents a more accessible entry point. Skubana’s pricing reflects its focus on higher-volume sellers where the ROI from intelligent order routing justifies the investment.
Try Cin7 free to see whether it fits your workflow before committing, or request a Skubana demo to explore its order orchestration capabilities firsthand.
Pros and Cons
Cin7 — Pros
- True all-in-one platform: inventory, WMS, POS, B2B, manufacturing
- Strong option for businesses selling across online and offline channels
- More accessible pricing for growing brands
- Robust EDI and wholesale support
- Active development and regular feature updates
Cin7 — Cons
- Interface can feel cluttered for teams that only need e-commerce features
- Steeper learning curve due to breadth of functionality
- Advanced features locked behind higher tiers
Skubana — Pros
- Best-in-class order routing and fulfilment orchestration
- Excellent profitability analytics at the SKU and channel level
- Clean, modern interface built for e-commerce operators
- Strong 3PL and FBA management
- Powerful automation capabilities
Skubana — Cons
- No built-in POS or B2B portal
- Limited manufacturing and production planning features
- Higher price point may be prohibitive for smaller brands
- Transition to Extensiv branding has caused some confusion
Who Is Each Platform Best For?
Choose Cin7 if:
- You sell across both online and physical retail channels
- You run your own warehouse and need integrated WMS capabilities
- You manufacture or assemble products and need BOM management
- You need EDI compliance for retail partnerships
- You want one platform to handle inventory, orders, purchasing, and POS
Choose Skubana if:
- You are a high-volume e-commerce seller focused on marketplaces and DTC
- You use multiple 3PLs or a mix of FBA and self-fulfilment
- Intelligent order routing and cost optimisation are priorities
- You need deep profitability analytics per product, channel, and warehouse
- Your operation is online-only and you do not need POS or B2B features
Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
The Cin7 vs Skubana decision ultimately comes down to where and how you sell.
Cin7 is the stronger choice for brands that operate across multiple sales models — e-commerce, wholesale, and retail — and want a single, unified system to manage it all. Its built-in warehouse management, manufacturing modules, and POS capabilities make it uniquely versatile. For growing brands that need breadth without stitching together half a dozen point solutions, Cin7 delivers genuine value. Explore Cin7 here.
Skubana wins for pure-play e-commerce operators running high order volumes across multiple fulfilment centres. Its order orchestration engine is genuinely sophisticated, and the profitability analytics give finance and operations teams the visibility they need to scale efficiently. If your growth strategy is marketplace-first and you rely on 3PLs, Skubana is purpose-built for your world.
Both platforms are capable, well-supported, and trusted by thousands of brands. The right answer is not which one is objectively better — it is which one maps to your operation today and where you plan to be in the next two to three years. We recommend booking demos with both, mapping your specific workflows against each platform’s strengths, and pressure-testing the integrations that matter most to your stack.
