Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics vs Materials Inventoryfor Shopify (2026)
Bigblue and Materials Inventory, while both falling under the 'Inventory' category on Shopify, cater to very different segments of the e-commerce market. Bigblue positions itself as an all-in-one logistics and fulfillment solution focused on providing a branded customer experience. It aims to handle warehousing, packaging, shipping, returns, and even B2B fulfillment. Its core strength lies in automating and optimizing the post-purchase experience to boost sales. It seems designed for merchants scaling beyond self-fulfillment and needing a complete outsourced solution. Materials Inventory, on the other hand, is geared towards makers and manufacturers who manage raw materials and product inventory directly. Its strength is its ability to track raw material costs, product profitability, and manage purchase orders to prevent overselling or stockouts. It directly integrates with Shopify to ensure real-time inventory synchronization. The app emphasizes cost management, internal operations optimization, and production planning, a stark contrast to Bigblue's customer-centric fulfillment approach.
At a Glance
Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics
12 reviews
Materials Inventory
49 reviews
Detailed Overview
Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics
Bigblue is the fulfillment solution for customer-centric brands that boosts your sales.
Key Features
- We package and ship your orders with same-day fulfillment.
- Unique unboxings: Use your own packaging, add flyers, samples, and gift notes.
- Display a delivery badge on your product page and estimated dates at checkout.
- Easily setup your customer experience: from branded tracking emails to returns.
- B2B fulfillment for your marketplaces, Amazon FBA orders, retail stores, etc.
Materials Inventory
Inventory management for makers & manufacturers. Create bills of materials & track profitability
Key Features
- Stop overselling: The app updates your Shopify inventory in real-time
- Plan ahead: Know your real-time inventory of bundles, products & raw materials
- Easy to use: Intuitive & easy to use so you can focus on your business
- Informative: Costs & profits per product. Full history of inventory movements
- Low inventory alerts. Thresholds dynamically adjusted. Custom Purchase Orders
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics5/5 Materials Inventory5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 12 | 49 |
Reviews Bigblue ‑ All in one logistics12 Materials Inventory49 | ||
| Target Merchant | Brands focused on outsourced fulfillment & CX | Makers & Manufacturers managing raw materials |
Target Merchant Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsBrands focused on outsourced fulfillment & CX Materials InventoryMakers & Manufacturers managing raw materials | ||
| Core Function | Order fulfillment, branded delivery | Raw materials inventory management, profitability tracking |
Core Function Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsOrder fulfillment, branded delivery Materials InventoryRaw materials inventory management, profitability tracking | ||
| Key Benefit | Improved customer experience, increased sales | Accurate inventory, prevents overselling/stockouts |
Key Benefit Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsImproved customer experience, increased sales Materials InventoryAccurate inventory, prevents overselling/stockouts | ||
| Ease of Use | Connects to Shopify quickly | Intuitive & easy to use |
Ease of Use Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsConnects to Shopify quickly Materials InventoryIntuitive & easy to use | ||
| Value Proposition | Focus on brand experience through fulfillment | Focus on cost control & production efficiency |
Value Proposition Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsFocus on brand experience through fulfillment Materials InventoryFocus on cost control & production efficiency | ||
| Fulfillment Model | Outsourced warehousing & fulfillment | Internal production & inventory management |
Fulfillment Model Bigblue ‑ All in one logisticsOutsourced warehousing & fulfillment Materials InventoryInternal production & inventory management | ||
Our Verdict
Choosing between Bigblue and Materials Inventory depends entirely on your business model. If you are a merchant who wants to offload fulfillment entirely, create a branded post-purchase experience, and focus on scaling sales, Bigblue is likely the superior choice. Its features directly address the pain points of fast, reliable, and branded delivery.
However, if you are a manufacturer or maker who manages their own raw materials and finished goods inventory, and your primary concern is cost control, accurate inventory levels, and preventing stockouts or overselling, Materials Inventory is the more suitable option. It provides the tools necessary to manage the complexities of a manufacturing-based inventory system.
Common Questions
Which app offers better customization of the customer experience?
Bigblue offers superior customization of the customer experience. It provides options for branded tracking emails, returns processes, unique unboxings with custom packaging, flyers, samples, and gift notes.
Which app is more suitable for a dropshipping business?
Neither app explicitly mentions dropshipping support. However, Bigblue *might* be adaptable if the dropshipping supplier is integrated with their system, which isn't stated. Materials Inventory is definitely not suited for dropshipping.
Does either app integrate with accounting software?
The provided descriptions do not mention integrations with accounting software for either app. Additional research would be needed to determine if such integrations exist.
Which app is better for businesses with multiple sales channels?
Bigblue explicitly states it manages operations for all sales channels in one place, making it better suited for businesses with multiple sales channels (including B2B, Amazon FBA, and retail stores).
How do the apps handle returns?
Bigblue includes returns management as a core feature, allowing for easy setup of a branded returns process. Materials Inventory does not mention returns management in its description.
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