Point of Sale (POS) data is the information collected during customer transactions. For retailers and brands alike, this data is a critical asset, offering invaluable insights into sales patterns, customer behavior, and inventory management. 

Let's explore the types of POS data, the benefits, and how to harness its full potential to drive sales and growth.

What Is POS Data?

Point of Sale (POS) data records the details of transactions at the time they are made, either in a physical retail environment or via an online store. This data tracks how products are selling, showing sales by location and time.

POS Data Vs. Wholesale Data

There are two main types of sales data: POS data and Wholesale data. 

The difference?

Wholesale data monitors the distribution of products to retailers or other distribution points, while POS data zooms in on the actual transactions made by consumers. 

POS data gives you clear insights into what sells, where, and when, helping you make smarter decisions based on actual sales performance.

Why Should You Analyze POS Data?

Let’s explore the advantages of POS data and see how it can transform your business operations.

• Smarter Decision-Making

POS data enables retailers and brands to analyze key CPG metrics and make informed decisions. 

By analyzing transaction data, you can understand which products are performing well, and which are not. So you can spot new trends and change your strategy on the fly.

For example, a cereal brand might notice that their gluten-free option is flying off the shelves in certain areas. With this insight, they might decide to increase production, ask the retailer for more shelf space, or develop new gluten-free flavors to capitalize on the trend. 

• Improve Customer Experiences

A customer’s purchase history tells you a lot about their preferences. Retailers and brands with their own online or physical stores can use POS data to tailor the shopping experience to meet the unique preferences and needs of each individual.  

That can include personalized recommendations, promotions, and rewards that are more likely to resonate with individual customers. 

• Inventory Management

Effective inventory management is crucial for maintaining cost efficiency and meeting customer demand. POS data provides real-time insights into which products are selling and which are not, helping brands avoid overstocking or stockouts. 

By keeping an eye on sales and operations metrics, businesses can optimize their inventory levels, ensure product availability, and reduce costs associated with excess inventory.

Types of POS Data Sources

You can access POS data from various sources, each offering unique insights. Let’s explore the types of POS data, where to get it, and how to utilize it. 

Retail Portals

Many retailers provide their suppliers with direct access to sales, inventory, and distribution data through dedicated portals. You can usually access this data via downloadable CSV files or through automated services, with some requiring EDI data exchange for format translation.

Data from retailers typically includes metrics by item and store (or retailer-defined market areas) at daily or weekly levels. The information is usually limited to your own products and can vary by retailer. 

For example, if you're selling organic granola bars via Whole Foods, you can tap into their Supplier Portal to access POS data for your products across different Whole Foods locations.

Useful for: Monitoring product performance, optimizing inventory, tracking promotions, and identifying store-level trends and issues.

Syndicated Data

Syndicated retail data is a collection of sales and consumer information from different stores that helps brands understand how products are performing, and what shoppers are buying. It gives you a high-level view of the market.

Unlike data from retailers, syndicated data includes information about your competitors. 

To access this kind of data, you’ll need to work with a syndicated data provider like NielsenIQ, Circana or SPINS. If you need help with this, contact Daasity for a consultation with a syndicated data expert.

Useful for: Analyzing high-level market trends, competitor benchmarking, informing product development, and guiding pricing strategies.

Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) and Owned Retail Data

This data comes from sales made directly to consumers through a brand's own channels, such as ecommerce websites or physical stores. It provides the most detailed transaction-level data and customer information, offering deep insights into customer behavior and preferences. 

Useful for: Personalizing customer experiences, optimizing marketing campaigns, informing retention strategies, and testing new products.

Leverage POS Data with Daasity

Daasity helps brands unify all their data sources and create a single source of truth. 

The Daasity platform offers integrations with 60+ essential ecommerce and retail tools, including Amazon Seller Central, SPINS, Shopify, and Whole Foods Market. So, you can access all your POS data in one place.

This gives you a unified view of your business metrics across all your sales channels, making it easier to spot trends and compare performance—without juggling multiple platforms or spreadsheets. 

Turn POS Data into Actionable Strategies with Daasity

Whether you're optimizing inventory, creating personalized marketing campaigns, or making strategic decisions, Daasity can help you unlock the full potential of your POS data.

Request a demo today to see how our platform can transform your data into a powerful tool for business growth.