How VML Netherlands Monitors 300+ Competitors in Real-Time with ShoppingScraper

Staying ahead of the competition requires more than just great products—it demands real-time insights and the ability to act on them. VML Netherlands, part of the globally renowned WPP network, recognized this challenge and partnered with ShoppingScraper to revolutionize how they monitor pricing for their retail clients. The result? A game-changing approach to competitive intelligence during critical periods like Black Friday.

‍The Challenge: Outdated Reporting in a Dynamic Market

‍VML identified a recurring issue among their retail clients: outdated weekly reporting systems. These traditional methods left retailers blind to rapid price changes, especially during peak periods when competitors adjusted prices multiple times a day. Missing these daily price wars meant losing out on potential sales and market share—a costly oversight in today’s hyper-competitive environment.

The Solution: Real-Time Pricing Dashboards

Enter ShoppingScraper. By leveraging ShoppingScraper’s advanced API capabilities, VML implemented live pricing dashboards that transformed how their clients approached pricing strategy. Here’s how:

1. From Periodic to Continuous Monitoring
   • Weekly reports were replaced with real-time updates.
   • Retailers could now capture dynamic price changes, including weekend and holiday trends.
   • Immediate responses to market movements became possible, giving retailers a significant edge.
2. From Limited to Comprehensive Market View
   • Monitoring expanded from just a handful of competitors to over 300 sellers.
   • Regional players and marketplace sellers were included for a holistic view.
   • Automated outlier detection ensured accurate benchmarking and actionable insights.
3. From Siloed to Strategic Insights
   • Pricing data broke down departmental barriers.
   • Insights informed marketing campaigns, guided promotional strategies, and supported data-driven buying decisions.

Insights from Job van der Geest at VML

In our exclusive 30-minute podcast with Job van der Geest from VML Netherlands, he shared how this transformation unfolded.

“The data comes from Google Shopping, where we collect pricing data on an EAN-level. This means we capture every variant, color, and size—updated throughout the day.”

By integrating ShoppingScraper’s Google Shopping Offers API and real-time monitoring endpoints, VML created a robust system that empowered their clients to stay competitive even during off-hours. Automated outlier detection further enhanced the accuracy of their pricing strategies.

The Results: Winning the Price Wars

Thanks to this partnership:

• Retailers could detect critical price movements during peak periods like Black Friday.
• Market patterns were identified even during weekends or holidays when competitors often made strategic moves.
• Traditional data silos were dismantled, enabling seamless collaboration between departments.

Why This Matters

The e-commerce landscape is evolving rapidly. Retailers who rely on outdated systems risk falling behind as competitors leverage real-time data to optimize their strategies. VML’s collaboration with ShoppingScraper demonstrates the power of advanced tools in turning challenges into opportunities.Want to hear more about this transformation? Tune into our podcast with Job van der Geest for an in-depth discussion on how real-time pricing intelligence is shaping the future of retail