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ERP · head to head

GEP SMART vs Katana MRP

GEP SMART logo

GEP SMART

ERP

Enterprise source-to-pay from a vendor that also sells the consulting and the outsourced procurement team

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Katana MRP logo

Katana MRP

ERP

Smart manufacturing software for scaling brands

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Katana MRP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GEP SMART gEP sells the software, the consulting and the outsourced procurement team, so the vendor measuring the savings is often the vendor delivering them, which makes independent verification difficult.; Katana MRP the free plan caps SKUs at 30 after a 15 day unlimited period
  • They diverge on capability: GEP SMART covers Unified source-to-pay, Katana MRP covers Visual production scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GEP SMART and Katana MRP actually diverge.

Attributes where GEP SMART and Katana MRP differ
AttributeGEP SMARTKatana MRP
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidCloud, Web, Mobile
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (ERP).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GEP SMART

  • Unified source-to-pay
  • Spend and category analytics
  • Savings tracking
  • Supplier risk management
  • GEP QUANTUM
  • Managed services attachment

Only in Katana MRP

  • Visual production scheduling
  • Real-time inventory
  • Bill of materials
  • Purchase orders
  • Shop floor app
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • QuickBooks

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GEP SMART

  • An enterprise that needs category expertise as well as software and would otherwise run two procurement processesnot Katana MRP
  • A company outsourcing tactical sourcing while retaining strategic categories, using one platform across bothnot Katana MRP
  • A multinational consolidating regional procurement systems onto one spend taxonomynot Katana MRP
  • An organisation that needs savings tracked and reconciled against realised spend rather than claimed in a spreadsheetnot Katana MRP

Katana MRP

  • Manufacturing resource planning for small production businessesnot GEP SMART
  • Tracking live inventory across making, selling and purchasingnot GEP SMART

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GEP SMART

  • GEP sells the software, the consulting and the outsourced procurement team, so the vendor measuring the savings is often the vendor delivering them, which makes independent verification difficult.
  • Nothing is published and reported entry points around half a million US dollars a year exclude implementation, which GEP typically delivers itself rather than through a competing integrator.
  • Implementation being delivered by the vendor limits the pool of independent consultants who can advise you during the project or take over afterwards.
  • Combined software and services engagements are difficult to unwind, because replacing the platform also means rebuilding procurement capability the outsourcer was providing.
  • The platform is scoped for very large enterprises, so mid-market organisations face both a price and a complexity floor that no module selection brings down.

Katana MRP

  • The free plan caps SKUs at 30 after a 15 day unlimited period
  • The Core plan starts at $299 a month and includes one location, with more sold as a usage based add on
  • Core is billed per sales order delivered on top of the base price, so cost tracks throughput
  • Manufacturing management, traceability and warehouse management are separate add ons at $199, $249 and $149 a month
  • A full manufacturing setup therefore stacks to well above the headline $299

Pricing, plan by plan

GEP SMART

On request
  • GEP SMART$undefined/year
    • Scaled by managed spend volume, modules and user count
    • Third parties report deployments starting around 500,000 USD per year
    • Frequently bundled with GEP consulting or managed services

Katana MRP

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 30 SKUs (unlimited during 15-day trial)
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited integrations
  • Core$299/month
    • Unlimited SKUs
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited integrations
  • Advantage$null/mo
    • Custom annual contract
    • Everything in Core plus custom integrations
    • Custom dashboards and automations

Which should you pick?

Choose GEP SMART if

  • You need unified source-to-pay.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want spend and category analytics.
GEP SMART review

Choose Katana MRP if

  • You need visual production scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want real-time inventory.
Katana MRP review

Questions people ask

Is GEP SMART or Katana MRP better?
Neither clearly leads. GEP SMART starts at On request and Katana MRP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GEP SMART or Katana MRP?
Katana MRP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for GEP SMART and Free for Katana MRP.
Does GEP SMART or Katana MRP run on more platforms?
GEP SMART runs on Web, iOS, Android. Katana MRP runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
Can I use Katana MRP for free?
Yes. Katana MRP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GEP SMART starts at On request.
What is GEP SMART best used for?
GEP SMART is most often used for an enterprise that needs category expertise as well as software and would otherwise run two procurement processes, a company outsourcing tactical sourcing while retaining strategic categories, using one platform across both, a multinational consolidating regional procurement systems onto one spend taxonomy, an organisation that needs savings tracked and reconciled against realised spend rather than claimed in a spreadsheet. Of those, an enterprise that needs category expertise as well as software and would otherwise run two procurement processes and a company outsourcing tactical sourcing while retaining strategic categories, using one platform across both are not what Katana MRP is typically brought in for.
What can GEP SMART do that Katana MRP cannot?
GEP SMART covers Unified source-to-pay, Spend and category analytics, Savings tracking, Supplier risk management. Katana MRP covers Visual production scheduling, Real-time inventory, Bill of materials, Purchase orders.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GEP SMART: Is GEP just a software company?

No. It sells procurement software, procurement consulting and outsourced procurement operations, and deals often combine all three.

Katana MRP: How much does Katana MRP cost?

Katana offers a free plan with 30 SKUs and all core features. Core plan starts at $299/month for unlimited SKUs and users. Usage-based pricing applies to sales orders delivered and additional locations beyond the 1 included. Add-ons like Manufacturing Management cost $199/month.

Source
GEP SMART: What does GEP SMART cost?

Not published. Third parties report deployments from around 500,000 USD a year, scaled by managed spend, modules and users.

Katana MRP: How does Katana charge for multiple locations?

Core plan includes 1 location. Additional locations beyond the included location are charged separately with per-unit costs decreasing at higher volumes. Exact pricing for additional locations is calculated based on scale.

Source
GEP SMART: Who implements it?

GEP typically does, which shortens the project but reduces independent advice during and after it.

Katana MRP: What are the manufacturing add-on costs for Katana?

Katana charges $199/month for Manufacturing Management, $249/month for Traceability, and $149/month for Warehouse Management add-ons. Onboarding package costs $2,000 but is included with Core plan.

Source
GEP SMART: How does it compare with Ivalua?

Both are single-platform enterprise source-to-pay. GEP adds consulting and managed services; Ivalua is software only and stronger on direct materials.

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