A Katana alternative built around how you run.
Katana is cloud inventory and manufacturing software for small and midsize product businesses, linking stock, production, purchasing and sales orders. thinkbridge builds one system for the extra sites, sales channels and production rules your business runs on.
Signs you've outgrown Katana
- Production and purchasing rules are kept in spreadsheets beside Katana.
- Some orders still arrive by email or phone and get keyed in by hand.
- Costing and margin reports are assembled by hand.
- You're adding sites, warehouses or entities.
Katana compared with a system you own
| Katana | 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 Katana
Can thinkbridge replace Katana?
Yes. thinkbridge models how the business runs, builds a system that fits and migrates the data from Katana before cutover. It can replace Katana outright or take over only the areas that don't fit.
Can we keep our storefront and accounting tools?
Yes. thinkbridge systems connect to the tools you keep, such as storefronts and accounting packages.
How long does a Katana replacement take?
About four months to go live.
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