As an eCommerce merchandiser, you rely on visual merchandising tools to build beautiful product catalogs that drive sales. These tools help you manage digital storefronts, optimize product displays, and make smarter merchandising decisions.
But not all visual merchandising solutions are created equal.
This comparison explores key features of popular eCommerce merchandising platforms like Apptus, Attraqt, Bloomreach, Nosto, and Smart Merchandiser to help you understand which tool best serves your needs.
Want to dive deeper? Download the comprehensive eBook for an in-depth analysis of each feature and capability.
Visual catalog management
A well-organized visual catalog is your storefront’s foundation. Smart visual merchandising tools help merchandisers create intuitive, visually appealing product displays that shape first impressions and build consumer trust.
Key catalog management features vary across platforms. Top tools offer:
- Customizable layout templates
- High-resolution image support
- Flexible categorization systems
- Product information management
- Brand consistency controls
Most platforms support basic catalog organization, but advanced solutions provide more granular control over how products appear and interact within your digital storefront.
Analytics overlays: Real-time performance data
While most platforms provide basic analytics, only Smart Merchandiser and Bloomreach offer analytics overlay features. These overlays display real-time metrics directly on product pages, including:
- Page views
- Abandonment rates
- Conversion rates
- Sales revenue
This direct visualization eliminates switching between layouts and dashboards and gives you immediate access to performance data as you work.
Social proof integration
Customer ratings and reviews build trust and encourage purchases. While many tools display reviews, only the most advanced solutions present this information as an overlay on product pages. This gives you quick insights without extra navigation.
Social media integration varies between platforms. Basic tools allow customers to share products on social channels. More advanced options provide social media statistics overlays showing metrics like Facebook likes and X (formerly Twitter) mentions directly on your product pages.
Category management & cross-references
Category cross-reference overlays show how many categories list each product. This helps you:
- Remove unnecessary category listings
- Manage product variations
- Streamline navigation between category pages
- Maintain organized product hierarchies
Smart Merchandiser, Bloomreach, and several other platforms include this capability, though implementation varies.
Visual layout controls
Drag-and-drop interfaces make product arrangement intuitive. Attraqt, Apptus, RichRelevance, Smart Merchandiser, and Nosto all offer this feature. Instead of editing sequence numbers or spreadsheets, you can:
- Move products visually
- See immediate layout previews
- Make quick adjustments
- Test different arrangements
Most platforms also include PLP (Product Listing Page) sequencing rules for automated product sorting based on:
- Sales performance
- Conversion rates
- Profit margins
- Stock levels
- Seasonality
Clipboard functions
Clipboard features streamline the process of managing and organizing products across your store. While many platforms include basic copy-paste functionality, tools like Smart Merchandiser, Bloomreach, Attraqt, Apptus, RichRelevance, and Nosto offer enhanced clipboard capabilities.
These advanced clipboard tools allow merchandisers to:
- Copy product details between pages
- Move elements without navigation delays
- Update multiple product layouts simultaneously
- Maintain consistent product information
- Test different arrangements quickly
As product catalogs grow, strong clipboard functionality becomes increasingly valuable for managing large volumes of product data efficiently.
Color and image management
Leading platforms like Bloomreach, Attraqt, Smart Merchandiser, Apptus, and Nosto provide PLP color management. This lets merchandisers control color displays across categories, adjust for seasonal trends, highlight available inventory, and present different lead colors in different categories.
Image management capabilities determine which photos appear first on product listing pages. Strong image management tools help you:
- Select engaging lead images
- Update visuals based on inventory
- Maintain visual consistency
- Showcase product features
Inventory controls
Advanced inventory management features help prevent stockouts and maintain optimal product levels. Top platforms provide:
- Color-coded stock level indicators
- Custom threshold alerts
- Email, text, or Slack notifications
- Product-specific inventory rules
These tools keep you informed about stock status and help adjust product displays automatically based on availability.
Bulk operations
Efficient merchandising requires bulk editing capabilities. Key features include:
- Mass updates to product details
- Batch publishing/unpublishing
- Multi-product price adjustments
- Group tag management
- Promotional code applications
Smart Merchandiser and other leading platforms streamline these operations through intuitive interfaces.
Performance impact
Smart Merchandiser reports that its users experience:
- 70% increased productivity
- 50% reduced HR costs
- 20% higher sales revenue
These results stem from automated processes, data-driven decisions, and streamlined merchandising operations.
Making the right choice
When selecting a visual merchandising platform, consider:
- Your current pain points in merchandising workflows
- Required features vs. nice-to-have capabilities
- Your team size and technical expertise
- Product catalog complexity
- Integration requirements
- Budget constraints
The best solution combines essential features with usability that matches your team’s needs. While Smart Merchandiser offers comprehensive capabilities, each platform has strengths that may better suit specific business requirements.
Leading brands like JanSport, The North Face, and 3M rely on visual merchandising tools to power their online retail success. These solutions do more than organize products — they create shopping experiences that convert browsers into buyers and keep customers coming back.
For a detailed breakdown of each feature and comprehensive platform comparisons, download our free eBook, Features of Popular Visual Merchandising Tools: Comparing the Essentials.
Ready to see how Smart Merchandiser compares to other visual merchandising tools? Request a demo to explore these features and learn which capabilities are best for you.
