Four identified SKUs, plus one unresolved product group. Confirm its identity before finalizing the assortment count.
SHELF INTELLIGENCE / AISLEMETRY
Every facing counts.
Make the shelf measurable.
Identify visible products, count facings, and measure your brand’s shelf presence. Keep every observation connected to the evidence your team can review.
Explore a shelf example ↓SHELF INTELLIGENCE / QUICK ANSWER
What does a shelf intelligence analysis show?
A shelf intelligence analysis connects visible product identities, facing counts, and brand share of shelf to the shelf evidence. Aislemetry uses AI to support product detection and catalogue matching, with uncertain identities available for review. The example below uses manually defined fictional data to explain these outputs; it does not perform live AI recognition.
- Unique SKU count
- The number of distinct identified products, including their variant and pack size.
- Visible facing count
- The number of front-facing packs visible within the captured category.
- Facings-based shelf share
- Brand visible facings ÷ all visible category facings × 100.
ANATOMY OF A SHELF AUDIT
One shelf.
Three useful answers.
This interactive diagram uses fictional products and manually defined sample data. It demonstrates the intended output; it does not run image recognition.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE · FICTIONAL CEREAL CATEGORY · 12 VISIBLE FACINGS
STORE 001 / AISLE 03FRONT VIEW
Select a pack to inspect its sample SKU record.
Identified in sampleNeeds review
Twelve visible front-facing packs. Packs hidden behind the front row are outside this count.
Harvest occupies 6 of 12 visible category facings. This is a facings-based measure, not sales share.
What are the counts in this illustrative shelf?
The sample has four identified SKUs, twelve visible facings, and one unresolved product group. Harvest has six of the twelve facings: 50% of the visible category. Unresolved facings remain in the denominator.
| Product / SKU | Visible facings | Identity status |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest Original · 400 g | 4 | Identified in sample |
| Harvest Honey · 400 g | 2 | Identified in sample |
| Grove Oat · 350 g | 2 | Identified in sample |
| Grove Cocoa · 350 g | 2 | Identified in sample |
| Unresolved product group | 2 | Needs review |
| Total visible category | 12 | 4 identified SKUs + unresolved group |
FROM PHOTO TO REVIEWABLE EVIDENCE
Count the shelf.
Keep the context.
Identify the exact SKU
Brand, product, variant, and pack size distinguish one SKU from another. A product catalogue with reference images helps define the expected range.
Separate SKUs from facings
Four identical packs side by side are one unique SKU and four facings. A different variant or pack size is a separate SKU.
Review uncertain matches
Small packs, blur, glare, and occlusion can make identity ambiguous. Keep uncertain products visible for review rather than treating every match as confirmed.
A shelf photo captures visible availability at a moment in time. It does not establish stockroom inventory, sales, or physical shelf dimensions without additional evidence.
SHELF ANALYSIS / ANSWERS
Understand the evidence.
Interpret the result.
Does this shelf example run AI on uploaded photos?
No. This page is an interactive illustration using fictional products and manually defined counts. It explains the intended output of a shelf analysis; it does not upload photos or perform live image recognition.
Why are there four identified SKUs but twelve facings?
A unique SKU is a distinct product, variant, and pack size. Repeated packs of that SKU each add a facing. This sample contains four identified SKUs across ten facings, plus two facings in an unresolved product group. The unresolved group is excluded from the confirmed SKU count.
How should uncertain product identities be handled?
Keep uncertain identities flagged for review and check the photo against the reference catalogue. Do not add an unresolved group to the confirmed SKU count. Keep its visible facings in the category total, and review brand shares before treating them as final.
START WITH A REAL SHELF
Define a pilot.
Prove what matters.
Bring a representative sample of shelf photos and a reference SKU catalogue. Define success for exact SKU identification, facing counts, and the proportion requiring review—including a separate check for small packs.
Discuss a shelf-analysis pilot
Email us to discuss a pilot ↗, or build a brief to copy and share.
This creates a brief in your browser. It does not send an enquiry or upload files.Content reviewed · Aislemetry