Katana AI is a tool built into the Katana web app. It can be used to ask questions about your Katana data using plain, conversational language, and receive answers as text, a table or a chart. You can create and edit data directly through the Katana AI, and there are also dashboards that can be saved and reused.
There’s nothing to set up or connect. Katana AI works on your own Katana data across sales, manufacturing, purchasing, items, and inventory. It can also answer questions about how Katana works, using the Katana Knowledge Base.
Note: Only available for Katana Advantage (available for other plans during beta phase)
Where to find Katana AI?
In the top navigation bar, you'll find Katana AI as the leftmost option. Select it to open up Katana AI.
The left side panel displays the options:
New chat – starts a new conversation
Dashboards – shows reusable reports and tables that can be refreshed at any time
Your past chats, listed below
If you need more room, collapse the side panel at any point.
What can the AI do?
Answer questions about your sales, manufacturing, purchasing, items and inventory, and about how Katana works.
Show charts and tables so you can see trends and compare figures at a glance.
Create and update records in Katana from a chat. (Katana AI is prompted to list what it will create or update before making changes, but this isn’t guaranteed, so check what it plans to do first.)
Keep your conversation history, so you can return to past chats from the side panel.
Save reports and charts to dashboards so you can come back to them.
What is the AI unable to do?
Connect to other tools than Katana: Katana AI works only with your Katana data. To use your Katana data together with other tools (like Shopify, QuickBooks, Hubspot), check out the Katana MCP.
Manage uploaded files: There's no option to upload any files to Katana AI
Run on a schedule or send alerts: Katana AI only answers when you ask.
Delete records.
Credits
Credits are needed for using both Chats and dashboard refreshes. Learn more about AI credits.
Tips for receiving improved answers
Note: Katana AI can make mistakes. It's important to check the accuracy of provided numbers before acting on them.
Be specific. Name the items, customers, dates or locations you mean. “Sales of Product X in September” works better than “How are sales?”
Ask how it got a number. For example: “How did you calculate that?” Katana AI will explain the steps it took.
Ask to see the data. Answers are written in plain English. If you want the raw data behind an answer, ask for it.
Ask it to list changes before it writes. Before creating or updating records, ask: “List what you’ll create or update before you make any changes.”
Example prompts
“Which sales orders are late, and why?”
“Show me my top 10 products by revenue this quarter as a chart.”
“Which materials are running low for my open manufacturing orders?”
“Which purchase orders are expected to arrive this week?”
“How do I set up a bill of materials in Katana?”
Permissions
By default, account owners have the Access to AI interface permission active, but other users will need it enabled.
Note: If you want to completely disable Katana AI from your account, you can do so in Settings -> Katana AI.
FAQs
Can I open Katana AI in a side panel while I work?
No. Katana AI has its own screen, which you open from the top navigation bar.
Does Katana AI work with Claude or ChatGPT?
No. Katana AI works inside Katana only. To use your Katana data with other AI tools, take a look at Katana MCP.
A number looks wrong. What should I do?
Ask Katana AI how it calculated the number. It will explain its steps, and you can ask to see the data it used.
I don’t see Katana AI. How do I get it? Ask your account Owner to turn it on, or contact your Customer Success Manager.
What powers Katana AI?
Google Gemini
Your feedback is invaluable. Let us know your thoughts on this article or anything in Katana you'd like to see improved: [email protected]