What is Planogram Testing and how does it work?

A planogram is a visual diagram used in retail to guide store managers on exactly where to place products on the shelf. Getting a planogram wrong can lead to poor sales and wasted shelf space, so it’s vital to validate new layouts before rolling them out. Planogram testing connects a proposed shelf layout to a live survey, allowing feedback from large numbers of real shoppers. Buzz 3D’s interactive planogram technology goes further by letting respondents shop directly from the virtual shelf, boosting engagement and delivering results that more closely match real-world shopper behaviour.

How can Planogram Testing improve retail performance?

Getting a shelf layout wrong in one store can cause lost sales, reduced revenue, and wasted stock. Multiply that across dozens or hundreds of stores, and the financial impact becomes huge. Planogram testing eliminates this risk by providing a safe, cost-effective, and flexible way to trial different shelf layouts before rolling them out. Retailers can test multiple planograms, compare shopper responses, and choose the highest-performing design, optimising product visibility and boosting sales before making costly in-store changes.

How long does a Planogram Test take to run?

Planogram testing can be launched quickly — in many cases, the interactive planogram can be built in minutes, depending on the quality and completeness of the data provided. Once created, it’s published to our secure servers and ready to embed directly into your survey platform. You can run the test for as long as needed to reach your target respondent quota. As soon as the study closes, you'll receive complete, ready-to-analyse data, giving you actionable insights in days rather than weeks.

What data is collected during Planogram Testing?

Planogram testing with Buzz 3D captures a detailed set of shopper behaviour metrics and product interaction data, including session details (user ID, study name, shelf type, scenario number, date and time) and product interaction metrics (add-to-cart status, pick-up order, product descriptions, EAN, dwell time, and respondent ID). All results are compiled into a summary sheet for quick, easy analysis.

What is the maximum shelf length supported in your tests?

The maximum shelf length Buzz 3D supports in planogram testing is 11 metres (around 36 feet). This is more than enough for most retail planograms, allowing you to test anything from a single bay to a full aisle. For unique projects with longer aisles, please get in touch to see how we can support extended shelf lengths.

Can Planogram Testing be run in multiple languages and currencies?

Yes. Planogram Testing can be deployed in multiple languages and currencies, making it easy to run studies across different regions or shopper groups. Currently supported languages include Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. For pricing, we support the £ (GBP), $ (US and Brazilian Dollar), € (Euro), and ¥ (Chinese Yuan / Japanese Yen). Product data is displayed exactly as provided, ensuring authenticity in every market.

Can I measure Product Findability with Planogram Testing?

Yes. As part of planogram testing, you can run product findability tests by instructing respondents to locate specific items on the shelf. This allows you to measure how easily shoppers can spot key products, test the effectiveness of packaging, and compare different shelf layouts for visibility.

Do your Planogram Tests show full shelf views with zoom and pan?

Yes. Our interactive planogram testing includes a fully interactive shelf where respondents can zoom in or out, pan around the display, view realistic price tags, select products, and add or remove items from their basket. Every interaction is tracked, from basket changes to dwell time.

Can realistic price tags be displayed in the planogram?

Yes. Our interactive planogram testing supports realistic price tags that display list price, sale price, and detailed product descriptions. This ensures respondents see the same pricing cues they would in-store, allowing you to test how pricing strategies and product information impact shopper choices.

Can respondents pick up products and add them to a virtual basket?

Absolutely. Simulating a real-world virtual shelf and capturing how consumers interact with products is a core feature of our interactive planogram testing. Respondents can pick up products, add them to their basket, and even remove items at any time during their session.

How many respondents can take part in a Planogram Test?

Because Buzz 3D’s technology is lightweight and web-based, we can support hundreds of respondents in a single study without performance issues—typically around 100–150 respondents per planogram, with larger studies supported as needed.

Can respondents go through the same planogram more than once?

Yes. Respondent revisits are included in the initial cost of our planogram testing. Participants can be sent back to the same shelf multiple times, with every interaction recorded, each revisit timestamped and tracked for behavioural insights over time.

How do you ensure Planogram Testing results match real in-store behaviour?

Buzz 3D’s planogram testing technology has been trusted by some of the world’s largest brands, consistently correlating with historical sales data. Academic studies conducted years ago demonstrated a 92% alignment between online shelf testing and real-world shopper behaviour. Buzz 3D builds on this foundation with a fast, automated platform that produces reliable insights more economically than alternative methods.

Back to Solutions

Assortment Optimisation

Boost sales and prune poor performers to build the best assortment strategy

Compare
Product
Lineups

See
What
Wins

Change
What
Doesn’t

The Problem

Shoppers faced with too many options are often overwhelmed, leading to confusion, slower decision-making, and lost sales if the effort of choosing outweighs the perceived value of the product. At the same time, retailers and manufacturers can’t afford bloated assortments that add complexity and reduce efficiency across the supply chain.

But trimming the range without evidence is risky: removing the wrong SKUs can alienate loyal customers, increase shopper frustration, damage brand equity, and erode category performance.

The Solution

Buzz 3D lets you optimise product assortments by testing alternate lineups on interactive 3D shelves. Real shoppers browse, pick up items, and build baskets just as they would in store — giving you authentic behavioural data without the need for costly physical mock-ups or static images.

Experiment with SKU variations, pack sizes, or flavour extensions, then embed your test shelves directly into market research surveys. Every action is captured and summarised into clear results, showing which products earn attention, which are ignored, and which overall combinations deliver the strongest performance.

Quickly and confidently identify the optimal mix of products to boost sales, improve efficiency, and support SKU rationalisation decisions — all before making changes in the real world.

Core Benefits

Build assortments fast!
Test multiple product lineups in parallel
Compare side-by-side planograms
See the impact of adding or removing SKUs
Measure clicks, dwell time, and add-to-basket rates
Understand the optimal range size
Support SKU rationalisation with confidence
Compare assortments by product, segment, or strategy
Predict real-world performance (92% aligned to in-store behaviour)
Plug into your existing survey platforms

Use Cases

Reducing product range without hurting revenue
Testing new category architectures
Simplifying assortments for smaller formats or retail partners
Evaluating shopper preferences at SKU and pack-size level
Launching or retiring SKUs with confidence

Conclusion

Buzz 3D provides a virtual solution for testing different product assortments with real shoppers online — quickly, cost-effectively, and without the risk of trial-and-error in stores. Every SKU decision is backed by behavioural evidence, so you can rationalise ranges, refine category strategies, and launch new lineups with confidence.

No guesswork. No wasted shelf space. Just shopper-validated assortments that deliver real-world results.

Try our free demo below - just mousewheel / pinch to zoom, drag to pan your view, tap a product to select, or the cart button to view what you’ve added, then go through checkout to see your metrics. Much better than a static image!

Ready to Optimise Your Assortment?

Talk to us about building smarter assortments that drive sales and simplify choice for your customers.

Get in touch

FAQs

A planogram is a visual diagram used in retail to guide store managers on exactly where to place products on the shelf. Getting a planogram wrong can lead to poor sales and wasted shelf space, so it’s vital to validate new layouts before rolling them out. Planogram testing connects a proposed shelf layout to a live survey, allowing feedback from large numbers of real shoppers. This helps retailers optimise layouts, improve product visibility, and avoid costly mistakes. Buzz 3D’s interactive planogram technology goes further by letting respondents shop directly from the virtual shelf, boosting engagement and delivering results that more closely match real-world shopper behaviour.
Getting a shelf layout wrong in one store can cause lost sales, reduced revenue, and wasted stock. Multiply that across dozens or hundreds of stores, and the financial impact becomes huge. Planogram testing eliminates this risk by providing a safe, cost-effective, and flexible way to trial different shelf layouts before rolling them out. Retailers can test multiple planograms, compare shopper responses, and choose the highest-performing design, optimising product visibility and boosting sales before making costly in-store changes.
Planogram testing can be launched quickly — in many cases, the interactive planogram can be built in minutes, depending on the quality and completeness of the data provided. Once created, it’s published to our secure servers and ready to embed directly into your survey platform. You can run the test for as long as needed to reach your target respondent quota. As soon as the study closes, you’ll receive complete, ready-to-analyse data, giving you actionable insights in days rather than weeks.
Planogram testing with Buzz 3D captures a detailed set of shopper behaviour metrics and product interaction data, including:
Session details: User ID, study name, shelf type (shopping session or findability), scenario number (for tracking multiple sessions per respondent), date and time.
Product Interaction: Add-to-cart status, pick-up order, product descriptions, EAN, dwell time and respondent ID.
All results are compiled into a summary sheet for quick, easy analysis. This level of detail helps you understand not just what shoppers buy, but how they navigate and interact with your shelves - giving you actionable insights to optimise layout, product placement, and pricing.
The maximum shelf length we can support in planogram testing is 11 metres (around 36 feet). This is more than enough for most retail planograms, allowing you to test anything from a single bay to a full aisle. For unique projects with longer aisles, please get in touch to see how we can support extended shelf lengths.
Yes. Planogram Testing can be deployed in multiple languages and currencies, making it easy to run studies across different regions or shopper groups.
Currently supported languages include Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.
For pricing, we support the main international currency symbols: £ (GBP), $ (US and Brazilian Dollar), € (Euro), ¥ (Chinese Yuan / Japanese Yen).
Product Data is displayed exactly as provided, including pack descriptions, shelf labels and pricing, ensuring authenticity in each market.
This flexibility allows you to compare shopper behaviour across countries or test region-specific layouts / pricing strategies without rebuilding the shelf from scratch.
Yes. As part of planogram testing, you can run product findability tests by instructing respondents to locate specific items on the shelf. This allows you to measure how easily shoppers can spot key products, test the effectiveness of packaging, and compare different shelf layouts for visibility. The results help you optimise product placement and ensure priority lines stand out in real-world retail settings.

Yes. Our interactive planogram testing includes a fully interactive shelf where respondents can:
- Zoom in or out
- Pan around the display
- View realistic price tags
- Select products
- Add or remove items from their basket
Every interaction is tracked, from basket changes to dwell time, ensuring Buzz 3D captures natural shopper behaviour with exceptional accuracy.
This rich behavioural data ensures your shelf layouts are tested in a way that closely mirrors real-world retail shopping.
Yes. Our interactive planogram testing supports realistic price tags that display list price, sale price, and a detailed product description. This ensures respondents see the same pricing cues they would in-store, allowing you to test how pricing strategies, promotions, and product information impact shopper choices.
Absolutely. Simulating a real-world virtual shelf and capturing how consumers interact with the products on it is a core feature of our interactive planogram testing. Respondents can pick up products, add them to their basket, and even remove items at any time during their session, just as they would in-store. This realistic interaction helps ensure the results closely reflect genuine shopper behaviour.
Because Buzz 3D’s planogram testing solution is a lightweight, web-based technology, we can support hundreds of respondents in a single study without performance issues. For most clients, a sample size of around 100–150 respondents per planogram provides enough data for reliable results while allowing for outliers. Larger studies are also supported for projects that require additional statistical confidence.
Respondent revisits are included in the initial cost of our planogram testing. Participants can be sent back to the same shelf as many times as needed, with every interaction recorded. Each revisit is timestamped and logged, allowing you to track behavioural changes over time and compare results across different viewing scenarios, all delivered in a single, easy-to-analyse dataset at the end of the study.
Buzz 3D’s planogram testing technology has been trusted by some of the world’s largest brands, consistently correlating with their historical sales data. Independent academic studies conducted years ago (using earlier, less advanced shelf simulation tools) demonstrated a 92% alignment between online shelf testing and real-world shopper behaviour. These findings remain highly relevant today, and Buzz 3D’s advanced, automated platform builds on this foundation by producing shelves faster, more cost-effectively, and with less human intervention than any other solution on the market.
For ad hoc clients purchasing our minimum 5-shelf planogram testing package, we provide ready-to-use generic templates. Subscription clients who purchase larger volume packages receive additional benefits, including:
Automated template population from existing planogram back-end systems
Access to our live, secure drop folder where individual respondent data records are posted in real time
This real-time data feed enables survey branching as respondents select target products, allowing you to capture richer behavioural insights and adapt the respondent journey dynamically.