Trax alternatives
Trax alternatives: what's on the shelf vs who buys from it
Trax, ParallelDots and other image recognition tools tell you what is on the shelf. Shoppermotion measures the shoppers in front of it: how many reached the bay, stopped and bought, matched to receipts.
In short
Trax analyses shelf images for availability, share of shelf, pricing and planogram compliance; in February 2026 its image recognition business merged with FORM. Shelf image recognition alternatives include ParallelDots ShelfWatch, Infilect, Vispera, Snap2Insight, Vision Group and Scandit ShelfView. Shoppermotion measures shopper behaviour in front of the shelf, matched to receipts.
What Trax does, and what changed in 2026
Trax pioneered retail computer vision: shelf images become reports on availability, share of shelf, pricing, planogram and promotional compliance, mostly for consumer goods brands and their field teams. In February 2026 Trax Ltd. sold its image recognition business outside China to an affiliate of Gemspring Capital, which merged it with FORM. Trax Ltd. kept other businesses, such as Shopkick, and the Trax Retail site now presents FORM as the new home of Trax IR.
Trax alternatives by type
Two kinds of tools: shelf image recognition, which audits the shelf, and shopper behaviour at the shelf, which measures who reaches it and buys. One line each, from each vendor's own website.
Shelf image recognition
ParallelDots ShelfWatch
Mobile app capture with offline mode; planogram, share of shelf, POSM, price tag and availability KPIs.
Shelf image recognition
Infilect InfiViz
Retail execution for consumer goods brands: SKUs, facings, pricing and planogram compliance from photos and videos.
Shelf image recognition
Vispera
Image recognition retail execution for grocery retailers and suppliers, including shelf price and promotion tracking.
Shelf image recognition
Snap2Insight
Perfect Shelf Platform for CPG brands: out-of-stocks, display execution and planogram compliance.
Shelf image recognition
Vision Group
Image recognition for CPGs and retailers, alongside assortment and space planning tools.
Shelf image recognition
Scandit ShelfView
Image recognition and barcode scanning, captured by robots, fixed cameras or mobile devices.
Shelf image recognition
Clobotics
Computer vision and robotics for retail execution monitoring.
Shopper behaviour at the shelf
Shoppermotion
Traffic, visual contact, engagement and conversion per bay, from trolley and basket paths matched to receipts.
Trax vs ParallelDots
Both are shelf image recognition for retail execution, and both sell mainly to consumer goods brands. The differences their own websites stress:
Capture
Trax: AR-powered image recognition during store visits. ParallelDots: a mobile app with offline mode and on-device blur and angle detection.
KPIs
Trax: availability, share of shelf, pricing, planogram and promo compliance. ParallelDots: planogram, share of shelf, POSM, price tag and availability.
Field workflow
Trax: FORM task management and Next Best Action guidance for reps. ParallelDots: real-time feedback, a supervisor portal and SFA integrations.
Company
Trax IR is now part of FORM, backed by Gemspring Capital. ParallelDots sells ShelfWatch as its image recognition product.
Shoppermotion vs Trax and ParallelDots, side by side
| Criterion | Shoppermotion | Trax (FORM) | ParallelDots ShelfWatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary question | How shoppers move, engage and buy in the store | What is on the shelf: availability, share of shelf, pricing and compliance | What is on the shelf: execution KPIs from store photos |
| Capture method | Bluetooth tags on trolleys and baskets, located continuously by ceiling Angle of Arrival antennas | Shelf images, including AR-powered capture during store visits | Mobile app photos, with offline mode and on-device blur and angle detection |
| What is measured | Full path of every trip with a tagged trolley or basket, from entrance to till | SKU-level shelf conditions: stockouts, voids, facings, planogram and promotional compliance | Planogram, share of shelf, POSM, price tag and on-shelf availability, including end caps and gondolas |
| Link to sales | Each trip matched with its own receipt at the till (Insights plan) | Shelf data combined with clients' KPIs and other data sources | Not publicly specified |
| Shopper traffic per bay | Traffic, dwell, visual contact and engagement per bay | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| Shelf conditions (OOS, facings) | Not measured: no cameras | Yes | Yes |
| Retail media measurement | Impressions, views, visits and sales lift per in-store placement | Promotional compliance | POSM compliance |
| Cameras / photos in store | No cameras | Shelf photos during store visits | Shelf photos taken with a mobile app |
| Main users | Retailers, brands and Retail Media Networks | Consumer goods brands, distributors and retailers, including field teams | CPG and retail brands: sales, category, trade marketing and field teams |
| Company (2026) | Shoppermotion (Proximus Analytics S.L.U.) | Image recognition business merged with FORM, backed by Gemspring Capital | ParallelDots |
| Pricing model | Custom quote by store format, number of stores, trolleys and baskets, ticket matching and service level | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| Best for | Conversion per bay and in-store media proof | Shelf execution audits across many retail accounts | Shelf execution audits with mobile capture, also offline |
Last reviewed: 2026-10. Based on publicly available information reviewed in October 2026. Trax, FORM, ParallelDots, ShelfWatch and the other names are trademarks of their respective owners. Check each vendor for current specifications.
Sources: Trax Retail: home page · Trax Retail: technology · FORM: FORM and Trax merge (February 2026) · Gemspring Capital: FORM and Trax IR combination (February 2026) · Trax Ltd.: divestiture of the image recognition business (February 2026) · ParallelDots: ShelfWatch · ParallelDots: home page · Infilect · Vispera · Snap2Insight · Vision Group · Scandit: ShelfView · Clobotics
Execution + behaviour
Use both: a shelf that is well executed and visited
Image recognition confirms the display is set up as planned. Shoppermotion shows whether shoppers reached it, stopped and bought, and where engaged shoppers left without buying.
- TrafficPassed the bay0%0
- Visual contactSlowed below 45 cm/s0%0
- EngagedStopped below 25 cm/s0%0
- BuyersProduct on the ticket0%0
Choose Shoppermotion, image recognition, or both
Choose Shoppermotion if
- You need to know how many shoppers reached a shelf or display, how long they stayed and how many bought.
- You sell in-store media and need impressions, views and sales lift per placement.
- You want continuous measurement of every tagged trip, without cameras in the store.
Consider the alternative if
- Your priority is on-shelf availability, out-of-stocks and planogram or price compliance.
- You are a consumer goods brand auditing execution across many retail accounts with field teams.
- You want shelf share and competitor presence data for retailer negotiations.
Use both when the question is whether a display was set up right and also worked. Shoppermotion's REST API feeds Power BI or Tableau, where shelf KPIs and shopper behaviour sit side by side.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What are the best Trax alternatives?
For shelf image recognition: ParallelDots ShelfWatch, Infilect, Vispera, Snap2Insight, Vision Group, Scandit ShelfView and Clobotics, among others. For shopper behaviour and conversion in front of the shelf, which image recognition does not measure: Shoppermotion, which matches each trolley and basket trip to its receipt.
Trax vs ParallelDots: what's the difference?
Both turn shelf photos into execution KPIs for consumer goods brands. According to their websites, Trax, now part of FORM, pairs image recognition with task management and Next Best Action guidance, while ParallelDots ShelfWatch stresses a mobile app with offline mode and on-device blur and angle checks.
What happened to Trax Retail?
According to press releases from February 2026, Trax Ltd. sold its image recognition business outside China to an affiliate of Gemspring Capital, which merged it with FORM. Trax Ltd. kept its other businesses, such as Shopkick.
Do Shoppermotion and Trax measure the same thing?
No. Trax analyses images of the shelf to report what is on it. Shoppermotion measures shopper behaviour in front of the shelf and matches each trip with its receipt. Many questions, such as whether a display was both well executed and visited, need both views.
Does Shoppermotion detect out-of-stocks?
Shoppermotion does not use cameras, so it does not see the shelf. It reports behaviour such as visits, visual contact, engagement and conversion per bay, which can reveal missed opportunities at a given shelf.
Can I use Shoppermotion with Trax or ParallelDots?
Yes, they are complementary. Image recognition reports the shelf conditions and Shoppermotion the shopper behaviour in front of them. Shoppermotion's REST API connects with Power BI and Tableau, where both data sets can be combined.
Which tool measures in-store retail media?
Shoppermotion measures impressions, views and visits per in-store placement and, with ticket matching, sales lift. Image recognition tools check whether promotional materials are in place, not how many shoppers saw them or bought.
Next steps: How pricing works · Estimate your ROI
Other comparisons
See who buys from your shelves.
Book a 30-minute demo with a retail analyst.