Cin7 Core runs inventory. It doesn’t run against the clock.
Cin7 Core (the platform formerly known as DEAR Systems) is a capable SMB inventory ERP built around apparel, electronics, and ecommerce. For perishables, lot and expiry feel grafted on: no FEFO at picking or POS, recall reporting is manual, and there’s no markdown story at all. ShelfLifePro starts where Cin7 stops.
14-day trial, no credit card. The audit needs no signup at all.
Why stores go looking for a Cin7 Core alternative
If more than two of these sound familiar, you're the person this page was written for.
- You’re writing off more than ~3% a month to expiry and Cin7 never warned you
- Lot + expiry is a feature you turned on and configured, not the assumption baked into every workflow
- You need FSMA 204 traceability natively, not via custom reports
- Module and add-on pricing keeps creeping upward
- You want the 6 AM briefing, AI markdowns, and transfer suggestions Cin7 simply doesn’t offer
Where Cin7 Core is genuinely good
Cin7 Core earns its place as a horizontal inventory + light-ERP: multi-warehouse, solid ecommerce and accounting integrations (QuickBooks and Xero both sync two-way), manufacturing modules, and a mature partner ecosystem. If your catalog doesn’t expire, it is a reasonable platform.
If that's all you need, stay — switching software you don't need to switch is a tax. The rest of this page is for stores where expiry is real money.
ShelfLifePro vs Cin7 Core on the things that expire
The snapshot version — expiry-critical capabilities only.
| Capability | ShelfLifePro | Cin7 Core |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-native | ||
| Lot + expiry as first-class data | Partial | |
| FEFO enforced at POS / picking | ||
| FSMA 204 / DSCSA lot traceability | PartialManual reports | |
| Recall lot-trace + chain of custody | Partial | |
| Near-expiry markdown automation | ||
| Prioritised morning report | ||
| Invoice OCR (photo → receiving) | ||
| QuickBooks + Xero two-way sync | ||
| Predicts stock that won’t sell before expiry (value at risk) | Not advertised |
ShelfLifePro starts at $49/month with unlimited users. Cin7 Core lists tiered per-month pricing from ~$349 (Standard, 1 user), with users, locations, and integrations driving the effective number up — confirm on cin7.com.
Want the full feature-by-feature version? ShelfLifePro vs Cin7 Core
How switching actually goes
No big-bang cutover. Your old system keeps running until you trust the new one.
Run the free audit on a stock export
Export from Cin7 to CSV and upload it to the free 60-second audit — the expiry value at risk, on screen, before you commit to anything.
Import catalog, keep the books syncing
CSV import brings items and suppliers across; QuickBooks or Xero sync keeps accounting continuous. Batches capture cleanly from your next receiving cycle.
Parallel-run, then cut over
Run both through one full receiving and count cycle. When the morning report catches its first would-have-expired batch, you’ll know which system earns its keep.
Starting at ₹1,999/month. No credit card for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Still comparing vendors? The expiration date tracking software buyer's guide has the full checklist to run against every demo — ours included.
See your own numbers before you decide
Export your stock from Cin7 Core, upload it to the free audit, and see the value at risk in about 60 seconds — no signup, no sales call.
Run the free audit