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DynamxMFG vs Katana
Katana is polished cloud inventory and manufacturing software with excellent Shopify and e-commerce integrations. DynamxMFG is a manufacturing execution system for UK discrete manufacturers. They solve different problems and suit different factories.
The short answer
One is built for e-commerce. One is built for the shop floor.
Choose DynamxMFG® if…
You make engineered products to order, run works orders through multiple operations and machines, and need operator clocking, live WIP and actual job costs. You want UK support and native Sage integration, live in 90 days.
Choose Katana if…
You sell direct to consumers through Shopify, Amazon or WooCommerce, finished goods inventory is your biggest headache, and you want a modern self-serve tool with no implementation project. Katana genuinely fits that well.
The fundamental difference: Katana is organised around stock moving to customers. DynamxMFG is organised around jobs moving through a factory.
Side by side
DynamxMFG vs Katana at a glance
| DynamxMFG | Katana | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | UK SME discrete manufacturers tracking live production | D2C and e-commerce makers on Shopify |
| Shop floor tracking | Live, updated by operators at the machine | Light, inventory-led task lists |
| Job costing | Actual labour, material and overhead per job, live | Inventory-based margins |
| MRP and planning | Included, with purchasing and scheduling | Light planning around stock |
| Accounts integration | Xero, Sage 50/200, QuickBooks and more | Xero, QuickBooks |
| UK-based support | Yes, UK team on UK hours | No |
| Implementation | Structured 90-day go-live, hands-on | Self-serve |
| Pricing | Priced for SMEs, predictable tiers | Usage-based, rises with order volume |
Capability matrix
Every capability, side by side
| DynamxMFG | Katana | |
|---|---|---|
| Live shop floor tracking | ✓ | ◐ |
| Operator clocking at the machine | ✓ | ✕ |
| Live job costing from actuals | ✓ | ✕ |
| Quoting and estimating | ✓ | ✕ |
| MRP and purchasing | ✓ | ◐ |
| Production scheduling | ✓ | ◐ |
| Inventory and batch tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quality and NCR tracking | ✓ | ✕ |
| Serial and batch traceability | ✓ | ◐ |
| Live dashboards and reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xero, Sage and QuickBooks integration | ✓ | ◐ |
| API and webhooks | ✓ | ✓ |
| UK-based support | ✓ | ✕ |
| 90-day implementation | ✓ | ◐ |
✓ Included ◐ Partial or via workaround ✕ Not included Based on published product information, September 2026. Tell us if something has changed.
See it live
A deeper look at what you get with DynamxMFG
Shop floor
Works orders, live from the floor
Works orders are raised with their bill of materials and routing attached, then issued straight to screens at each work centre. Operators book on and off operations at the terminal, so progress, labour and material land against the job as it happens.
No re-keying, no walking the floor to find out where a job is, and no waiting until Friday for the tracker to be updated.
- Works orders with BOMs and routings
- Live booking at the work centre
- Progress visible without leaving the office
Job costing
Margin you can see before invoicing
Every clocking and material issue lands against the job, so estimated versus actual cost is live for every works order. You see the job that is drifting while there is still time to act on it.
Costs push straight into Xero, Sage or QuickBooks, so the accounts tell the same story as the shop floor.
- Live cost against estimate per job
- Labour, material and overhead actuals
- Margin report per sales order
Planning
Scheduling linked to real capacity
The scheduler works from live capacity and actual job progress, not a plan that was true on Monday morning. When priorities change, the schedule moves with them.
Material requirements come from demand and bills of materials, so purchasing knows what is needed before the shortage appears.
- Drag and drop scheduling against capacity
- MRP driven by real demand
- Shortages flagged before they bite
Why manufacturers switch
Three differences that matter on the floor
Jobs, not just stock
Katana tracks what you hold and sell. DynamxMFG tracks the work itself: routings, operations, operator time and downtime across every works order on the floor.
Costs while you can act
Katana shows margin on stock. DynamxMFG shows live cost against estimate per works order, while there is still time to do something about the job that is drifting.
Pricing that stays put
Katana pricing is usage-based and climbs as order lines grow. DynamxMFG is priced for SMEs with predictable tiers, whatever your order volume does.
Customers
What manufacturers say
“DynamxMFG is an excellent choice for manufacturers looking to digitise operations without being overwhelmed by complexity.”
“As GMC has grown, it had become harder for me to have such a keen view on components to see if those parts were profitable or not. DynamxMFG enabled us to monitor the machine time and see whether we are making a profit or a loss on each component.”
“The ability to dynamically modify BOMs after release, adding or removing items from work orders, scrapping and reworking parts, has been the single biggest improvement for our business.”
Questions you may have
DynamxMFG vs Katana: your questions answered
Is Katana cheaper than DynamxMFG?
At low order volumes it can be. Katana pricing is usage-based, so costs climb as order lines grow. DynamxMFG is priced for SMEs with predictable tiers.
Can DynamxMFG handle e-commerce orders?
Yes, orders can flow in through integrations, but if e-commerce is your main channel Katana may genuinely fit better.
Which is better for CNC or fabrication shops?
DynamxMFG. It is built for discrete engineering work with routings, works orders and shop floor data capture.
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See the difference on your own shop floor
Book a 30 minute walkthrough on your products, your order types and your factory layout.
