Kanika Agrawal
Content Strategist, BeatRoute
Kanika wrote our retail audit checklist and keeps this page in step with it.
View profileRetail Audit Software and App for Retail Brands in Africa
Retail audit software lets a brand check its execution in stores it does not own. In BeatRoute's store audit app, a rep at a provision store in Lagos or a duka in Nairobi photographs the shelf, checks it against your must-sell list and benchmark photo, and logs any gap before leaving.
Trusted by AAVA Brands, BUA Foods and Dangote Cement
- field users
- 100,000+
- countries
- 20+
- Enterprise Brands
- 200+
A shelf gap should close on the visit that finds it
On a weekly beat, a gap that head office spots in the photos waits on the shelf until the next call.
| Paper or photo-only audit | BeatRoute retail audit | |
|---|---|---|
| Who spots the gap | A manager, days after the visit | The rep, while still at the counter |
| Corrective action | A line in the month-end deck | A ticket with an owner until it is closed |
| Display money you pay out | Paid on the claim | Backed by dated, geo-tagged photos |
| Weak signal upcountry | The form waits for network | Saved on the phone, synced later |
| Rival activity | Noted if someone remembers | Prices and offers logged in the same pass |
How a store audit runs in BeatRoute retail audit software
Set the standard, check it at the outlet, then act where the shelf slips.
A kiosk gets a short check, a supermarket the full audit
Score each outlet on what it can show. Set the retail audit checks and a benchmark photo once per outlet type, and each rep gets the right audit at check-in.
Key features
- Kiosks and dukas: must-sell SKUs, price and facings
- Supermarkets: planogram, share of shelf and POSM
- Promotion checks added for the weeks a trade push runs
At the duka counter, with the van outside
The rep takes one shelf photo and ticks the must-sell list. If the van carries a missing SKU, it is sold in before the rep leaves. In field runs with customers, the VM Audit AI Agent grades the retail audit photo.
Key features
- Selfie and GPS stamp on every check-in
- Rival prices and offers logged in the same pass
- Gaps the rep cannot fix get an owner
- Supervisor alert when an outlet scores below target
Send managers where the shelf slips
Audits roll up by outlet, distributor and region, with the photo behind each score, so area managers know which stores to visit next.
Key features
- Ask Copilot in plain words which outlets slipped this week
- Display scores beside sell-out for each outlet
Match the audit to the person at the shelf
Who stands at the shelf sets how long the audit can be.
Van-sales reps at kiosks and dukas
The order comes first and the van is waiting. One photo and three checks: must-sell SKUs present, priced right, with their facings.
Van sales in our SFA software
Merchandisers in supermarkets and chains
In a Lagos or Nairobi supermarket the merchandiser is there for the shelf, so the audit can be the full one: planogram, share of shelf, POSM and rival displays, scored against that chain's benchmark.
Visual merchandising software
Promoters in supermarkets and busy markets
A promoter works one counter or market stand all day, so the audit is a short daily one: checked in on arrival, stock on display, and what shoppers bought before the promo ends.
Promoter appWhat AAVA Brands got on BeatRoute in Nigeria
AAVA runs its Nigerian field team on BeatRoute SFA and DMS, and its leaders now act on coverage gaps in hours rather than weeks.
★★★★★
“The main Objective of engagement was to measure the width of distribution, visibility, and availability. We are able to measure this and plug the gaps.”
★★★★★
“BeatRoute provides powerful tools for tracking sales performance, route adherence, and merchandising execution…”
★★★★★
“BeatRoute has also given us far better market visibility, which helps us make smarter decisions at all levels.”
★★★★★
“It has empowered our field teams, simplified operations, and brought clarity to every level of sales execution.”
What to ask in a retail audit app demo
- Does the rep see the gaps at the kiosk, or does someone read the photos next week?
- Can a stall, a provision store and a supermarket each have their own checks?
- If a must-sell SKU is missing, who gets it back, and can you track it?
- Does the audit run in the same app as orders and van sales?
BeatRoute suits brands whose reps, merchandisers or promoters check stores the brand does not own; a retailer auditing its own stores for safety and operations needs a store operations tool instead.
To test it, run one promotion in one city on BeatRoute, then compare the gaps fixed on the same visit with a city still on paper or photo-only audits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a retail audit the same as a planogram audit?
No. Planogram audits are one part of a retail audit: they check only whether the display matches the agreed layout. A retail audit also covers stock, price, POSM, rival activity and whether the promoter turned up. See our 10-step retail audit checklist.
How does the AI grade a shelf photo?
The VM Audit AI Agent is in field runs with customers. It compares each photo with the benchmark for that outlet type. Then it scores planogram, share of shelf, facings and POSM. Shelf audits with it cost 80% less than manual audits and 40% less than machine-learning audits.
Can area managers get audit reports without a spreadsheet?
Yes. Each audit reaches the reports once the rep submits it, so nobody gathers WhatsApp photos before the distributor review. Ask BeatRoute Copilot which supermarkets missed the promo display.
What does store audit software cost?
BeatRoute is subscription software, priced per user and module on annual contracts, with no free trial. The price depends on how many people run audits and which modules you add, such as van sales.
Who wrote this page
Updated
Nikhil Chaudhary
VP of Marketing, BeatRoute
Nikhil leads marketing at BeatRoute and hosts The BeatRoute Podcast.
View profile