Supply Chain Software for Retail: Management & Logistics for UK Retailers

Unlike off-the-shelf platforms that force you to adapt your operations to their rigid templates, Keel builds custom supply chain software modelled around your exact workflows, SKU structures, and business rules. You get full ownership of your system, your data, and the ability to evolve it as your retail business grows — without waiting on a vendor's roadmap.

Most retail businesses are live in a matter of weeks, not months. Keel's Build for Me service works with your team in real-time to model your platform around your actual processes. Once live, full ownership is handed over to your team, so you're never dependent on Keel to make changes or updates.

Yes. Keel is built with API integrations as a core feature. It syncs stock levels, orders and returns with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Amazon, and with third-party logistics providers (3PLs), financial systems, IoT devices such as smart shelves and sensors, and other tools already in your UK retail tech stack.

Absolutely. Keel's inventory management system provides real-time visibility across every warehouse, store, or fulfilment location — down to individual bin locations. It handles SKU variants, stock transfers between locations, lot and batch tracking, serial number tracking, and automated reorder points factoring in supplier lead times.

Yes. Keel's Order Management module is purpose-built for complex retail order flows, including multi-channel order capture, smart inventory allocation, order splitting, backorder management, automated pick/pack workflows, carrier selection, and full returns management — all backed by a complete audit trail at any order volume.

No. Keel's platform is designed so that operators can build, manage, and evolve their supply chain software without a large engineering team. The platform auto-generates internal tools for operations, logistics, and finance teams with clean, intuitive interfaces that require no training — and Keel's Build for Me service handles the initial setup.

Keel is registered with the UK data protection authority (Information Commissioner's Office, reference ZB524558) and is built by Planko Ltd, a UK-registered company in Altrincham, Cheshire. You choose where your retail data is hosted, including the UK. The platform features built-in authentication, row- and role-based permissions, deny-by-default access control, OpenTelemetry observability and a full audit log, so your retail data is secure and traceable from day one.

Because you own the system entirely, you can iterate and expand it freely as your retail business evolves. Keel is built with version-controlled development, multiple environments, managed migrations, and a git flow-based deployment process — meaning your team can confidently launch, test, and roll out workflow changes without disrupting live operations.

Retail logistics software manages the physical flow of stock: receiving supplier deliveries, storing and moving stock between warehouses and stores, picking and packing orders, choosing carriers, and handling returns. It sits alongside inventory and order management in a retail supply chain system. Keel covers warehouse management, fulfilment, carrier selection, label printing, tracking sync and returns in one tailored platform.

It can't remove customs checks, but it makes delays visible and plannable. Since the UK left the EU customs union on 1 January 2021, goods imported from EU suppliers need customs declarations, which adds paperwork and time to lead times. Recording realistic supplier lead times, setting reorder points and safety stock that reflect them, and tracking purchase orders by supplier helps you order earlier and avoid stockouts. Keel supports supplier lead times, safety stock and multi-currency purchasing for EU suppliers.

Keel's fulfilment tools include automated carrier selection, label printing, tracking sync and end-of-day closeouts, configured around the carriers you use. UK retailers commonly ship with Royal Mail, Parcelforce, DPD and Evri; tell us your carrier accounts and we'll scope the connections, since Keel connects with your existing tools and tech stack via API rather than a fixed carrier list.

It should apply the right tax treatment to every order and keep order, invoice and returns data consistent across channels for your accounting software. Making Tax Digital for VAT requires VAT-registered businesses to keep digital records and file VAT returns through compatible software. Keel's order management controls customer pricing, discounts, credit terms and taxes, with a complete audit trail, and connects with your financial systems.

Keel's order management and fulfilment include returns management and processing, with reason codes and stock adjustments logged in a complete audit trail. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, UK online shoppers generally have 14 days to cancel after receiving their goods, and a further 14 days to return them. A tailored returns workflow (authorisation, receipt, inspection, refund and restock) keeps stock accurate and refunds on time.