Fast Inventory vs Tally: Which Inventory Software Is Right for Indian Manufacturers?
By Vidya Kathare
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Tally is accounting-first; Fast Inventory is inventory-first — and for most Indian manufacturers the honest answer is that you need both, not one or the other. Tally is the standard for your books, GST returns and double-entry accounting. But it was never built for the shop floor: it has no real-time barcode scanning, only basic batch and multi-location handling, and manual reordering. Fast Inventory is built for exactly that — barcode-driven GRN, lot and expiry tracking, multi-location stock and automatic purchase requests — and it exports to Tally so your accounts stay intact. Choose Fast Inventory for stock operations; keep Tally for the books.
- Inventory-first software
- A system designed around physical stock - receiving, barcode scanning, locations and picking - like Fast Inventory.
- Accounting-first software
- A system designed around the books - ledgers, GST, double-entry - like Tally, with inventory as a secondary module.
- GRN (Goods Receipt Note)
- The document confirming goods received against a purchase order; it updates stock and enables inspection.
- Batch / Lot tracking
- Tracking stock by lot number and expiry date for traceability and FEFO picking.
- Reorder automation
- Automatic purchase requests raised when an item hits its reorder level, preventing stockouts.
Fast Inventory vs Tally Prime: feature comparison
This table compares the two on the operations that matter on a factory or warehouse floor, plus the accounting strengths where Tally leads:
| Feature | Tally Prime | Fast Inventory | Best for manufacturers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time stock updates | Manual ledger entry | Barcode-driven, live | Fast Inventory |
| Barcode scanning | ❌ Not built-in | ✅ Mobile + desktop | Fast Inventory |
| GRN workflow | Basic voucher entry | PO-linked GRN + inspection | Fast Inventory |
| Batch & expiry tracking | ❌ Limited | ✅ Lot-wise + dashboard alerts | Fast Inventory |
| Multi-location stock | ❌ Basic | ✅ Unlimited + transfers | Fast Inventory |
| Reorder automation | ❌ Manual | ✅ Auto purchase request | Fast Inventory |
| Accounting & GST | ✅ Industry standard | Via integration | Tally |
| Purchase/sales ledger | ✅ Full double-entry | Basic | Tally |
| Pricing (India, annual) | ₹18,000/yr (Tally Prime) | From ₹13,000/yr | — |
When to choose Tally
Tally Prime is the right tool when your primary need is accounting: statutory books, double-entry ledgers, GST returns, TDS, balance sheets and the financial reporting your CA expects. It is an Indian standard for a reason — auditors know it, and it does compliance accounting better than any inventory tool. If your stock is simple (few SKUs, one location, no barcodes, no expiry) Tally’s built-in inventory may even be enough on its own.
When to choose Fast Inventory
Choose Fast Inventory when your pain is operations, not accounts: stock that does not match the system, no barcode scanning, manual GRNs, expiry losses, stock spread across locations, and stockouts you find out about too late. Fast Inventory gives you real-time, barcode-driven stock control with GRN, inspection, batch and expiry, multi-location transfers and reorder automation — then exports to Tally so your accountant keeps working exactly as before. For a deeper look at the building blocks, see what a GRN is and FIFO vs FEFO vs LIFO.
What Fast Inventory adds on top of Tally
Fast Inventory (by Fast Technology) covers the operations layer Tally was not built for:
- PO-linked GRN + inspection — receive against a PO, capture challan quantity, split accepted vs rejected with an NCR, and post stock automatically.
- Barcode receiving & picking — print barcodes at the dock and scan items in and out from mobile or desktop.
- Lot & expiry tracking — lot numbers at receipt and a Lot Expiry Dashboard bucketed by today, week, month and quarter.
- Stock ledger, valuation & slow-moving reports — item-, transaction- and location-wise ledgers, valuation, and slow/non-moving stock flags.
- Item Master with reorder levels — min/max inventory that auto-triggers purchase requests.
- Tally export — data flows to Tally so accounting and GST stay where they are.
(Capabilities per the Fast Technology product knowledge base; pricing figures per current market comparison.)
Frequently asked questions
Can Fast Inventory replace Tally completely?
Not for accounting. Tally handles statutory accounting, double-entry books and GST returns; Fast Inventory handles inventory operations - stock control, barcode scanning, GRN, batch and expiry. Most manufacturers run both rather than replacing Tally, using Fast Inventory for the shop floor and Tally for the books.
Does Fast Inventory integrate with Tally?
Yes. Fast Inventory exports data to Tally accounting software, so stock movements and transaction data flow into your Tally books without re-keying. This lets you keep Tally for accounts while running real-time inventory in Fast Inventory.
Which is better for a manufacturing company - Tally or inventory software?
For accounting and GST, Tally. For shop-floor stock control - real-time barcode scanning, PO-linked GRN with inspection, batch and expiry tracking, multi-location stock and reorder automation - a dedicated inventory system like Fast Inventory. A manufacturer typically needs both, each doing what it is built for.
Is Fast Inventory more expensive than Tally Prime?
No. Fast Inventory starts from about Rs 13,000 per year, versus Tally Prime at around Rs 18,000 per year. They serve different needs, so Fast Inventory is usually an addition to Tally for inventory operations rather than a like-for-like replacement.
Can I use both Tally and Fast Inventory together?
Yes, and most manufacturers do. Fast Inventory runs your inventory operations and exports to Tally for accounting and GST. You get barcode-driven stock control, GRN and batch tracking without giving up your existing Tally books.