For many growing companies, managing inventory follows a familiar pattern. As order volumes and SKU counts increase, so does operational complexity. What once worked—whether QuickBooks, Fishbowl, or manually updated Excel spreadsheets—quickly becomes a bottleneck, making it difficult to keep up with demand.
The real tipping point comes when businesses lose real-time visibility into inventory movement. Without accurate forecasting across warehouses and sales channels, inefficiencies emerge, leading to stockouts, overstock, and cash flow disruptions.
However, companies that embrace smart inventory management at the right stage can turn these challenges into opportunities. Take, for example, a manufacturer that implemented NetSuite’s inventory management capabilities. Within a year, they scaled operations by 50% while keeping inventory-related working capital increases to just 10%.
With automated systems optimizing stock levels, predicting demand, and preventing costly inefficiencies, smart inventory management becomes a key driver of sustainable growth.
Now, let’s explore how businesses across three industries have leveraged inventory management systems to fuel their success.
Smart Inventory Management Reshapes Wholesale Distribution
For wholesale distributors, adapting to market shifts is essential for long-term success. Action Health, a packaging distributor based in Bensenville, Illinois, faced a pivotal decision after 35 years in business. With evolving industry demands, the company chose to exit the retail gift supply sector and focus on the more profitable health care packaging industry.
To thrive in the low-margin world of health care packaging, Action Health prioritized cost reduction and supply chain efficiency. Smart inventory management became the foundation of this transformation. By implementing an automated system, the company improved inventory accuracy by 85%, reducing its cycle count error rate from 3.5% to just 0.5%.
Beyond accuracy, automation enabled operational efficiencies that set Action Health apart. Faster order fulfillment, same-day shipping, and streamlined billing contributed to a 40% increase in revenue per employee. In just one year, sales growth surged by 18%, a significant leap from its historical 2% annual growth. Employee productivity also rose by 20%, reinforcing the value of data-driven inventory control.
This case highlights how smart inventory management isn’t just about tracking stock—it’s a catalyst for profitability, scalability, and sustained business success in wholesale distribution.
Smart Inventory Management Gives Small Brands a Competitive Edge
For small retail distributors, securing shelf space with major retailers like Walmart and Target is a daunting challenge. Without the right infrastructure, scaling from direct-to-consumer sales to large-scale B2B distribution can be overwhelming. e.l.f. Cosmetics, an Oakland-based beauty brand, faced this exact hurdle—but smart inventory management helped them compete with much larger players.
In just a decade, e.l.f. Cosmetics transformed its business model. Originally reliant on online B2C sales, the company flipped its revenue stream, making wholesale partnerships with major retailers its primary growth driver. This shift required moving away from outdated spreadsheet-based inventory tracking and a loosely integrated legacy ERP system.
By implementing a real-time smart inventory management system, e.l.f. Cosmetics gained complete visibility into stock levels and procurement data. The company streamlined transactions with its China-based manufacturers, optimized inventory levels, and automated invoicing—ensuring on-time deliveries across both B2B and B2C channels.
The result? A leaner, more efficient supply chain that enabled e.l.f. Cosmetics to compete on a global scale, proving that smart inventory management isn’t just a tool—it’s a growth strategy for ambitious brands.
Smart Inventory Management Helps Brands Scale Across Sales Channels
Managing inventory across multiple sales channels is a complex challenge, especially for brands balancing retail partnerships, global distribution, and direct-to-consumer sales. Point6, a manufacturer of high-performance outdoor socks, faced these hurdles firsthand. Its legacy Microsoft Great Plains system lacked real-time inventory visibility, making it difficult to efficiently fulfill orders across hundreds of U.S. retail locations, international distributors, and its own eCommerce site.
Frequent workarounds and troubleshooting slowed operations—until the company adopted smart inventory management. With an integrated, real-time system, Point6 gained deep insights into product sales by variation and customer type, enabling more strategic decision-making.
Now, transactions with retail and distribution partners run seamlessly, fulfillment is faster, and a unified view of both B2B and B2C customers has significantly improved service. More importantly, Point6 is now positioned for rapid expansion, with an inventory management system built to scale alongside its growth.
Scaling for the Future with NetSuite’s Smart Inventory Management
For businesses like Point6, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and Action Health, smart inventory management isn’t just about tracking stock—it’s a catalyst for efficiency, profitability, and long-term success. Each of these companies overcame significant operational hurdles by replacing outdated, fragmented systems with automated, real-time inventory management solutions.
NetSuite has been a key player in these transformations. As a cloud-based, fully integrated business platform, NetSuite’s inventory management capabilities provide real-time visibility across all sales channels, automate procurement and fulfillment, and streamline transactions with suppliers and distributors. This level of control ensures businesses can scale seamlessly while reducing costs, improving accuracy, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
By leveraging NetSuite’s smart inventory management, businesses gain the flexibility to adapt to shifting market demands, expand across new sales channels, and drive sustainable growth. Whether managing a complex global supply chain or optimizing fulfillment for eCommerce and retail, NetSuite equips companies with the tools they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
For growing businesses ready to move beyond spreadsheets and disconnected systems, investing in a powerful inventory management solution like NetSuite is the key to unlocking efficiency and long-term success.
