About
Fishbowl is rated the #1 inventory management software for QuickBooks and Xero, offering a powerful suite of cloud-hosted and cloud-native solutions tailored for manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and ecommerce businesses. Its product lineup includes Fishbowl Manufacturing® for complex production workflows, Fishbowl Inventory® for real-time stock control across multiple locations, Fishbowl Commerce® Suite for ecommerce-integrated inventory management, and Fishbowl AI Insights™ powered by the Athena AI Assistant for on-demand analytics and actionable business data. Key capabilities span the entire business operations stack: real-time inventory tracking with full traceability, automated purchasing and reorder workflows, multi-vendor management, Bill of Materials (BOM) handling, Work Orders, Material Resource Planning (MRP), and third-party logistics (3PL) support. The warehousing module covers pick-and-pack operations, multi-location management, order fulfillment, credit returns, and RMAs. Fishbowl also integrates with QuickBooks Online and Desktop, supports payment processing through Fishbowl Payments®, offers custom reporting, and connects with shipping carriers for cost-effective logistics. Its AI layer automates production prep, catches inventory shortages proactively, and surfaces operational insights instantly. Fishbowl is ideal for growing businesses seeking to replace spreadsheets and disconnected tools with an all-in-one, scalable inventory and manufacturing platform.
Key Features
- Real-Time Inventory Management: Track stock levels, parts, and assets across all locations with full traceability and automated data accuracy.
- AI Insights with Athena: Fishbowl AI Insights™ delivers on-demand analytics and actionable business data through the Athena AI Assistant, helping teams make faster, smarter decisions.
- Manufacturing & Work Orders: Manage Bills of Materials (BOM), Work Orders, MRP, and labor costing for simple to complex production processes.
- Automated Purchasing & Vendor Management: Set reorder points, automate purchasing workflows, calculate landed costs, and manage lead times across multiple vendors.
- QuickBooks & Xero Integration: Seamlessly sync inventory and manufacturing data with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero for accurate, up-to-date accounting.
Use Cases
- A mid-sized manufacturer uses Fishbowl Manufacturing® to manage Bills of Materials, track work orders, and automate material resource planning across multiple production lines.
- An ecommerce retailer connects Fishbowl Commerce® Suite to their online store to sync inventory levels, set custom pricing, and manage order fulfillment in real time.
- A wholesale distributor integrates Fishbowl Inventory® with QuickBooks Online to automate purchasing, reconcile accounts payable, and track vendor lead times.
- A warehouse operator uses Fishbowl's pick-and-pack and multi-location features to manage 3PL inventory, process transfers, and handle returns efficiently.
- A business owner queries the Athena AI Assistant via Fishbowl AI Insights™ to instantly surface low-stock alerts, sales trends, and production bottlenecks without running manual reports.
Pros
- Deep Accounting Integration: Native, bi-directional integration with QuickBooks and Xero eliminates manual data entry and keeps financials accurate in real time.
- All-in-One Platform: Covers inventory, manufacturing, warehousing, ecommerce, payments, and AI analytics in a single ecosystem, reducing the need for multiple tools.
- AI-Powered Operations: The Athena AI Assistant proactively catches shortages, automates production prep, and surfaces insights without requiring complex reports.
- Scalable for Multiple Industries: Supports dozens of industries and scales from small businesses to enterprise-level operations with multi-location and 3PL capabilities.
Cons
- Pricing Requires a Demo: Fishbowl does not publicly list pricing — users must book a demo to get a quote, which can slow down the evaluation process.
- Learning Curve for Complex Features: Advanced manufacturing modules like MRP, BOM, and labor costing may require significant onboarding time for new users.
- Best Value for QuickBooks/Xero Users: Businesses not using QuickBooks or Xero may not fully benefit from Fishbowl's core integration advantages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What accounting software does Fishbowl integrate with?
Fishbowl integrates natively with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero, allowing seamless two-way sync of inventory and financial data.
Does Fishbowl support manufacturing operations?
Yes. Fishbowl Manufacturing® supports Bill of Materials (BOM), Work Orders, Material Resource Planning (MRP), time tracking, and labor costing for both simple and complex production workflows.
What is Fishbowl AI Insights™?
Fishbowl AI Insights™ is an AI-powered analytics module featuring the Athena AI Assistant, which delivers on-demand business data, operational insights, and proactive alerts for inventory shortages and production needs.
Can Fishbowl manage multiple warehouse locations?
Yes. Fishbowl supports multi-location inventory management, third-party logistics (3PL), pick-and-pack operations, order fulfillment, and RMAs across any number of sites.
Is Fishbowl cloud-based?
Fishbowl offers both cloud-hosted (Fishbowl Manufacturing®) and cloud-native (Fishbowl Inventory® and Fishbowl Commerce® Suite) deployment options, accessible from anywhere.
