Across the UAE
ERP Software for Trading Companies in the UAE
Trading is one of the UAE's oldest businesses and one of the most demanding to run in software. A single shipment can involve a foreign supplier invoice in dollars, freight, customs and handling charges, storage in a free zone, partial deliveries to mainland customers and a mix of payment terms. Margin depends on knowing the true landed cost of each item and who owes you what. Crafts Software builds and customizes ERP systems for trading and distribution companies across the emirates.
The trading cycle, end to end
- Quote and order. Price lists by customer group, quantity breaks and validity dates. Check stock and credit limit before confirming.
- Purchase. Supplier order in foreign currency, expected arrival dates and open order tracking.
- Receive and cost. Goods received against the order, with freight, duty, clearing and other charges spread across items to give true landed cost.
- Store. Stock by warehouse and bin, with batch or expiry where relevant, and transfers between locations.
- Deliver and invoice. Delivery notes, partial shipments, tax invoices with 5% VAT or the right zero-rated treatment, and credit notes for returns.
- Collect. Receivables ageing, statements, reminders and cheque handling, including post-dated cheques.
Features that matter in trading
| Need | What the ERP should do |
|---|---|
| Landed cost | Allocate freight, duty and charges across items by value, weight or quantity |
| Multi-currency | Supplier bills in USD, EUR, CNY or INR, with exchange gain and loss posted automatically |
| Free zone and mainland | Separate entities or locations, correct VAT treatment, and inter-company transfers |
| Customer credit | Credit limits, overdue blocks and approval for exceptions |
| Cheques | Register post-dated cheques, deposit dates, bounces and re-presentation |
| Pricing | Price lists, discounts by customer or volume, margin warning below a floor |
| Reorder | Reorder levels, suggested purchase orders and slow-moving stock reports |
Reports owners ask for
- Gross margin by item, customer, salesperson and period.
- Stock valuation by warehouse, and ageing of slow stock.
- Open purchase orders and expected arrivals.
- Receivables ageing and cash expected this month.
- VAT summary by rate, supporting your return.
Warehouse and delivery
Barcode scanning for receiving and picking, delivery routes, driver proof of delivery and van sales are common requests. See inventory and warehouse management for UAE trading companies and, if you operate transport, logistics software.
Retail and online channels
Many traders also sell through a shop or an online store. Stock and prices should be shared, so you never sell what is not there. See POS software and e-commerce development.
What you receive
- An ERP configured and customized for your products, units, warehouses and price rules.
- Data migration for items, customers, suppliers and open balances.
- Training and support until the system is fully running, and the source code afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Can the ERP handle re-export and designated zone rules?
It can record the tax treatment and documents for each type of supply, but the correct treatment depends on your facts. Confirm with your tax adviser and we will configure accordingly.
Can we import our supplier price lists from Excel?
Yes. Items, codes, units and prices can be imported and updated in bulk.
How do you handle two companies, one in a free zone and one on the mainland?
Each company is set up as a separate entity with its own numbering, taxes and ledgers, plus group reports and controlled inter-company transactions.
Start with the complete ERP guide for the UAE, then send us your item list and a sample order.
Last updated November 1, 2026
Your Business Has a Workflow. We Can Turn It Into Software.
Tell us what you need to manage, automate or improve. We'll help shape it into the right digital system.