SmartScout

What is SmartScout

SmartScout is a software tool designed for Amazon sellers to conduct product and brand research. Its main purpose is to help users identify profitable opportunities for wholesale, retail arbitrage, and private label business models. The platform provides a comprehensive view of the Amazon marketplace, allowing sellers to analyze brands, subcategories, individual sellers, and products. By using its extensive database and filtering options, users can quickly find brands that fit their specific sourcing criteria, such as monthly revenue, number of sellers, and Amazon's stock status. SmartScout was created to give sellers a competitive edge by providing deep market intelligence and actionable data.

SmartScout Features

SmartScout offers a range of features to support Amazon sellers in their business operations.

• Brand Search: This tool allows you to search for brands on Amazon using very specific filters. You can find brands based on their estimated monthly revenue, the number of FBA sellers, or their category. This is very useful for wholesale sellers looking for new brands to partner with.
• Product Research: You can find individual products that have high demand and low competition. The tool provides data on sales estimates, revenue, and the number of sellers for any given product.
• Seller Search: This feature lets you look up other Amazon sellers. You can see what brands and products they are selling, which helps you understand your competition and find new opportunities.
• Marketplace Intelligence: SmartScout gives a complete overview of the Amazon marketplace. It connects data points between brands, sellers, products, and keywords to give you a full picture.
• Historical Data: The platform tracks performance over time. You can see how revenue, market share, and seller activity have changed for brands and categories, helping you identify long-term trends.
• Listing Optimization: Tools are available to help you improve your product listings. This includes analyzing titles, images, A+ content, and backend keywords to increase conversion rates.
• Profit Calculator: An integrated calculator helps you estimate the potential profitability of a product by factoring in Amazon fees, shipping costs, and the cost of goods.
• UPC Scanner: A mobile-friendly tool for retail arbitrage sellers to scan product barcodes in stores and instantly see the product's data on Amazon.

SmartScout Pricing Plans

SmartScout offers several pricing plans tailored to different types of users. The plans are available on a monthly or yearly subscription basis, with the yearly option providing a discount.

• Basic Plan: This plan is designed for new sellers or those just starting with product research. It includes access to the core features like product and brand search but with certain limits on the number of searches or results.
• Business Plan: Aimed at growing businesses and experienced sellers, this plan offers higher usage limits, access to more advanced features like historical data, and more detailed analytics.
• Enterprise Plan: This is for large brands, agencies, and high-volume sellers. It provides full access to all features, the highest data limits, API access, and dedicated support.

SmartScout Free Plan

SmartScout does not offer a permanent free plan. However, it typically provides a free trial period for new users. During the trial, you can access most of the platform's features to test its capabilities and see if it fits your business needs. This allows you to explore the brand and product databases, use the filters, and analyze market data before committing to a paid subscription.

How to use SmartScout

Getting started with SmartScout is a direct process. Here is a typical workflow for a user.

1. Sign Up: First, create an account and start your free trial or choose a subscription plan.
2. Define Your Goal: Decide what you want to find. For example, if you are a wholesale seller, you might look for brands with monthly revenue over $10,000 and fewer than 5 FBA sellers.
3. Use the Brand Search: Go to the Brands tool and apply your filters. The system will generate a list of brands that match your criteria.
4. Analyze the Results: Click on a brand to see more details, including its top-selling products, estimated revenue, and the number of active sellers.
5. Research Products: Use the Product Search tool to dive deeper into specific items. Check their sales history, price trends, and use the profit calculator to estimate your potential earnings.
6. Contact Brands: Once you identify promising brands, you can begin your outreach process to open wholesale accounts.
7. Track Competitors: Use the Seller Search to monitor your competitors and discover other brands they are successfully selling.

Pros and Cons of SmartScout

Pros:

• Excellent for Wholesale: The brand-focused search is a powerful tool for finding wholesale opportunities.
• Extensive Filters: The ability to apply many specific filters makes it easy to narrow down results.
• Fast and User-Friendly: The interface is generally intuitive and processes searches quickly.
• Comprehensive Data: It provides a wide range of data, including revenue estimates, seller counts, and historical trends.
• Supports Multiple Models: The tool is useful for wholesale, retail arbitrage, and private label sellers.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: New users may need some time to learn how to use all the advanced features effectively.
• Pricing: The subscription cost might be high for sellers who are just starting with a small budget.
• Data Estimates: Like all similar tools, the sales and revenue data are estimates and may not be 100% accurate.

SmartScout integrations

SmartScout primarily focuses on providing data through its platform and its API. It does not offer a wide range of pre-built, one-click integrations with third-party applications like e-commerce platforms or marketing tools. The main integration method is through its developer API, which allows users to pull Amazon marketplace data directly into their own custom software, dashboards, or business intelligence tools for more advanced analysis.

SmartScout Alternatives

• Jungle Scout: A very popular all-in-one tool for Amazon sellers. It is especially strong for private label product research and offers features like a supplier database and keyword research tools.
• Helium 10: A comprehensive suite of over 20 tools for Amazon sellers. It is known for its powerful keyword research (Cerebro) and listing optimization (Frankenstein) tools, making it a favorite among private label sellers.
• Keepa: An essential tool for tracking historical price and sales rank data. While not a full research suite like SmartScout, its detailed charts are critical for making informed buying decisions, especially for arbitrage and wholesale.
• SellerApp: An all-in-one platform that provides tools for product research, keyword tracking, PPC campaign management, and listing optimization. It offers a good balance of features for different seller needs.

SmartScout API

Yes, SmartScout provides a developer API for users who want to integrate its Amazon intelligence directly into their own systems. This allows for building custom dashboards, automating reports, or enhancing proprietary software with SmartScout's data. Access to the API is typically included in the higher-tier subscription plans, such as the Enterprise plan. To get an API key, you would need to subscribe to an eligible plan and then find the key in your account settings or contact their support team for access.

Here is a generic example of what a request might look like using Python:

import requests

api_key = 'YOUR_SMARTSCOUT_API_KEY'
headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {api_key}',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

# Example: Get brand details
brand_name = 'Anker'
url = f'https://api.smartscout.com/v1/brands?name={brand_name}'

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

if response.status_code == 200:
    brand_data = response.json()
    print(brand_data)
else:
    print(f'Error: {response.status_code}')

SmartScout Affiliate program

SmartScout offers an affiliate program for users and content creators who want to promote the tool. Affiliates can earn a recurring commission for every new customer they refer through their unique affiliate link. The commission is typically a percentage of the subscription fee paid by the referred user, and it is paid out for as long as the user remains a paying customer. To join the program, you usually need to fill out an application form on their website. Once approved, you will get access to a dashboard where you can track your referrals, clicks, and earnings. Payments are generally made on a regular schedule, such as monthly, through platforms like PayPal. If you cannot find a public link to the affiliate program, it is recommended to email their support or partnership team to inquire about becoming a partner.