diff --git a/kapitan/cli.py b/kapitan/cli.py
index 5cd5a7917..062a78c54 100644
--- a/kapitan/cli.py
+++ b/kapitan/cli.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 from kapitan import cached, defaults, setup_logging
 from kapitan.initialiser import initialise_skeleton
 from kapitan.inputs.jsonnet import jsonnet_file
-from kapitan.inventory import AVAILABLE_BACKENDS
+from kapitan.inventory import AVAILABLE_BACKENDS, InventoryBackends
 from kapitan.lint import start_lint
 from kapitan.refs.base import RefController, Revealer
 from kapitan.refs.cmd_parser import handle_refs_command
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def build_parser():
     inventory_backend_parser.add_argument(
         "--inventory-backend",
         action="store",
-        default=from_dot_kapitan("inventory_backend", "inventory-backend", "reclass"),
+        default=from_dot_kapitan("inventory_backend", "inventory-backend", InventoryBackends.RECLASS),
         choices=AVAILABLE_BACKENDS.keys(),
         help="Select the inventory backend to use (default=reclass)",
     )
diff --git a/kapitan/inventory/__init__.py b/kapitan/inventory/__init__.py
index a95912b07..be670c104 100644
--- a/kapitan/inventory/__init__.py
+++ b/kapitan/inventory/__init__.py
@@ -1,14 +1,58 @@
+from .inventory import Inventory
+
+try:
+    from enum import StrEnum
+except ImportError:
+    from strenum import StrEnum
+
 from typing import Type
 
-from .inv_reclass import ReclassInventory
-from .inv_reclass_rs import ReclassRsInventory
-from .inv_omegaconf.inv_omegaconf import OmegaConfInventory
-from .inventory import Inventory
+
+class InventoryBackends(StrEnum):
+    """
+    Enumeration of available inventory backends.
+    """
+    RECLASS = "reclass"
+    RECLASS_RS = "reclass-rs"
+    OMEGACONF = "omegaconf"
+    DEFAULT = RECLASS
+
+
+def load_reclass_backend():
+    """
+    Enable the reclass inventory backend.
+    """
+    from .inv_reclass import ReclassInventory
+    return ReclassInventory
+
+
+def load_reclass_rs_backend():
+    """
+    Enable the reclass-rs inventory backend.
+    """
+    from .inv_reclass_rs import ReclassRsInventory
+    return ReclassRsInventory
+
+
+def load_omegaconf_backend():
+    """
+    Enable the omegaconf inventory backend.
+    """
+    from .inv_omegaconf.inv_omegaconf import OmegaConfInventory
+    return OmegaConfInventory
+
 
 # Dict mapping values for command line flag `--inventory-backend` to the
 # associated `Inventory` subclass.
 AVAILABLE_BACKENDS: dict[str, Type[Inventory]] = {
-    "reclass": ReclassInventory,
-    "reclass-rs": ReclassRsInventory,
-    "omegaconf": OmegaConfInventory,
+    InventoryBackends.RECLASS: load_reclass_backend,
+    InventoryBackends.RECLASS_RS: load_reclass_rs_backend,
+    InventoryBackends.OMEGACONF: load_omegaconf_backend,
 }
+
+
+def get_inventory_backend(backend_name: str) -> Type[Inventory]:
+    """
+    Get the `Inventory` subclass associated with the given `backend_name`.
+    """
+    return AVAILABLE_BACKENDS.get(backend_name, AVAILABLE_BACKENDS[InventoryBackends.DEFAULT])()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kapitan/resources.py b/kapitan/resources.py
index 3bc358f16..dc02f04eb 100644
--- a/kapitan/resources.py
+++ b/kapitan/resources.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 from kapitan import __file__ as kapitan_install_path
 from kapitan.inputs.kadet import Dict
 from kapitan.errors import CompileError, InventoryError, KapitanError
-from kapitan.inventory import Inventory, ReclassInventory, AVAILABLE_BACKENDS
+from kapitan.inventory import Inventory, get_inventory_backend
 from kapitan.utils import PrettyDumper, deep_get, flatten_dict, render_jinja2_file, sha256_string
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -327,10 +327,9 @@ def get_inventory(inventory_path, ignore_class_not_found: bool = False) -> Inven
     # select inventory backend
     backend_id = hasattr(cached.args, "inventory_backend") and cached.args.inventory_backend
     compose_target_name = hasattr(cached.args, "compose_target_name") and cached.args.compose_target_name
-    backend = AVAILABLE_BACKENDS.get(backend_id, AVAILABLE_BACKENDS.get("reclass"))
-    inventory_backend: Inventory = None
+    backend = get_inventory_backend(backend_id)
     
-    logger.debug(f"Using {backend_id} as inventory backend")
+    logger.debug(f"Using {backend.__name__} as inventory backend")
     inventory_backend = backend(inventory_path=inventory_path, compose_target_name=compose_target_name, ignore_class_not_found=ignore_class_not_found)
 
     cached.inv = inventory_backend
@@ -339,7 +338,7 @@ def get_inventory(inventory_path, ignore_class_not_found: bool = False) -> Inven
     # if we use forked processes, we need to load the inventory for kadet once 
     # and pass it to the children, to avoid re-reading the inventory for each child
     # TODO(adenaria): Improve to only do it for kadet
-    if cached.args.mp_method != "spawn":
+    if hasattr(cached.args, "mp_method") and cached.args.mp_method != "spawn":
         cached.inventory_global_kadet = Dict(cached.global_inv)
 
     # migrate inventory to selected inventory backend
diff --git a/poetry.lock b/poetry.lock
index f8bb8efbd..0db858b91 100644
--- a/poetry.lock
+++ b/poetry.lock
@@ -97,17 +97,17 @@ typing-extensions = ">=4.0.1"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "boto3"
-version = "1.35.0"
+version = "1.35.10"
 description = "The AWS SDK for Python"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.8"
 files = [
-    {file = "boto3-1.35.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:ada32dab854c46a877cf967b8a55ab1a7d356c3c87f1c8bd556d446ff03dfd95"},
-    {file = "boto3-1.35.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:bdc242e3ea81decc6ea551b04b2c122f088c29269d8e093b55862946aa0fcfc6"},
+    {file = "boto3-1.35.10-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:add26dd58e076dfd387013da4704716d5cff215cf14f6d4347c4b9b7fc1f0b8e"},
+    {file = "boto3-1.35.10.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:189ab1e2b4cd86df56f82438d89b4040eb140c92683f1bda7cb2e62624f20ea5"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
-botocore = ">=1.35.0,<1.36.0"
+botocore = ">=1.35.10,<1.36.0"
 jmespath = ">=0.7.1,<2.0.0"
 s3transfer = ">=0.10.0,<0.11.0"
 
@@ -116,13 +116,13 @@ crt = ["botocore[crt] (>=1.21.0,<2.0a0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "botocore"
-version = "1.35.0"
+version = "1.35.10"
 description = "Low-level, data-driven core of boto 3."
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.8"
 files = [
-    {file = "botocore-1.35.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:a3c96fe0b6afe7d00bad6ffbe73f2610953065fcdf0ed697eba4e1e5287cc84f"},
-    {file = "botocore-1.35.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:6ab2f5a5cbdaa639599e3478c65462c6d6a10173dc8b941bfc69b0c9eb548f45"},
+    {file = "botocore-1.35.10-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:0d96d023b9b0cea99a0a428a431d011329d3a958730aee6ed6a6fec5d9bfbc03"},
+    {file = "botocore-1.35.10.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:6c8a1377b6636a0d80218115e1cd41bcceba0a2f050b79c206f4cf8d002c54d7"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
@@ -181,24 +181,24 @@ redis = ["redis (>=2.10.5)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cachetools"
-version = "5.4.0"
+version = "5.5.0"
 description = "Extensible memoizing collections and decorators"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.7"
 files = [
-    {file = "cachetools-5.4.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:3ae3b49a3d5e28a77a0be2b37dbcb89005058959cb2323858c2657c4a8cab474"},
-    {file = "cachetools-5.4.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:b8adc2e7c07f105ced7bc56dbb6dfbe7c4a00acce20e2227b3f355be89bc6827"},
+    {file = "cachetools-5.5.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:02134e8439cdc2ffb62023ce1debca2944c3f289d66bb17ead3ab3dede74b292"},
+    {file = "cachetools-5.5.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:2cc24fb4cbe39633fb7badd9db9ca6295d766d9c2995f245725a46715d050f2a"},
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "certifi"
-version = "2024.7.4"
+version = "2024.8.30"
 description = "Python package for providing Mozilla's CA Bundle."
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.6"
 files = [
-    {file = "certifi-2024.7.4-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:c198e21b1289c2ab85ee4e67bb4b4ef3ead0892059901a8d5b622f24a1101e90"},
-    {file = "certifi-2024.7.4.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:5a1e7645bc0ec61a09e26c36f6106dd4cf40c6db3a1fb6352b0244e7fb057c7b"},
+    {file = "certifi-2024.8.30-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:922820b53db7a7257ffbda3f597266d435245903d80737e34f8a45ff3e3230d8"},
+    {file = "certifi-2024.8.30.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:bec941d2aa8195e248a60b31ff9f0558284cf01a52591ceda73ea9afffd69fd9"},
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -785,13 +785,13 @@ files = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "google-api-core"
-version = "2.19.1"
+version = "2.19.2"
 description = "Google API client core library"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.7"
 files = [
-    {file = "google-api-core-2.19.1.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:f4695f1e3650b316a795108a76a1c416e6afb036199d1c1f1f110916df479ffd"},
-    {file = "google_api_core-2.19.1-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:f12a9b8309b5e21d92483bbd47ce2c445861ec7d269ef6784ecc0ea8c1fa6125"},
+    {file = "google_api_core-2.19.2-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:53ec0258f2837dd53bbd3d3df50f5359281b3cc13f800c941dd15a9b5a415af4"},
+    {file = "google_api_core-2.19.2.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:ca07de7e8aa1c98a8bfca9321890ad2340ef7f2eb136e558cee68f24b94b0a8f"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
@@ -808,13 +808,13 @@ grpcio-gcp = ["grpcio-gcp (>=0.2.2,<1.0.dev0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "google-api-python-client"
-version = "2.141.0"
+version = "2.143.0"
 description = "Google API Client Library for Python"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.7"
 files = [
-    {file = "google_api_python_client-2.141.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:43c05322b91791204465291b3852718fae38d4f84b411d8be847c4f86882652a"},
-    {file = "google_api_python_client-2.141.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:0f225b1f45d5a6f8c2a400f48729f5d6da9a81138e81e0478d61fdd8edf6563a"},
+    {file = "google_api_python_client-2.143.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:d5654134522b9b574b82234e96f7e0aeeabcbf33643fbabcd449ef0068e3a476"},
+    {file = "google_api_python_client-2.143.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:6a75441f9078e6e2fcdf4946a153fda1e2cc81b5e9c8d6e8c0750c85c7f8a566"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
@@ -826,13 +826,13 @@ uritemplate = ">=3.0.1,<5"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "google-auth"
-version = "2.33.0"
+version = "2.34.0"
 description = "Google Authentication Library"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.7"
 files = [
-    {file = "google_auth-2.33.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:8eff47d0d4a34ab6265c50a106a3362de6a9975bb08998700e389f857e4d39df"},
-    {file = "google_auth-2.33.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:d6a52342160d7290e334b4d47ba390767e4438ad0d45b7630774533e82655b95"},
+    {file = "google_auth-2.34.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:72fd4733b80b6d777dcde515628a9eb4a577339437012874ea286bca7261ee65"},
+    {file = "google_auth-2.34.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:8eb87396435c19b20d32abd2f984e31c191a15284af72eb922f10e5bde9c04cc"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ rsa = ">=3.1.4,<5"
 
 [package.extras]
 aiohttp = ["aiohttp (>=3.6.2,<4.0.0.dev0)", "requests (>=2.20.0,<3.0.0.dev0)"]
-enterprise-cert = ["cryptography (==36.0.2)", "pyopenssl (==22.0.0)"]
+enterprise-cert = ["cryptography", "pyopenssl"]
 pyopenssl = ["cryptography (>=38.0.3)", "pyopenssl (>=20.0.0)"]
 reauth = ["pyu2f (>=0.1.5)"]
 requests = ["requests (>=2.20.0,<3.0.0.dev0)"]
@@ -864,13 +864,13 @@ httplib2 = ">=0.19.0"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "googleapis-common-protos"
-version = "1.63.2"
+version = "1.65.0"
 description = "Common protobufs used in Google APIs"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.7"
 files = [
-    {file = "googleapis-common-protos-1.63.2.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:27c5abdffc4911f28101e635de1533fb4cfd2c37fbaa9174587c799fac90aa87"},
-    {file = "googleapis_common_protos-1.63.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:27a2499c7e8aff199665b22741997e485eccc8645aa9176c7c988e6fae507945"},
+    {file = "googleapis_common_protos-1.65.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:2972e6c496f435b92590fd54045060867f3fe9be2c82ab148fc8885035479a63"},
+    {file = "googleapis_common_protos-1.65.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:334a29d07cddc3aa01dee4988f9afd9b2916ee2ff49d6b757155dc0d197852c0"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
@@ -912,24 +912,24 @@ parser = ["pyhcl (>=0.4.4,<0.5.0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "idna"
-version = "3.7"
+version = "3.8"
 description = "Internationalized Domain Names in Applications (IDNA)"
 optional = false
-python-versions = ">=3.5"
+python-versions = ">=3.6"
 files = [
-    {file = "idna-3.7-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:82fee1fc78add43492d3a1898bfa6d8a904cc97d8427f683ed8e798d07761aa0"},
-    {file = "idna-3.7.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:028ff3aadf0609c1fd278d8ea3089299412a7a8b9bd005dd08b9f8285bcb5cfc"},
+    {file = "idna-3.8-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:050b4e5baadcd44d760cedbd2b8e639f2ff89bbc7a5730fcc662954303377aac"},
+    {file = "idna-3.8.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:d838c2c0ed6fced7693d5e8ab8e734d5f8fda53a039c0164afb0b82e771e3603"},
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "importlib-metadata"
-version = "8.2.0"
+version = "8.4.0"
 description = "Read metadata from Python packages"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.8"
 files = [
-    {file = "importlib_metadata-8.2.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:11901fa0c2f97919b288679932bb64febaeacf289d18ac84dd68cb2e74213369"},
-    {file = "importlib_metadata-8.2.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:72e8d4399996132204f9a16dcc751af254a48f8d1b20b9ff0f98d4a8f901e73d"},
+    {file = "importlib_metadata-8.4.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:66f342cc6ac9818fc6ff340576acd24d65ba0b3efabb2b4ac08b598965a4a2f1"},
+    {file = "importlib_metadata-8.4.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:9a547d3bc3608b025f93d403fdd1aae741c24fbb8314df4b155675742ce303c5"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
@@ -1514,22 +1514,22 @@ testing = ["google-api-core (>=1.31.5)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "protobuf"
-version = "5.27.3"
+version = "5.28.0"
 description = ""
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.8"
 files = [
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp310-abi3-win32.whl", hash = "sha256:dcb307cd4ef8fec0cf52cb9105a03d06fbb5275ce6d84a6ae33bc6cf84e0a07b"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp310-abi3-win_amd64.whl", hash = "sha256:16ddf3f8c6c41e1e803da7abea17b1793a97ef079a912e42351eabb19b2cffe7"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp38-abi3-macosx_10_9_universal2.whl", hash = "sha256:68248c60d53f6168f565a8c76dc58ba4fa2ade31c2d1ebdae6d80f969cdc2d4f"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp38-abi3-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl", hash = "sha256:b8a994fb3d1c11156e7d1e427186662b64694a62b55936b2b9348f0a7c6625ce"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp38-abi3-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl", hash = "sha256:a55c48f2a2092d8e213bd143474df33a6ae751b781dd1d1f4d953c128a415b25"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp38-cp38-win32.whl", hash = "sha256:043853dcb55cc262bf2e116215ad43fa0859caab79bb0b2d31b708f128ece035"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp38-cp38-win_amd64.whl", hash = "sha256:c2a105c24f08b1e53d6c7ffe69cb09d0031512f0b72f812dd4005b8112dbe91e"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp39-cp39-win32.whl", hash = "sha256:c84eee2c71ed83704f1afbf1a85c3171eab0fd1ade3b399b3fad0884cbcca8bf"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-cp39-cp39-win_amd64.whl", hash = "sha256:af7c0b7cfbbb649ad26132e53faa348580f844d9ca46fd3ec7ca48a1ea5db8a1"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:8572c6533e544ebf6899c360e91d6bcbbee2549251643d32c52cf8a5de295ba5"},
-    {file = "protobuf-5.27.3.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:82460903e640f2b7e34ee81a947fdaad89de796d324bcbc38ff5430bcdead82c"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp310-abi3-win32.whl", hash = "sha256:66c3edeedb774a3508ae70d87b3a19786445fe9a068dd3585e0cefa8a77b83d0"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp310-abi3-win_amd64.whl", hash = "sha256:6d7cc9e60f976cf3e873acb9a40fed04afb5d224608ed5c1a105db4a3f09c5b6"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp38-abi3-macosx_10_9_universal2.whl", hash = "sha256:532627e8fdd825cf8767a2d2b94d77e874d5ddb0adefb04b237f7cc296748681"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp38-abi3-manylinux2014_aarch64.whl", hash = "sha256:018db9056b9d75eb93d12a9d35120f97a84d9a919bcab11ed56ad2d399d6e8dd"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp38-abi3-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl", hash = "sha256:6206afcb2d90181ae8722798dcb56dc76675ab67458ac24c0dd7d75d632ac9bd"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp38-cp38-win32.whl", hash = "sha256:eef7a8a2f4318e2cb2dee8666d26e58eaf437c14788f3a2911d0c3da40405ae8"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp38-cp38-win_amd64.whl", hash = "sha256:d001a73c8bc2bf5b5c1360d59dd7573744e163b3607fa92788b7f3d5fefbd9a5"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp39-cp39-win32.whl", hash = "sha256:dde9fcaa24e7a9654f4baf2a55250b13a5ea701493d904c54069776b99a8216b"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-cp39-cp39-win_amd64.whl", hash = "sha256:853db610214e77ee817ecf0514e0d1d052dff7f63a0c157aa6eabae98db8a8de"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:510ed78cd0980f6d3218099e874714cdf0d8a95582e7b059b06cabad855ed0a0"},
+    {file = "protobuf-5.28.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:dde74af0fa774fa98892209992295adbfb91da3fa98c8f67a88afe8f5a349add"},
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1721,13 +1721,13 @@ tests = ["coverage[toml] (==5.0.4)", "pytest (>=6.0.0,<7.0.0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "pyparsing"
-version = "3.1.2"
+version = "3.1.4"
 description = "pyparsing module - Classes and methods to define and execute parsing grammars"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.6.8"
 files = [
-    {file = "pyparsing-3.1.2-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:f9db75911801ed778fe61bb643079ff86601aca99fcae6345aa67292038fb742"},
-    {file = "pyparsing-3.1.2.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:a1bac0ce561155ecc3ed78ca94d3c9378656ad4c94c1270de543f621420f94ad"},
+    {file = "pyparsing-3.1.4-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:a6a7ee4235a3f944aa1fa2249307708f893fe5717dc603503c6c7969c070fb7c"},
+    {file = "pyparsing-3.1.4.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:f86ec8d1a83f11977c9a6ea7598e8c27fc5cddfa5b07ea2241edbbde1d7bc032"},
 ]
 
 [package.extras]
@@ -2488,6 +2488,22 @@ files = [
     {file = "smmap-5.0.1.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:dceeb6c0028fdb6734471eb07c0cd2aae706ccaecab45965ee83f11c8d3b1f62"},
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "strenum"
+version = "0.4.15"
+description = "An Enum that inherits from str."
+optional = false
+python-versions = "*"
+files = [
+    {file = "StrEnum-0.4.15-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:a30cda4af7cc6b5bf52c8055bc4bf4b2b6b14a93b574626da33df53cf7740659"},
+    {file = "StrEnum-0.4.15.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:878fb5ab705442070e4dd1929bb5e2249511c0bcf2b0eeacf3bcd80875c82eff"},
+]
+
+[package.extras]
+docs = ["myst-parser[linkify]", "sphinx", "sphinx-rtd-theme"]
+release = ["twine"]
+test = ["pylint", "pytest", "pytest-black", "pytest-cov", "pytest-pylint"]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "toml"
 version = "0.10.2"
@@ -2702,18 +2718,22 @@ dev = ["doc8", "flake8", "flake8-import-order", "rstcheck[sphinx]", "sphinx"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "zipp"
-version = "3.20.0"
+version = "3.20.1"
 description = "Backport of pathlib-compatible object wrapper for zip files"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=3.8"
 files = [
-    {file = "zipp-3.20.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:58da6168be89f0be59beb194da1250516fdaa062ccebd30127ac65d30045e10d"},
-    {file = "zipp-3.20.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:0145e43d89664cfe1a2e533adc75adafed82fe2da404b4bbb6b026c0157bdb31"},
+    {file = "zipp-3.20.1-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:9960cd8967c8f85a56f920d5d507274e74f9ff813a0ab8889a5b5be2daf44064"},
+    {file = "zipp-3.20.1.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:c22b14cc4763c5a5b04134207736c107db42e9d3ef2d9779d465f5f1bcba572b"},
 ]
 
 [package.extras]
+check = ["pytest-checkdocs (>=2.4)", "pytest-ruff (>=0.2.1)"]
+cover = ["pytest-cov"]
 doc = ["furo", "jaraco.packaging (>=9.3)", "jaraco.tidelift (>=1.4)", "rst.linker (>=1.9)", "sphinx (>=3.5)", "sphinx-lint"]
-test = ["big-O", "importlib-resources", "jaraco.functools", "jaraco.itertools", "jaraco.test", "more-itertools", "pytest (>=6,!=8.1.*)", "pytest-checkdocs (>=2.4)", "pytest-cov", "pytest-enabler (>=2.2)", "pytest-ignore-flaky", "pytest-mypy", "pytest-ruff (>=0.2.1)"]
+enabler = ["pytest-enabler (>=2.2)"]
+test = ["big-O", "importlib-resources", "jaraco.functools", "jaraco.itertools", "jaraco.test", "more-itertools", "pytest (>=6,!=8.1.*)", "pytest-ignore-flaky"]
+type = ["pytest-mypy"]
 
 [extras]
 gojsonnet = ["gojsonnet"]
@@ -2722,5 +2742,5 @@ test = ["docker", "reclass-rs"]
 
 [metadata]
 lock-version = "2.0"
-python-versions = "^3.10,<3.12"
-content-hash = "9b633a77abd182a48677c02195dd64c555517309279efba92b8a97648a887597"
+python-versions = "^3.10,<3.13"
+content-hash = "08ad7a65e8df9d9171bbef522a6ff4c34291c03c5be8eefe33e62a26e999fd3d"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index dfedb9bf2..cdd1c1655 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ pytest-emoji = "^0.2.0"
 source = "git-tag"
 
 [tool.poetry.dependencies]
-python = "^3.10,<3.12"
+python = "^3.10,<3.13"
+strenum = { version = "^0.4.15", python = "^3.10" }
 addict = "^2.4.0"
 azure-keyvault-keys = "^4.7.0"
 boto3 = "^1.18.17"
diff --git a/tests/test_compile.py b/tests/test_compile.py
index 41734ca9d..c5f0ded85 100644
--- a/tests/test_compile.py
+++ b/tests/test_compile.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 from kapitan.cli import main
 from kapitan.utils import directory_hash
 from kapitan.cached import reset_cache
+from kapitan.inventory import InventoryBackends
 
 TEST_PWD = os.getcwd()
 TEST_RESOURCES_PATH = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "tests/test_resources")
@@ -219,7 +220,7 @@ def tearDown(self):
 class CompileKubernetesTestReclassRs(CompileKubernetesTest):
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.extraArgv = ["--inventory-backend=reclass-rs"]
+        self.extraArgv = [f"--inventory-backend={(InventoryBackends.RECLASS_RS)}"]
 
     @unittest.skip("Already tested")
     def test_compile_not_enough_args(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_compose_node_name.py b/tests/test_compose_node_name.py
index 63340aaaf..5f471d0d7 100644
--- a/tests/test_compose_node_name.py
+++ b/tests/test_compose_node_name.py
@@ -5,15 +5,13 @@
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 
-from kapitan.inventory import ReclassInventory
-from kapitan.inventory import ReclassRsInventory
+from kapitan.inventory import get_inventory_backend, InventoryBackends
 from kapitan.inventory.inventory import InventoryError
-from kapitan import setup_logging
 
 
 class ReclassComposeNodeNameTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.inventory = ReclassInventory
+        self.inventory = get_inventory_backend(InventoryBackends.RECLASS)
 
     def test_compose_target_name(self):
         inventory_path = "examples/kubernetes/inventory"
@@ -70,4 +68,4 @@ def test_compose_target_name(self):
 
 class ReclassRsComposeNodeNameTest(ReclassComposeNodeNameTest):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.inventory = ReclassRsInventory
+        self.inventory = get_inventory_backend(InventoryBackends.RECLASS_RS)
diff --git a/tests/test_from_dot_kapitan.py b/tests/test_from_dot_kapitan.py
index b24e73366..22843f988 100644
--- a/tests/test_from_dot_kapitan.py
+++ b/tests/test_from_dot_kapitan.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 from kapitan.utils import from_dot_kapitan
 from kapitan.cached import reset_cache
+from kapitan.inventory import InventoryBackends
 
 
 class FromDotKapitanTest(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -25,13 +26,13 @@ def test_no_file(self):
 
     def test_no_option(self):
         self._setup_dot_kapitan(
-            {"global": {"inventory-backend": "reclass"}, "compile": {"inventory-path": "./path/to/inv"}}
+            {"global": {"inventory-backend": str(InventoryBackends.RECLASS)}, "compile": {"inventory-path": "./path/to/inv"}}
         )
         assert from_dot_kapitan("inventory", "inventory-path", "./some/fallback") == "./some/fallback"
 
     def test_cmd_option(self):
         self._setup_dot_kapitan(
-            {"global": {"inventory-backend": "reclass"}, "compile": {"inventory-path": "./path/to/inv"}}
+            {"global": {"inventory-backend": str(InventoryBackends.RECLASS)}, "compile": {"inventory-path": "./path/to/inv"}}
         )
         assert from_dot_kapitan("compile", "inventory-path", "./some/fallback") == "./path/to/inv"
 
diff --git a/tests/test_inventory.py b/tests/test_inventory.py
index e0f1e5cb6..2b1558f50 100644
--- a/tests/test_inventory.py
+++ b/tests/test_inventory.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 "inventory tests"
+from kapitan.resources import inventory
+from kapitan.inventory import InventoryBackends
 
 import importlib
 import unittest
@@ -15,7 +17,6 @@
 import shutil
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-from kapitan.resources import inventory
 
 TEST_PWD = os.getcwd()
 TEST_KUBERNETES_INVENTORY = os.path.join(TEST_PWD, "examples/kubernetes/")
@@ -28,8 +29,10 @@ def setUp(self) -> None:
         from kapitan.cached import reset_cache, args
         
         reset_cache()
-        if not importlib.util.find_spec(self.backend_id):
-            self.skipTest(f"backend module {self.backend_id} not available")
+        # Fix inconsistency between reclass-rs (option name) and reclass_rs (module name)
+        backend_module_name = self.backend_id.replace("-", "_") 
+        if not importlib.util.find_spec(backend_module_name):
+            self.skipTest(f"backend module {backend_module_name} not available")
         args.inventory_backend = self.backend_id 
         
     def test_inventory_target(self):
@@ -45,7 +48,7 @@ def test_inventory_all_targets(self):
 
 class InventoryTargetTestReclass(InventoryTargetTestBase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.backend_id = "reclass"
+        self.backend_id = InventoryBackends.RECLASS
         self.expected_targets_count = 10
         self.inventory_path = "examples/kubernetes/inventory"
         super().setUp()
@@ -53,7 +56,7 @@ def setUp(self):
 
 class InventoryTargetTestReclassRs(InventoryTargetTestBase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.backend_id = "reclass_rs"
+        self.backend_id = InventoryBackends.RECLASS_RS
         self.expected_targets_count = 10
         self.inventory_path = "examples/kubernetes/inventory"
         super().setUp()
@@ -64,7 +67,7 @@ class InventoryTargetTestOmegaConf(InventoryTargetTestBase):
 
     def setUp(self) -> None:
         shutil.copytree(TEST_KUBERNETES_INVENTORY, self.temp_dir, dirs_exist_ok=True)
-        self.backend_id = "omegaconf"
+        self.backend_id = InventoryBackends.OMEGACONF
         self.expected_targets_count = 10
         from kapitan.inventory.inv_omegaconf import migrate
         self.inventory_path = os.path.join(self.temp_dir, "inventory")
diff --git a/tests/test_omegaconf.py b/tests/test_omegaconf.py
index 8c51f9fac..660972d6b 100644
--- a/tests/test_omegaconf.py
+++ b/tests/test_omegaconf.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 "inventory tests"
+from kapitan.inventory import get_inventory_backend
 
 import unittest
 import logging
@@ -18,13 +19,14 @@
 TEST_PWD = os.getcwd()
 TEST_KUBERNETES_INVENTORY = os.path.join(TEST_PWD, "examples/kubernetes/")
 
-from kapitan.inventory.inv_omegaconf.inv_omegaconf import OmegaConfInventory as inventory_backend
+
 
 class InventoryTestOmegaConf(unittest.TestCase):
     temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
     
     def setUp(self) -> None:
         shutil.copytree(TEST_KUBERNETES_INVENTORY, self.temp_dir, dirs_exist_ok=True)
+        inventory_backend = get_inventory_backend("omegaconf")
         self.inventory_path = self.temp_dir
         self.extraArgv = ["--inventory-backend=omegaconf"]
         from kapitan.inventory.inv_omegaconf import migrate