Every retailer wants to price smarter — and most turn to price intelligence platforms to support that goal.
But too often, those platforms fall into a familiar trap: shelfware. The system gets bought, dashboards are built, logins are issued… and then? Nothing. Adoption fades. Manual workarounds creep back in. The platform becomes another tool gathering dust.
The result? Wasted investment, frustrated teams, and missed commercial impact.
Avoiding shelfware starts by understanding why it happens — and what a smarter, more sustainable approach looks like.
Why Pricing Platforms Become Shelfware
Before you can fix it, you need to know where things go wrong. Most shelfware scenarios stem from one or more of these issues:
Rigid systems that don’t match real workflows
What looks slick in a demo often breaks down when it doesn’t align with how your team works day-to-day.
Poor internal adoption and ownership
If your team doesn’t see the benefit, they won’t use it. The platform becomes a nice-to-have instead of a core part of the pricing process.
Underused automation features
When business rules and automation are overlooked, the tool becomes just another task — instead of a tool to reduce the load.
Lack of ongoing support
If your provider hands over the keys and disappears, value falls off fast. Pricing teams need collaboration, not a helpdesk ticket.
How to Avoid Shelfware in Your Pricing Stack
Here’s how we help our clients get ongoing value — and how you can, too.
Choose Flexibility Over Flashy Features
Off-the-shelf tools might look appealing, but flexibility always wins in the long run.
Make sure your solution can:
Adjust to your category structure and pricing logic
Integrate into your existing tech stack (ERP, PIM, ecommerce)
Support your pricing routines without forcing new ones
When a tool adapts to your business, your team is more likely to adopt it — because it helps them from day one.
Build Around Your Existing Pricing Process
Don’t try to replace everything overnight. Your platform should enhance what already works.
Look for solutions that:
Simplify recurring tasks like weekly pricing reviews
Eliminate the need for manual competitor data scraping
Make approval chains and pricing uploads faster and cleaner
When a platform fits your rhythm, it doesn’t feel like more work — it feels like less.
Use Automation to Free Up Your Team
Automation shouldn’t be a checkbox feature — it should actively reduce your team’s workload.
To unlock its full value:
Set business rules that reflect your goals and thresholds
Segment key products for more targeted price monitoring
Trigger alerts for out-of-stock gaps or margin risks
The best automation supports smart decision-making while giving your team more time to focus on strategy.
Commit to Continuous Value, Not One-Off Setup
Even the best pricing strategy needs to evolve. What worked six months ago might not apply today.
To avoid stagnation:
Schedule regular reviews of your rules, logic, and alerts
Stay in close contact with your pricing solution provider
Make system tweaks part of your regular optimisation plan
We’ve seen customers unlock big gains just by reviewing what they track and how they use the data. A little communication goes a long way.
The Real Reason Shelfware Happens
Shelfware isn’t always a technology problem — it’s often a partnership problem.
When providers disappear after onboarding, or when platforms can’t flex with your team’s needs, tools become irrelevant. That’s why being more than just a pricing tool matters. You need a partner who helps you extract value every step of the way.
At InsiteTrack, we build solutions with our clients — not just for them. From onboarding to ongoing optimisation, we’re in it together.
The Tools Only Work If You Use Them
Price intelligence isn’t magic. But when configured to your workflow, backed by automation, and supported by a partner who knows your business — it becomes a growth engine.
Ready To Achieve Pricing Excellence?
Unlock smarter, faster pricing decisions. Download the Fast Track to Retail Pricing Excellence whitepaper today.
