Ten years ago, a vision was born to simplify and streamline inventory management for businesses worldwide. As we turn 10 today, on October 23rd, join us as we look back at the milestones that made Zoho Inventory into the powerful, global platform it is today.
While we’ve introduced countless features over the years, we’ll highlight a few that have truly defined our journey. To explore the full evolution of Zoho Inventory and discover everything new, visit our What’s New page.
The initial spark: Foundation of inventory control (2015–2017)
In the beginning, we laid the groundwork for true multi-channel inventory control, right from your pocket.
2015
Global launch, iOS App & item grouping
We launched Zoho Inventory for users across the globe with region-specific features for the US and UK, followed by India. To deliver inventory control right from your pocket, we also launched the Zoho Inventory iOS app As we began enhancing the app, we introduced Composite Items (bundles) to pack items together for simple selling.
2017
Batch tracking, serial number tracking, & barcode scanning
The revolutionary Batch Tracking feature was rolled out, allowing you to group and monitor a set of stock that share similar properties like a specific manufacturing date or expiration date.
We introduced Serial Number Tracking in the same year, allowing you to track individual, high-value items by a unique ID from purchase to sale. We also simplified Barcode Scanning (items auto-added upon scanning).
Gaining momentum : Scale, automation, and customization (2018–2020)
The focus then shifted to empowering you with automation, advanced tracking, and the ability to customize the platform to your unique needs.
2018
Real-time transfers, Android App & custom functions
We expanded our mobile reach with the launch of the Zoho Inventory Android app.We also introduced Live Shipment Tracking which let you track your stock in real time while it's in transit which ensures accurate, immediate stock availability. The launch of Custom Functions allowed you to write small pieces of code to automate your business processes. This made day-to-day business tasks easier.
2019
Multi-level approvals & advanced analytics
To provide growing businesses with sophisticated governance and fraud prevention we introduced Multi-level Approval for both purchase and sales transactions. This let you assign more than one approver to verify and approve purchase transactions created by non-approvers. Integrating with Zoho Analytics gave access to over 75 data-driven insightful reports and dashboards.
2020
Picklists & e-invoicing
In order to eliminate errors while picking orders, Picklists was launched, allowing you to create a list of items you want to retrieve from warehouses and assign a user to pick them for efficient order fulfillment.
For our users in India, we introduced seamless e-invoicing to upload transactions to the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) which helped Indian businesses meet their mandatory tax requirements.
Global reach : Connecting e-commerce and modern workflows (2021–2023)
We expanded our global reach and refined the fulfillment process, ensuring you could sell and ship anywhere.
2021
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) support
Deepening our ecommerce capabilities, we introduced support for Fulfillment by Amazon, including the ability to create inbound shipments directly within the app. This marked the beginning of Zoho Inventory’s transformation into a true multichannel hub, laying the foundation for many more integrations to come.
2022
Multicurrency & improved security
The launch of the Ultimate Plan and support for multicurrency transactions helped businesses maintain accurate financial reporting for global users dealing with multiple currencies.
We enhanced shipping by enabling Auto-attach International Forms from UPS and introducing a Shipment Tracking Timeline in the Customer Portal to eliminate manual paperwork for international shipping.
2023
Portal enhancements
In order to reduce administrative load, we enabled customers and vendors to manage returns and expedite stock receiving through self-service capabilities. We also streamlined the vendor and customer experience by adding Credit Notes in the Customer Portal and allowing users to create Receives directly from the Purchase Receives module. These enhancements significantly improved the B2B user experience, creating a more efficient, collaborative ecosystem.
The future is now: Warehouse optimization (2024-2025)
In the last couple of years we have focused on maximizing warehouse efficiency, embracing new technologies, and making every workflow smarter.
2024
Bin locations, weighted average, & fintech
We brought warehouse organization to a granular level with the introduction of Bin Locations for precise stock placement. We rolled out end-to-end Batch Tracking and powerful Barcode Generation (serial and batch-based) for flawless item movement. Also, the Weighted Average valuation method, which is an inventory valuation method used for calculating the cost of goods sold (COGS) and the value of remaining inventory, was introduced to provide greater accounting flexibility.
Finally, the launch of Zoho Payments for Zoho Inventory streamlined payment collection. Along with this, many insightful reports were introduced for deeper business intelligence.
2025
Kits, Intelligent replenishment & Global Shipping Enhancements
A monumental year! We launched Kit Items. Unlike Assemblies, Kit Items allow you to group multiple components into a single sales unit easily, simplifying pricing and promotion for packaged goods. We also introduced the game-changing Replenishments feature designed to prevent stockouts and overstocking.
In addition, multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an essential security layer for both your Customer and Vendor Portals. It requires users to verify their identity using a secondary factor (like a code sent to their phone) in addition to their password.
We also significantly boosted our global fulfillment capabilities by launching advanced integrations with major shipping carriers, allowing you to connect directly with a vast network of carriers from within Zoho Inventory. This included enhanced support for key partners like Easyship, Envia, Shiprocket (India Edition), Delhivery (India Edition), and The Courier Guy (South Africa Edition).
Edition launch
A look back at the historical timeline chronicles the major expansion of the Zoho Inventory application, beginning with its global launch in October 2015. The dates highlight a strategic phased approach, showing the subsequent rollout of specific country editions for markets like India, Canada, and Australia, as well as crucial tax-compliant editions for the GCC (UAE, KSA, Bahrain, and Oman) to ensure immediate localization and adherence to regional tax legislation.
The best part? We're just getting started. We're committed to launch more edition-specific localization in the coming years to support compliance and growth.
From a simple inventory tool to a comprehensive, interconnected ecosystem, the journey over the last 10 years has been incredible! We want to extend our deepest gratitude to you, our incredible customers. Your feedback, support, and partnership have been the real driving force behind every feature and every milestone. We built this platform for you, and we couldn't have done it without you. Here's to another decade of growth, innovation, and success together!
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