The 9 Best Retail Execution Software Platforms for 2026 (Field-Tested & Reviewed)
Most retail execution software demos look the same: slick maps, pretty dashboards, and promises of perfect store compliance. The reality on the ground is usually quite different. Your reps are fighting bad cell service, dealing with clunky photo-capture tools, and trying to fill out digital forms that weren't designed for a real store environment. Iâve seen too many CPG brands burn six-figure budgets on platforms that their field teams ultimately ignore. This guide cuts through the sales pitches. We put nine of the top platforms through their paces to find out which ones actually help your team execute, and which are just expensive toys.
Table of Contents
Before You Choose: Essential Retail Execution Software FAQs
What is Retail Execution Software?
Retail Execution Software is a specialized tool used by Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies, distributors, and brands to direct and monitor the performance of their field teams in brick-and-mortar stores. It equips field reps, merchandisers, and managers with the mobile tools needed to ensure products are correctly stocked, priced, and displayed to maximize sales.
What does Retail Execution Software actually do?
Retail Execution Software digitizes and automates in-store tasks. It provides mobile features for route planning, task management (like shelf audits and promotional compliance checks), data collection via customizable forms and photo capture, order taking, and asset tracking. This data is sent back to managers in real-time, providing immediate visibility into store conditions and team performance.
Who uses Retail Execution Software?
The primary users are field-based teams, including sales representatives, merchandisers, brand ambassadors, and field auditors. Their managers and head-office executives also use the platform's web-based dashboards to analyze data, track KPIs like on-shelf availability, and make strategic decisions about their retail channels.
What are the key benefits of using Retail Execution Software?
The key benefits are increased sales from preventing out-of-stocks, improved field team productivity through optimized routes and clear task lists, better brand consistency across all retail locations, and access to actionable data. Companies can quickly identify underperforming stores or compliance issues and address them before they impact revenue.
Why should you buy Retail Execution Software?
You need retail execution software because manually ensuring brand compliance across a large retail network is impossible and leads to lost sales. Think of it: you're running a promotion that requires a special end-cap display in 200 stores. Without software, you're relying on emails and phone calls, with no way to verify completion. With the software, you can assign the task, provide a photo example (planogram), require GPS-stamped photo proof of completion, and see a real-time compliance dashboard. This prevents the millions in lost sales that occur from poorly executed retail promotions.
How does Retail Execution Software handle data collection?
It replaces manual pen-and-paper methods with a mobile app. Reps use their smartphones or tablets to fill out digital forms, conduct surveys, scan barcodes to check stock levels, and take time-stamped photos. This structured data is instantly synced to the cloud, eliminating manual data entry and providing clean, reliable information for analysis.
Can Retail Execution Software help with route planning?
Yes, route optimization is a core feature of most retail execution platforms. The software can automatically generate the most efficient daily or weekly routes for field reps based on store locations, visit frequency requirements, and appointment priority. This significantly reduces drive time and fuel costs, allowing reps to spend more time inside stores.
What is the difference between Retail Execution Software and a CRM?
A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is focused on managing sales pipelines and relationships with buyers and contacts. Retail Execution Software is focused on managing the physical presence and performance of products *inside* the store. While a CRM tracks the deal with a retailer's head office, retail execution software tracks if that deal is being properly implemented on the shelf by your field team.
Quick Comparison: Our Top Picks
| Rank | Retail Execution Software | Score | Start Price | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Repsly | 4.2 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | Excellent real-time visibility of field reps through its live Activity Feed. |
| 2 | Skynamo | 4 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | Excellent offline mode means sales reps can work in areas with no signal. |
| 3 | Opmetrix | 4 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | Its offline mode is rock-solid; reps can complete entire store audits and order entries in a basement stockroom with no signal and it syncs flawlessly later. |
| 4 | FORM MarketX | 3.9 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | The dynamic form builder is surprisingly powerful; you can create complex, multi-path audits with conditional logic without needing to call IT for help. |
| 5 | Movista | 3.8 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | Digitizes the entire retail execution process, finally killing the three-ring binder of paper checklists and planograms. |
| 6 | Trax Retail | 3.7 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | The computer vision engine provides objective, near real-time data on shelf conditions, replacing slow and error-prone manual audits. |
| 7 | Aforza | 3.6 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | The offline-first mobile app is genuinely reliable for field reps. You can take orders and run audits in a store basement with zero signal, and it all syncs perfectly later. |
| 8 | Ivy Mobility | 3.6 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | Its offline mode is rock-solid, which is essential for field reps working in stores with poor reception. |
| 9 | StayinFront | 3.2 / 5.0 | Custom Quote | Purpose-built for CPG retail execution, so core tasks like store audits, order taking, and promotional compliance are native to the workflow. |
1. Repsly: Best for Consumer Goods Field Teams
Let's get straight to it: Repsly is for CPG managers who are tired of guessing what their field teams are actually doing. It's meant to replace the chaotic mess of spreadsheets and text message check-ins. Its best feature, by far, is the ability to build custom forms for shelf audits and get timestamped photos for planogram compliance. This gives you actual data from the store floor, not just promises. Be ready for your reps to complain about battery drain from the constant GPS tracking, but the visibility it provides is almost always worth the grumbling.
Pros
- Excellent real-time visibility of field reps through its live Activity Feed.
- The mobile app is straightforward, making adoption by field teams less painful.
- Custom form builder is flexible enough for complex retail audits and surveys.
Cons
- The user interface feels dated and can be unintuitive for new field reps.
- Per-user pricing adds up quickly, making it costly for larger or growing teams.
- Offline mode can be unreliable, causing data sync issues for reps in low-connectivity areas.
2. Skynamo: Best for Managing Outside Sales Teams
Let's be honest, you're probably looking at Skynamo because you suspect your field reps are spending too much time at Starbucks. This tool is the answer to that problem. The âLive Trackingâ on the manager's dashboard shows you exactly where everyone is and which visits theyâve completed. Your team might hate it at first, but it eliminates the need for them to write those annoying daily reports. A key feature is that reps can place orders directly from the appâs Digital Catalogue, which cuts down on data entry errors back at the office and speeds up the sale.
Pros
- Excellent offline mode means sales reps can work in areas with no signal.
- GPS tracking and automated visit logging ('Timeline') cuts down on manual admin for reps.
- Pulls live stock levels and customer-specific pricing directly from your ERP.
Cons
- The constant GPS 'Live Tracking' feature is a significant drain on a mobile device's battery life.
- The user interface feels dated and less intuitive than modern apps, leading to a steep learning curve for some sales reps.
- Integration with certain ERPs and accounting software can be difficult and may require costly custom development work.
3. Opmetrix: Best for Field sales and merchandising.
Think of Opmetrix as the sergeant major for your field sales team. Itâs not there to be friendly; itâs there to enforce discipline. Its main strength is making sure reps actually do their jobs, with a Call Cycle Management feature that prevents them from only visiting their favorite clients. This is not a general-purpose CRM. The UI looks dated, I know, but it's functional and it works. It's designed for in-store tasks like photo audits and taking orders on a tablet, and for that specific job, it's perfectly capable.
Pros
- Its offline mode is rock-solid; reps can complete entire store audits and order entries in a basement stockroom with no signal and it syncs flawlessly later.
- The GPS-stamped check-ins and photo logs provide undeniable proof of visit and promotional compliance, ending arguments about whether a display was set up correctly.
- The interface is simple enough for non-technical field staff to pick up quickly, focusing on core tasks like Surveys and Order Entry without overwhelming them.
Cons
- The user interface, particularly on mobile, feels dated and can be clunky for field reps accustomed to modern apps.
- Customizing complex pricing rules or unique sales workflows often requires paid implementation help; it's not easily self-configured.
- Integration with certain ERP or accounting systems can be shallow, sometimes requiring manual data entry to bridge gaps.
4. FORM MarketX: Best for Large-scale retail execution.
If you're trying to manage field teams with a generic task manager, just stop. FORM MarketX, which most of us in the industry still call GoSpotCheck, is purpose-built for retail execution. The entire system revolves around creating "Missions"âstructured audits that demand photo proof and specific data fields. This forces real accountability on shelf placement. I'll warn you, the back-end reporting feels a bit clunky, and designing those detailed Missions takes significant upfront work. This is a serious tool for big CPG brands, not for a small business doing simple site visits.
Pros
- The dynamic form builder is surprisingly powerful; you can create complex, multi-path audits with conditional logic without needing to call IT for help.
- Its offline mode actually works. Reps in basements or rural areas can complete tasks and the app syncs reliably once they're back online, preventing lost data.
- Photo capture with automated GPS and time-stamping provides undeniable proof of execution for retail audits, and the real-time dashboards make it easy to spot compliance issues from HQ.
Cons
- The 'Mission' builder for creating forms and audits is deceptively complex; making a small logic change can feel like defusing a bomb.
- Built-in reporting is rigid. For any deep analysis, you're forced to export raw data to a real BI tool like Tableau or Power BI.
- The mobile app still struggles with offline sync, especially with photo-heavy audits. Reps in rural stores or basements will complain.
5. Movista: Best for Retail field team management.
The entire point of Movista is accountability. Full stop. It's designed to get you proof that your remote retail staff did the work they claimed. The real-time photo verification for planogram compliance is what makes it work; it completely shuts down the 'yeah, I did it' excuses. Reps get a clean task list on their phones, and management gets visual confirmation back instantly. The interface isn't going to win any beauty contestsâit's utilitarian and a bit grayâbut it doesn't crash. For managing a large merchandising team, itâs all about control.
Pros
- Digitizes the entire retail execution process, finally killing the three-ring binder of paper checklists and planograms.
- Photo verification for tasks provides undeniable proof of execution, ending the 'he said, she said' between corporate and field teams.
- The platform's ability to create custom reports means you can actually measure store compliance without needing a data scientist.
Cons
- The mobile UI feels a generation behind; field reps often complain it's clunky and requires too many taps for simple tasks.
- Constant background location tracking can be a significant battery drain, especially on older or lower-end corporate devices.
- Getting custom reports built can be a slow process, sometimes requiring a paid services engagement for anything beyond the standard templates.
6. Trax Retail: Best for Enterprise CPG shelf intelligence
The big promise from Trax is using computer vision to solve the age-old problem of messy retail shelves. I have to admit, the tech is impressive. A field rep snaps a photo, and the AI turns it into data on out-of-stocks and planogram compliance. In theory, this kills manual counting. The reality is that the system is only as good as the pictures your team takes. A blurry photo or a weird angle can throw the whole thing off, leading to data you can't trust. It's a powerful idea, but it demands military-style discipline from your field team to be truly effective.
Pros
- The computer vision engine provides objective, near real-time data on shelf conditions, replacing slow and error-prone manual audits.
- Generates specific, actionable tasks for field reps based on identified gaps, directly improving on-shelf availability and planogram compliance.
- Offers powerful competitive intelligence by tracking share-of-shelf and promotional execution against rival brands on a store-by-store basis.
Cons
- The initial implementation is notoriously slow and expensive, requiring hardware installation and significant IT overhead beyond a simple software subscription.
- Image recognition accuracy is not foolproof; poor store lighting or new packaging can cause data errors that still require manual verification by field reps.
- The platform's data models can be rigid, making it difficult to adapt to unique sales processes or non-standard KPIs without costly custom development.
7. Aforza: Best for Consumer Goods Field Execution
You only consider Aforza if you're a Consumer Goods company that's already invested in the Salesforce ecosystem. If that's not you, just keep looking. Its biggest benefit is connecting your costly Trade Promotion plans directly to what reps do in the store. The mobile app works offline, which is frankly the most important thing for any field team. I found their 'Visit Execution' workflow to be genuinely helpfulâit actually guides reps through a store call instead of just giving them a simple to-do list. It's not cheap, but it's better than trying to glue three separate, cheaper systems together.
Pros
- The offline-first mobile app is genuinely reliable for field reps. You can take orders and run audits in a store basement with zero signal, and it all syncs perfectly later.
- Its 'Penny Perfect Pricing' engine correctly calculates complex promotions and rebates at the point of order, which drastically reduces the invoice disputes that plague the CPG industry.
- Because it's built natively on Salesforce, you can trust the underlying security and reporting engine, and it's far easier to find admins who already know how to support it.
Cons
- The complete dependency on the Salesforce platform creates significant vendor lock-in and is a non-starter for companies using other CRM systems.
- Its feature set is overkill and overly complex for smaller consumer goods brands that don't need intricate Trade Promotion Management (TPM) tools.
- Implementation isn't a DIY project; expect a lengthy and expensive onboarding process that requires specialized consultants.
8. Ivy Mobility: Best for CPG Route-to-Market Execution
To be clear, Ivy Mobility is not for your local five-store chain. This is heavy-duty CPG software for managing huge field sales and Direct Store Delivery (DSD) fleets. The route optimization is quite good, but the real value is in its retail execution features like Ivy Eye. Their image recognition for checking planogram compliance is one of the few I've seen that actually works well, saving reps a ton of manual-check time. The catch? Itâs a complex piece of kit that needs a proper implementation project. Don't expect your team to just pick it up and run with it.
Pros
- Its offline mode is rock-solid, which is essential for field reps working in stores with poor reception.
- The platform is purpose-built for CPG workflows, excelling at complex tasks like Direct Store Delivery (DSD) and van sales.
- Integrated gamification features, like points and leaderboards, genuinely help with sales team adoption and motivation.
Cons
- The user interface for field reps is clunky and feels about ten years old, leading to slow adoption and complaints from the team.
- Initial setup and configuration is a significant project. Don't expect to be up and running in a quarter; it requires heavy IT involvement.
- Customizing dashboards and reports is surprisingly rigid. Getting data out in the specific format management wants often requires support tickets.
9. StayinFront: Best for Large CPG Field Forces
Yes, StayinFrontâs interface looks like itâs from 2010. Letâs just get that out of the way. Itâs not a slick app your reps will be excited to use. But for a large CPG enterprise managing complex routes and audits, itâs stubbornly reliable. The core mobile component, StayinFront TouchCG, gives reps the essential data they need on-site, from order history to compliance checklists. The reporting is deep, though you have to dig for it. This is a tool built for process and control, not for winning design awards. An unexciting, but dependable, choice for enterprise teams.
Pros
- Purpose-built for CPG retail execution, so core tasks like store audits, order taking, and promotional compliance are native to the workflow.
- The 'StayinFront TouchCG' mobile app has dependable offline capabilities, which is essential for reps working in stores with poor reception.
- Its image recognition and analytics tools (StayinFront Digital) provide objective data on shelf conditions, reducing manual data entry for reps.
Cons
- The user interface feels dated and can be slow to navigate on mobile devices, a frequent complaint from field reps.
- Initial setup and configuration is complex and expensive, often requiring significant paid professional services.
- Reporting features can be rigid, making it difficult for managers to create ad-hoc reports without technical assistance.