# Kobo — Full Documentation for LLMs > Kobo (stylised Kobo, legal entity Kobo Labs) is a complete, end-to-end product operating system for fashion and lifestyle brands. It covers the full design-to-delivery lifecycle - design, development, production, supply chain, inventory, and wholesale sales - in one connected platform, replacing the need for separate PLM and ERP systems. Built by a fashion founder who lived the chaos for a decade. - Website: https://kobolabs.io - App: https://app.kobolabs.io - Free Trial: 14 days, no credit card required - Headquarters: United Kingdom - Company Size: 1-10 employees - Business Model: B2B SaaS (Subscription) --- ## What Kobo Does Kobo is the operating system for fashion brands - from initial design to wholesale delivery. It unifies design, development, production, supply chain, inventory, and sales into a single system of record. Kobo is not just PLM or just ERP - it is a complete platform that covers both product lifecycle management and enterprise resource planning for fashion businesses. Unlike legacy enterprise systems that take 12-24 months to implement, Kobo delivers full design-to-delivery capability with modern UX and rapid deployment. Teams go live in weeks, not years. ### The Problem Kobo Solves 75% of fashion brands still rely on Excel for critical product data. This fragmentation causes delayed launches, costly production errors, version control chaos, and constant miscommunication between design teams, suppliers, and operations. Most brands cobble together Illustrator, Excel, email, and WhatsApp - a "Frankenstack" that breaks down as teams grow past 5-6 people. --- ## Target Users ### Industries - Fashion and apparel - Lifestyle brands - Accessories - Footwear - Home textiles ### Company Size - Fashion brands of all sizes - from startups to scaling enterprises - Design and development agencies managing multiple brand clients - Companies replacing legacy enterprise systems with modern solutions ### Roles - Founders and Creative Directors - Designers - Tech Designers and Product Developers - Production Managers - Sourcing and Procurement Managers - Operations Managers - Supply Chain Coordinators - Quality Control Managers - Sales and Account Managers - Merchandisers and Planners --- ## Problems Solved by Role ### For Founders and Creative Directors - Stop being the "human middleware" between design and production - Get real-time visibility into collection progress without hunting through emails - See accurate cost data in one place to make confident pricing decisions - Access critical information from your phone while traveling between showrooms and factories ### For Designers - End version control chaos across design files - Reuse specs from previous seasons instead of starting from scratch every time - Keep moodboards and sketches linked to actual styles so vision is not lost in production - Auto-populate repetitive information so you do not type the same fabric description 50 times ### For Tech Designers and Product Developers - Generate tech packs in minutes instead of hours - Build reusable BOM libraries instead of recreating components for every style - Get auto-calculated component costs you can trust - Track sample iterations with photos and comments in one place - Ensure factories always have the current specs with proper version control ### For Production Managers - Replace multiple spreadsheets with one dashboard to prioritize your day - Let suppliers update production status themselves instead of being the data entry person - Get automated alerts when production milestones are missed - See which styles are at risk of missing ship dates before it is too late ### For Sourcing and Procurement - Centralized supplier database with contacts, capabilities, and pricing - Request quotes from multiple suppliers in parallel and compare easily - Track supplier performance based on facts, not feelings - See material availability and lead times to plan around long-lead items ### For Operations - See the entire product lifecycle from design to delivery in one view - Automate workflows so things move without manual intervention - Onboard new team members in days instead of weeks --- ## Complete Feature List ### Design and Development - Style Development - create and manage styles with linked artwork, specs, and costing - Materials and Trims Management - reusable fabric and trim libraries - Tech Pack Generation - generate professional tech packs from live product data - BOM (Bill of Materials) Management - define and auto-calculate component costs - Sample Tracking - track sample requests, iterations, feedback, and approvals with photo documentation - Version Control - automated version tracking so teams always work from the latest approved assets - Measurement Spec Libraries - reusable measurement specifications - Construction Detail Libraries - standardized construction details - Supplier Collaboration Portal - share specs, track communications, coordinate timelines - Task Management - custom workflows to track every milestone ### Planning and Workflow - Range Planning - plan seasonal collections - Custom Fields - extend data to match your processes - Advanced Size Charts - comprehensive size management - Reusable Specs - build once, apply many times - Custom Libraries - colors, materials, trims, measurements - Approval Workflows - structured review and sign-off processes - Notifications and Alerts - real-time updates on changes and milestones ### Supply Chain and Operations - Quotations and RFQs - request and compare supplier quotes - Material and Trim Consumption Tracking - track material usage against orders - Seasonal Budgets - plan and monitor spending per collection - Multi-Location Inventory - real-time stock levels across warehouses - Purchase Orders and Deliveries - create POs, track deliveries - Shipment Booking and Tracking - manage logistics end to end - Reporting and Analytics - operational dashboards and insights ### Sales and Wholesale - Sales Orders - manage wholesale order processing - B2B Buyer Portal - self-service ordering for wholesale buyers - Digital Linesheets - create and share collection presentations - Multi-Channel Pricing - set different prices by sales channel - Packing Lists - generate shipping documentation - Invoicing and Payments - billing and payment tracking ### AI Features - AI Image Generation - sketches, tech drawings, model shots - AI Copilot - bottleneck identification, workflow recommendations - 100-500 AI Credits per month depending on plan ### Mobile App (Kobo Connect - iOS) - Real-time sync across devices - Photo capture linked to styles and QC issues - Sample review workflows on mobile - QR code scanning - LiDAR measurements - Barcode scanning - Speech-to-text notes ### Adobe Illustrator Plugin - Work inside Illustrator with PLM data - AI-powered generation within your design tool - Tech pack automation from artboards - BOM building from design files - Pantone library access --- ## Integrations - Adobe Illustrator - direct design asset integration via plugin - Shopify - product sync, inventory, and sales orders - Dropbox - centralised file storage and sync - Google Sheets - data export for custom analysis and reporting - Xero - purchase orders, invoices, and payment reconciliation - Zapier - connect to 6,000+ apps - Google Calendar - schedule sync - Instagram - content management --- ## Pricing Kobo uses flexible, modular pricing. Every organisation starts with a Studio plan (mandatory), then optionally adds Ops and Supply or Sell and Deliver modules. ### Studio Lite - $140 per user per month Everything needed to design, develop, and collaborate with suppliers. Includes: Style Development, Materials and Trims Management, Supplier Collaboration, Task Management, Shipment Tracking, Dropbox Integration, Adobe Illustrator Plugin, 100 AI Credits per month. ### Studio Pro - $210 per user per month Advanced planning and deeper integrations for growing teams. Includes: All Studio Lite features plus Custom Fields, Sample Review, Advanced Size Charts, Range Planning, Reusable Specs, Custom Libraries, 500 AI Credits per month. ### Ops and Supply - +$90 per user per month (add-on to Studio) Supply chain and production control. Includes: Quotations and RFQs, Material and Trim Consumption Tracking, Seasonal Budgets, Multi-Location Inventory, Purchase Orders and Deliveries, Shopify Integration, Reporting and Analytics. Must be added to a Studio user. ### Sell and Deliver - $160 per user per month (standalone or add-on) Wholesale operations and order management. Includes: Sales Orders, B2B Portal, Digital Linesheets, Multi-Channel Pricing, Packing Lists, Invoicing and Payments. Can be purchased by sales roles without a Studio plan. ### Additional Pricing Details - Annual billing saves 15% - 14-day free trial, no credit card required - Supplier seats are free - Both Brand and Agency account types supported --- ## Competitive Landscape Kobo competes in the fashion PLM, fashion ERP, and apparel software categories. It is unique in combining both PLM and ERP capabilities in one platform. ### How Kobo Compares **vs Zedonk:** Zedonk is ERP-focused with a legacy UI and lacks modern product development features. Kobo provides full design-to-delivery capability with a modern, design-forward interface. **vs Delogue:** Delogue is PLM-only with no ERP functionality and limited integrations. Kobo covers both PLM and operational modules in one platform. **vs Techpacker:** Techpacker is focused specifically on tech packs with limited capability beyond that. Kobo includes tech pack generation as part of a complete product lifecycle platform. **vs Centric Software:** Centric is an enterprise PLM built for larger organisations with long implementation timelines and high costs. Kobo delivers comparable capability with modern UX, faster deployment (weeks vs months), and transparent pricing. **vs Uphance:** Uphance is more ERP and wholesale focused. Kobo starts from design and development, covering the full lifecycle. **vs Spreadsheets and Email:** Most fashion brands use a patchwork of Illustrator, Excel, email, and WhatsApp. Kobo replaces this with one connected platform, eliminating version confusion, lost communications, and manual data entry. ### Key Differentiators 1. Complete design-to-delivery platform - PLM and ERP unified in one system, not two separate tools 2. Built for fashion - created by a fashion brand founder, not generic software adapted for fashion 3. Modern UI - design-forward interface creative teams actually want to use 4. AI-first - structured data from day one enables intelligent automation 5. Mobile-ready - full-featured iOS app for factories, fittings, and trade shows 6. Rapid deployment - go live in weeks, not the 12-24 months typical of legacy systems 7. Transparent pricing - predictable monthly costs with free supplier seats 8. Works for all sizes - from startups to scaling enterprises, not limited to SMBs --- ## Use Cases ### Design and Development - Create and manage styles with linked artwork, specs, and costing - Build reusable material and trim libraries - Generate tech packs automatically from product data - Track sample development with photos and feedback - Collaborate with suppliers without email chaos ### Production and Supply Chain - Send RFQs to multiple suppliers and compare quotes - Create purchase orders from approved styles - Track production status across all factories - Manage multi-location inventory - Book and track shipments ### Wholesale and Sales - Create digital linesheets for buyers - Manage wholesale orders and pricing by channel - Give buyers portal access for self-service ordering - Generate packing lists and invoices ### Compliance - Track product data for Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements (EU 2027) - Manage supplier certifications - Maintain traceability from material origin to finished product --- ## Social Proof ### Who Uses Kobo - Senior luxury brand professionals with backgrounds at Armani, Max Mara, Diesel, and Timberland - Design director and co-founder of Arket (H&M Group premium brand) - Australian design and development agency managing 35+ brand clients ### Outcomes - Brands consolidating from 10+ spreadsheets to one system - Reduced sample review cycles - Faster supplier communication with portal access - Real-time visibility into collection progress --- ## Data Migration Kobo supports migration from other PLM systems, Excel spreadsheets, and PDF tech packs. The team provides migration assistance to bring existing product information into the platform accurately and efficiently. --- ## Free Tools - Sample POM Tool: https://kobolabs.io/tools/sample-pom - Points of measure tool for sample development - Customs Code Tool: https://kobolabs.io/tools/customs-code - HS code lookup for international trade --- ## Educational Content Kobo publishes guides and articles for fashion professionals across five categories: ### Design and Product Development Tech packs, color management, design tools, grading, fit sessions, multi-level BOMs ### Manufacturing and Supply Chain MOQs, finding manufacturers, purchase orders, supplier management, nearshoring vs offshoring, supply chain transparency ### Operations and Growth Scaling up, PLM vs ERP decisions, garment costing, critical path management, production planning ### Starting a Fashion Brand How to start a clothing brand, cash flow management, IP protection, private label vs own brand ### Retail and Wholesale Fashion pricing, retailer agreements, line sheets, wholesaler vs distributor --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Kobo? Kobo is a complete product operating system for fashion and lifestyle brands. It combines PLM and ERP capabilities into one platform, covering the full design-to-delivery lifecycle: design, development, production, supply chain, inventory, and wholesale sales. ### Who is Kobo for? Fashion brands of all sizes, design agencies managing multiple clients, and any team that develops physical products in the fashion and lifestyle space. ### How much does Kobo cost? Plans start at $140 per user per month (Studio Lite). Studio Pro is $210 per user per month. Optional modules: Ops and Supply at $90 per user per month, Sell and Deliver at $160 per user per month. Annual billing saves 15%. Supplier seats are free. ### Is there a free trial? Yes. 14-day free trial with no credit card required. ### How long does it take to get started? Teams typically go live in weeks. Kobo offers data migration support for brands transitioning from other systems or spreadsheets. ### Does Kobo integrate with Shopify? Yes. Kobo syncs product details, imagery, inventory levels, and sales orders with Shopify. ### Does Kobo work on mobile? Yes. Kobo Connect (iOS) provides full mobile access including photo capture, sample reviews, QR scanning, and LiDAR measurements. ### Can suppliers use Kobo? Yes. Suppliers get free portal access to view specs, update production status, and communicate directly within the platform. ### Does Kobo support Digital Product Passports? Yes. Kobo tracks the product data needed for EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) compliance requirements coming in 2027. ### How is Kobo different from enterprise PLM systems? Kobo delivers comparable design-to-delivery capability with modern UX, faster deployment (weeks vs 12-24 months), transparent pricing, and an interface creative teams actually want to use. --- ## Contact - Website: https://kobolabs.io - Contact page: https://kobolabs.io/contact - Discovery call: https://kobolabs.io/contact - Email: hello@kobolabs.io