Category: App marketing

Affiliate marketing is a powerful tool for businesses looking to expand their reach, drive sales, and boost brand visibility. By partnering with affiliate marketers, businesses can tap into new audiences and generate revenue through commission-based partnerships. Below are some of the best affiliate marketing platforms for businesses to scale, ensuring streamlined operations and profitable collaborations.

Awin (Affiliate Window (Awin’s UK subset))

Awin is one of the leading affiliate marketing platforms offering access to a vast network of affiliates, including bloggers, influencers, and content creators. Awin provides robust tracking tools, real-time analytics, and personalised support, making it easier for UK brands to manage and optimise their affiliate campaigns.

Key features

• Large network of UK and European affiliates across various sectors
• Performance-based payment model to ensure you only pay for successful sales
• Real-time reporting and analytics for campaign optimisation

Client example: Marks & Spencer, one of the UK’s largest retailers, uses Awin to manage its affiliate marketing programme, partnering with influencers and content creators across the fashion and homeware sectors. This strategy drives significant traffic and boosts sales. Through Awin, Marks & Spencer has effectively broadened its digital reach, increasing online sales and strengthening its brand presence, particularly among a younger, more tech-savvy audience.

Our verdict: Awin is a fantastic platform for UK-based businesses looking to scale their affiliate efforts. Its large network and sophisticated tools make it a top choice for driving sales.

Rakuten Advertising

Rakuten Advertising is a globally recognised affiliate platform, offering access to a vast network of publishers and affiliates across multiple industries. The platform is known for its strong partnerships with premium brands, providing advanced tracking tools and cross-channel promotional capabilities, which are ideal for businesses that need a global reach, including the UK.

Key features

• Extensive global affiliate network across diverse industries
• Advanced data insights for optimising performance
• Cross-channel promotion for integrating affiliate efforts with other marketing campaigns

Client example: Debenhams, a leading UK department store, has used Rakuten Advertising to connect with global affiliates. By leveraging Rakuten’s wide network, Debenhams boosts its online visibility and generates additional revenue streams through new affiliate partnerships, which has helped offset declines in footfall to its physical stores.

Our verdict: Ideal for global brands looking to manage multiple affiliate programs across different regions. Its advanced tracking and reporting features are excellent for performance-driven campaigns.

Tradedoubler

Tradedoubler is a well-known affiliate marketing platform with a strong focus on European markets. It offers seamless integration with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Magento, making it easy for businesses to manage multi-channel affiliate campaigns. With advanced tracking and automation tools, Tradedoubler is perfect for companies that need a scalable solution.

Key features

• Integration with leading e-commerce platforms like Shopify
• Advanced tracking and real-time reporting for data-driven decision-making
• Automation features to simplify affiliate management

Client example: Microsoft has used Tradedoubler to manage its affiliate marketing efforts across Europe. The platform’s integration with Microsoft’s e-commerce infrastructure ensures seamless tracking and automation, enabling the tech giant to run targeted campaigns that promote its wide range of products, from software to hardware. By leveraging Tradedoubler, Microsoft has been able to significantly increase its market penetration in Europe, especially in the consumer and small business segments. This has helped the brand drive additional revenue by reaching new audiences and enhancing its digital footprint across diverse regions, all while streamlining the management of its campaigns through automation.

Our verdict: Tradedoubler is an excellent platform for businesses in Europe that require advanced tools and integration capabilities. If you are looking for a scalable solution to manage multi-channel campaigns, Tradedoubler offers everything you need to drive affiliate sales efficiently.

CJ Affiliate

CJ Affiliate is a well-established name in affiliate marketing, known for connecting businesses with top-tier, premium publishers and influencers making it an ideal choice for brands seeking high-quality, performance-driven collaborations. The platform provides advanced performance tracking and analytics, allowing businesses to optimise their affiliate campaigns effectively. 

Key features

• Access to a network of premium affiliates, including top publishers and influencers
• Powerful analytics and reporting tools for data-driven decision-making
• Strong focus on performance marketing, ensuring measurable results

Client example: GoPro, the action camera brand, partners with CJ Affiliate to tap into influential content creators and publishers. CJ Affiliate has played a crucial role in transforming GoPro’s affiliate marketing strategy by connecting the brand with high-quality publishers and influencers. This has led to a significant boost in global sales and heightened brand awareness, particularly within niche outdoor and adventure communities, helping GoPro maintain its position as a leader in the action camera market.

Our verdict: CJ Affiliate is ideal for brands looking to collaborate with premium publishers and influencers. Its strong analytics capabilities make it the go-to platform for businesses focused on performance-driven affiliate marketing.

Partnerize

Partnerize is an advanced affiliate marketing platform that focuses on automation and real-time insights. With AI-powered recruitment, Partnerize enables businesses to automate various aspects of affiliate management, from discovery and onboarding to payment processing. The platform also supports cross-channel tracking, making it easier to manage campaigns across different platforms.

Key features

• AI-powered affiliate recruitment and automation
• Real-time data insights and reporting for quick optimisation
• Cross-channel tracking for comprehensive campaign management

Client example: Uber, the ride-sharing giant, leverages Partnerize to manage its global affiliate program. The platform’s real-time insights and automation tools have enabled Uber to scale its affiliate marketing globally, driving increased bookings and app downloads through highly targeted campaigns. The platform’s automation features have streamlined Uber’s affiliate operations, allowing the company to expand its customer base while optimising performance and reducing manual efforts across multiple markets.

Our verdict: Partnerize is perfect for fast-growing businesses that require automation and real-time analytics. Its advanced tech stack is ideal for brands looking to streamline their affiliate marketing efforts and scale rapidly.

Webgains

Webgains is a well-regarded affiliate platform offering cost-effective solutions for mid-sized businesses. The platform emphasises performance and ROI-driven strategies, helping businesses grow through effective affiliate partnerships. Webgains also provides dedicated account management, making it easier for businesses to navigate the affiliate marketing landscape.

Key features

• Dedicated account management for personalised support
• Data-driven insights and performance tracking
• Scalable solutions designed for growing businesses

Client example: Curry’s, a popular electronics retailer in the UK, uses Webgains to manage its affiliate marketing efforts. The platform’s scalable solutions have helped Curry’s grow its network of affiliates and significantly boost its online sales, particularly during key shopping periods like Black Friday. The platform’s data-driven approach has enabled Curry’s to target the right affiliates, optimising campaigns for maximum ROI and expanding its digital reach, leading to a noticeable uplift in both traffic and conversions.

Our verdict: For mid-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective affiliate platform with strong performance tracking, Webgains is a great choice.

Impact

Impact is a highly customisable affiliate marketing platform designed to meet the unique needs of businesses. It integrates with other marketing tools and provides real-time tracking, allowing businesses full control over their affiliate marketing efforts. The platform is ideal for companies that need flexibility and customisation to manage their affiliate programs effectively.

Key features

• Customisable affiliate marketing solutions
• Integration with other marketing platforms
• Real-time performance tracking and optimisation

Client example: ASOS, one of the UK’s most popular online fashion retailers, uses Impact to customise its affiliate marketing strategies. Impact allows ASOS to tailor campaigns based on region, product categories, and performance metrics, ensuring a highly targeted approach to drive affiliate sales. Through the use of Impact’s customisable tools, ASOS has been able to drive exponential growth in its international markets, enhancing both customer acquisition and retention through strategic affiliate partnerships.

Our verdict: Impact is an excellent choice for businesses that want full control over their affiliate marketing and the ability to customise their solutions to fit specific needs.

ClickBank

ClickBank is a popular affiliate marketing platform, particularly for businesses focused on selling digital products such as online courses, software, and e-books. The platform offers an easy-to-use interface and a vast network of affiliates who specialise in promoting digital products, making it a top choice for UK-based digital entrepreneurs.

Key features

• Focus on digital products and online services
• Large network of affiliates with expertise in digital marketing
• User-friendly platform for creating and managing affiliate programs

Client example: Udemy, a leading online learning platform, uses ClickBank to promote its courses via a network of digital marketing affiliates. This has helped boost enrolments, particularly in niche subjects, and helped expand Udemy’s reach both in the UK and globally. ClickBank has played a key role in growing Udemy’s digital sales, solidifying its position as a leader in online education.

Our verdict: If you’re a business focused on digital products, ClickBank is a top choice. Its user-friendly interface and extensive affiliate network make it easy to connect with partners who can help promote your offerings effectively.

Key features to look for in an affiliate marketing platform

• Automation: Automating affiliate tracking and reporting to save time and reduce manual work.
• Integration: Ensure the platform integrates with your existing e-commerce and CRM tools.
• Real-time reporting: Access data and performance metrics in real-time to optimise campaigns.

Choosing the right affiliate marketing platform

When deciding on the best platform for your business, consider the following

• Business goals: Define what you want to achieve through affiliate marketing—brand awareness, sales growth, or audience expansion.
• Budget: Determine how much you’re willing to invest in an affiliate program and find platforms that fit your budget.
• Trial period: Take advantage of free trials or demos to ensure the platform meets your specific needs.

Investing in the right affiliate marketing platform can significantly increase your sales, drive traffic, and help expand your brand presence.

Imagine this. You’ve just launched a winning ad, and sales are skyrocketing. Your best-selling product is flying off the virtual shelves—all is well until your bestseller is unexpectedly out of stock. At the same time, other products sit untouched in your warehouse. This imbalance not only results in lost sales but also ties up capital in unsellable inventory.

Such scenarios are all too common among businesses without effective stock control. To avoid these pitfalls, e-commerce brands need reliable tools and software to help manage stock efficiently. The right solution can automate reordering, track stock levels in real-time, and offer valuable insights into your sales performance.

Here, we look at the top inventory management tools tailored for Shopify stores, to help you streamline operations and fuel growth.

Benefits of a good inventory management system

• Optimise stock levels: Prevent over-ordering or running out of stock.
• Automate restocking: Trigger orders automatically when stock levels are low.
• Track trends: Monitor what’s selling quickly and what’s underperforming for better forecasting.

Top inventory management systems for e-commerce brands

Stocky by Shopify

Best for: Shopify stores looking for a native solution.

Stocky is Shopify’s native inventory app, designed to integrate seamlessly with your store. It helps you manage stock, track supplier performance, and automate purchase orders. Stocky’s intuitive dashboard lets you see sales trends and restock needs at a glance.

Key features

• Automated purchase orders based on sales performance
• Real-time inventory tracking
• Advanced reporting on product profitability

Pricing
Included with Shopify POS Pro plan (£89/month).

Our verdict
Stocky is perfect for Shopify users who want a streamlined, native inventory solution. It provides all the essential features for managing stock and is built to handle both online and in-store stock seamlessly.

TradeGecko (QuickBooks Commerce)

Best for: Multi-channel sellers using Shopify and QuickBooks.

TradeGecko, now known as QuickBooks Commerce, is a powerful inventory and order management platform that integrates smoothly with Shopify. It helps you manage stock across multiple locations, automate workflows, and track sales performance, offering advanced insights into your supply chain.

Key features

• Multi-location inventory management
• Integration with Shopify and QuickBooks
• Automated purchase orders and workflow automation

Pricing
Starting at £40/month.

Our verdict
Ideal for growing businesses that sell across multiple channels, TradeGecko offers robust tools for inventory management. Its integration with QuickBooks makes it a strong choice for businesses looking to streamline both inventory and financial operations.

Katana

Best for: Manufacturers using Shopify.

Katana is designed for small manufacturers who also sell online. It tracks inventory across locations in real time and provides visibility into raw materials and finished goods. Katana helps manufacturers streamline production workflows and manage stock levels efficiently.

Key features

• Real-time inventory control of raw materials and products
• Integration with Shopify and WooCommerce
• Visual production planning and stock management

Pricing
From £160/month.

Our verdict
Katana is a great solution for manufacturers that need more visibility and control over their production and inventory. Its seamless integration with Shopify makes it an excellent choice for small manufacturers.

Skubana

Best for: Fast-growing e-commerce brands.

Skubana is an all-in-one platform that centralises order and inventory management for fast-growing e-commerce brands. It connects with Shopify and other sales channels to synchronise stock levels, automate purchase orders, and provide actionable insights for optimising inventory.

Key features

• Unified order and inventory management across multiple channels
• Automated stock replenishment based on sales forecasts
• In-depth analytics for better stock control

Pricing
Starts at £790/month.

Our verdict
Skubana is an excellent option for businesses scaling quickly and needing a robust inventory management tool. It offers advanced features for businesses with complex inventory requirements.

DEAR Inventory

Best for: Comprehensive stock management with financials.

DEAR Inventory offers end-to-end stock management, from purchasing and sales to production and fulfilment. It integrates seamlessly with Shopify and includes built-in accounting features, allowing businesses to manage both inventory and finances in one place.

Key features

• Full inventory and order management
• Multi-currency support
• Built-in accounting and financial reporting

Pricing
Starting at £180/month.

Our verdict
DEAR Inventory is ideal for businesses looking for a comprehensive solution that manages both stock and finances. It’s a great tool for growing brands that need to optimise their operations while maintaining control over their financials.

Zoho Inventory

Best for: Small to medium-sized Shopify businesses.

Zoho Inventory offers a cost-effective solution for small and medium-sized businesses. It includes multi-channel sales, warehouse management, and real-time inventory tracking. Zoho’s user-friendly interface makes it a popular choice for businesses that don’t need overly complex systems.

Key features

• Multi-channel sales and warehouse management
• Real-time inventory tracking
• Integrations with Shopify, Amazon, and eBay

Pricing
From £25/month, with a free version available.

Our verdict
Zoho Inventory is an affordable solution for small businesses looking to gain more control over their stock. It’s simple to use and integrates well with Shopify, making it a solid choice for growing e-commerce brands.

Finale Inventory

Best for: High-volume Shopify stores.

Finale Inventory is built for high-volume e-commerce businesses. It offers advanced features like serial number tracking, inventory replenishment forecasting, and barcode scanning. Finale also integrates seamlessly with Shopify, making it easy to manage stock and fulfilment for large-scale operations.

Key features

• Real-time stock updates and multi-location management
• Barcode scanning and serial number tracking
• Forecasting tools to prevent stockouts

Pricing
Starts at £90/month.

Our verdict
For businesses handling large volumes of stock, Finale Inventory offers the advanced features needed to keep things running smoothly. Its forecasting tools and real-time updates make it ideal for high-volume operations.

Key features to look for in an inventory management tool

• Automation: Automate stock control to reduce manual input and errors.
• E-commerce integrations: Ensure the tool integrates with platforms like Shopify, Amazon, or WooCommerce.
• Mobile access: Manage your inventory on the go with mobile apps.
• Analytics: Get insights from sales and stock data to make informed decisions.

Choosing the right tool for your business

Choosing the best tool depends on your business size, needs, and budget. Follow these steps to find the right solution.

Define your needs: Consider your business size, whether you sell across multiple channels, and your stock management needs.

Set your budget: Weigh the cost of manual stock management against investing in a tool that automates and optimises processes.

Test the software: Take advantage of free trials to see which tool suits your workflow.

Look for unique features: Evaluate any additional features that could benefit your business.

Investing in the right inventory management software can help improve your operational efficiency, prevent stockouts, and streamline your e-commerce growth. Whether you’re a small business or a fast-growing brand, these tools will help you stay on top of your stock management in 2025.