A Fishbowl alternative built around how you run.
Fishbowl makes inventory and manufacturing software for small to midsize businesses, covering stock, bills of materials, work orders and purchasing, with QuickBooks and Xero sync. When inventory, production, orders and accounting each live in their own tool, a custom-fit system you own can bring them together.
Signs you've outgrown Fishbowl
- Inventory counts, orders and accounting are reconciled by hand between tools.
- Bills of materials and costing rules live in spreadsheets.
- Several sales channels each need their own sync or workaround.
- You're outgrowing the accounting package that Fishbowl syncs with.
Fishbowl compared with a system you own
| Fishbowl | thinkbridge | |
|---|---|---|
| How it fits | Configured around the vendor's standard process; gaps are closed with customization, add-ons or spreadsheets | Modeled on how your business actually runs, including its exceptions |
| Who owns it | You license it; the vendor owns the code and the roadmap | You own the code, the data model and the business logic |
| How you pay | Subscription or license, plus implementation partner fees | Priced on outcomes, paid over an agreed term |
| After go-live | Changes go through a partner or an upgrade cycle | Managed care keeps improving it; low-risk changes ship to a beta you approve |
| AI | Added through the vendor's roadmap and add-ons | Built into the workflows from the start |
How the move works
- ObserveWe watch how the work runs today, including the workarounds.
- Model and buildThe system is modeled on your process and generated with
think One - Migrate and validateYour data moves over and your team tests it on real cases.
- Go liveIn about four months.
The four stages are a short version of the six-step method (see how it works). For what gets built, see ERP replacement and consolidation.
Questions about moving off Fishbowl
Can thinkbridge replace Fishbowl?
Yes. thinkbridge models how the business runs, builds a system that fits and migrates the data from Fishbowl before cutover. It can replace Fishbowl outright or take over only the areas that don't fit.
Can we keep QuickBooks or Xero?
Yes. thinkbridge can connect to your accounting package and replace the areas that don't fit, or move the books into the new system.
Does it matter which Fishbowl product we use?
No. Fishbowl sells several products, including Inventory, Manufacturing and Advanced, and thinkbridge maps the data from whichever you run. Your own team validates it before cutover.
How long does a Fishbowl replacement take?
About four months to go live.
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