How to score shopping feeds software for catalogue teams

What to take away

Define the job before you shortlist

Start with the tasks your team performs weekly. For example, a retailer with 2,000 SKUs across three channels needs different tooling from one running 40,000 listings.

Write down the outputs you need: a Google Merchant Centre feed, a TikTok catalogue, a Meta catalogue, and possibly a price comparison file. Missing attributes cause disapprovals that cost revenue quietly.

Record who owns each output. If merchandising owns titles and marketing owns images, the tool must support separate roles and an approval step.

Channel fit and attribute coverage

Channel coverage is the first filter. Check that the vendor supports the destinations you actually sell on.

TikTok catalogues need product identifiers and availability data that refresh often, since how to create a catalogue in TikTok Ads Manager sets out the structure advertisers must populate. Stale feed data drags performance down.

Video-led placements add another requirement. Understanding video ad formats on YouTube helps you judge whether a vendor can supply the product data those campaigns need, including landing page URLS that match the ad.

Ask each vendor to map your category taxonomy to their supported Google product categories. Gaps create recurring manual work.

Questions to ask on data quality

How does the tool detect and fix missing GTINs, invalid prices or broken image links? Request a report, not a promise.

Questions to ask on integration

Which commerce platforms and PIM systems does it connect to natively, and what happens when a sync fails overnight?

Integration, workflow and compliance

Integration depth decides how much manual work remains. A native connector to your ecommerce platform beats a scheduled CSV import, because it narrows the gap between a price change and a feed update.

Check the failure path. If a sync breaks at 2am, who is alerted, and can the previous feed version be restored? Ask for support hours in writing, including bank holidays.

If you run email or SMS alongside feeds, the data you hold must meet consent rules. The ICO direct marketing checklist is a sensible reference when reviewing how a vendor handles opt-in records.

For a wider view of the market before you commit, the tools and supplier guide for 2027 sets out the categories of vendor you will encounter.

Pricing models and total cost

Vendors price per SKU, per channel, per order or by monthly tier. A per-SKU model punishes long catalogues with low sales; a per-order model punishes growth.

For example, a team paying £400 a month on a tier covering 10,000 SKUs should ask what the same tier costs at 25,000 SKUs, in writing.

Add implementation fees, feed template build, and any charge for extra channels. These often exceed the first year of subscription.

Scoring and comparison

Score vendors on a fixed scale before demos, and keep the scores. The table below shows a workable structure with illustrative weightings.

Run a scored trial with your own data. A vendor that performs well on a clean sample file may struggle with your real catalogue, which holds duplicates and incomplete attributes.

Before signing, confirm ownership and exit terms. The vendor due diligence checklist covers contract traps worth reviewing first.

Common questions

How long should a selection project take?

For a catalogue under 10,000 SKUs, plan for four to six weeks: two weeks scoping, two weeks trials, then scoring and negotiation. Larger catalogues need longer for integration testing.

Should we choose one tool for all channels?

Usually yes, because a single source of truth reduces reconciliation work. Split only when a channel has unique data needs no single vendor handles well.

What is the biggest selection mistake?

Choosing on demo polish. Demos use clean data. Insist on a trial with your own feed export, including your worst-performing category.