Last updated: September 10, 2026
PlanoHero and ABM Shelf are two solutions that come up side by side when Ukrainian retailers are looking for a planogramming system. Both products are standalone platforms: PlanoHero is part of the Datawiz ecosystem, while ABM Shelf is part of the ABM Cloud ecosystem. PlanoHero positions itself as the primary solution specifically for medium and large retail chains. Below is a comparison by features, cost, implementation, and what's worth considering before choosing.
PlanoHero vs ABM Shelf: Comparison by Criteria
| Criterion | PlanoHero | ABM Shelf |
|---|---|---|
| Solution type | Standalone specialized planogramming platform, part of the Datawiz ecosystem. Can be supplemented with other Datawiz products as needed (e.g., BES Suite for deeper business analytics), but fully functional as a standalone product. | Standalone merchandising management system, part of the ABM Cloud ecosystem. Can be supplemented with other ABM Cloud products as needed (ABM Inventory, ABM Assortment, ABM Loyalty) |
| Trial access | 14-day free trial with the retailer's own SKUs, no commitment required. | No public free trial available; the first introduction to the product happens through a presentation or consultation with a sales manager. |
| Speed of launch and implementation | The Lite package has limits on the number of SKUs (up to 5,000), the number of planograms, and functionality — suited for teams that need only basic capabilities to get started, regardless of chain size. For chains that need full functionality with no limits, the Enterprise package is designed for that: the client gets access to premium support — a detailed audit, technical integration support, and daily live support — covering audit, preparatory phase, data migration, customization, and team training. This cycle is completed within a few weeks after signing. | Implementation consists of three stages (technical integration, team training, scaling across the whole chain with analytics connection) and takes an average of 2–4 months. |
| Pricing | The Lite package has a publicly listed, fixed price — $199 per month for an unlimited number of users (up to 5,000 SKUs). The cost of the Enterprise package is calculated based on the number of SKUs and the number of stores in the chain. | A single system with no separate pricing tiers. No public price — cost is calculated individually after a business process diagnostic, with the number of stores connected to the system being one of the key factors. |
| Layout automation | Auto-layout (Lite) and AI Layout Rules (Enterprise): the merchandiser sets rules in natural language, which are saved and applied consistently across the entire chain. Master rules allow a one-time setup of assortment, sales impact, layout parameters, and grouping — then applied instantly to all relevant planograms, without needing to open each one individually. | Auto-facing calculates layout based on profit, sales, turnover, and combined SKU parameters. The bulk management feature allows adding and removing products across the entire chain at once. |
| AI assistant for merchandisers | Wizora answers open-ended questions about shelf and store performance based on the retailer's data, and provides recommendations — which SKUs need more facings, how to group products, and which layout changes might drive category growth. | No separate conversational AI assistant is documented in the public product description; AI is applied within auto-facing and reporting rather than as a tool for merchandiser queries. |
| In-store execution control | Layout App (Enterprise): deadlines, a time tracker, and a complete execution history for each store — head office sees status in real time. Photo reports are automatically verified using Image Recognition technology (deep learning-based object detection and classification): the platform recognizes products in a photo within seconds, checks them against the planogram, and generates a report on layout accuracy — without manual comparison of photo reports. | Mobile app with a barcode scanner: checks product availability, prices, and facing counts; a photo report (realogram) is automatically attached to the corresponding planogram. |
| Team communication within the planogram | Chat is built directly into the planogram workflow — discussions and approvals are tied to a specific planogram. | No separate built-in chat within the planogram workflow is documented in the public product description. |
| Analytics | In the Enterprise package: chain sales analysis (store-to-store comparison), product layout analysis, planogram analytics (sales breakdown by product), planogram comparison, shelf-fill heat maps by category/brand/supplier, and a custom BI dashboard builder on the BES platform. | 3 types of Excel reports (analytical, register, and process reports) and a dashboard with Like-for-Like reports, assortment, stock levels, layout structure, facing-change recommendations, return ratio, and efficiency calculations. |
| Connection to shelf inventory | Facing data is transferred to the client's existing ERP/POS system via API, SQL, CSV, or JSON — not tied to any specific IMS vendor. | Integrates with the client's existing ERP system without replacing it — via Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle, BAS, Navision, Odoo, Infor CloudSuite, SAGE X3. |
| Localization | 11+ languages, including Ukrainian, English, Polish, Chinese, Arabic, and Turkish. PlanoHero's services are offered in 30+ countries worldwide. | The interface is available in Ukrainian, English, Russian, and Uzbek. |
| Independence from other systems | Operates as a standalone product for medium and large chains without requiring connection to adjacent modules. | Standalone merchandising management system; can be supplemented with other ABM Cloud products as needed. |
What to Consider Before Choosing
Connection to the product ecosystem
Both PlanoHero and ABM Shelf are standalone products, each part of a broader ecosystem from its respective developer: PlanoHero is part of the Datawiz ecosystem, ABM Shelf is part of the ABM Cloud ecosystem. In both cases, if a chain is already using an adjacent product from the same developer (for example, Datawiz BES Suite or ABM Inventory), integration may go more smoothly. If the chain works with a different inventory or analytics management system, a separate integration will be needed.
Pricing transparency
PlanoHero openly publishes the price of the Lite package on its website — $199 per month for an unlimited number of users (up to 5,000 SKUs). The cost of the Enterprise package is calculated based on the number of SKUs and the number of stores in the chain — the PlanoHero team provides an individual calculation.
ABM Shelf operates as a single system with no separate pricing tiers. There is no public price — the cost is determined individually after a diagnostic of the client's business processes, with the number of stores connected to the system being one of the key factors.
Speed of launch and downtime risk
PlanoHero allows teams to start working with their own product data within a 14-day free trial — the team sees results before any contractual commitment. The Lite package has limits on the number of SKUs (up to 5,000), the number of planograms, and functionality, making it suitable for teams that need only basic capabilities to get started, regardless of chain size. For chains that need full functionality and scale with no limits, the Enterprise package is designed for that: the client goes through an audit, preparatory phase, data migration, customization, and team training — a process comparable in depth to implementing any enterprise-grade solution. This cycle is completed within a few weeks after signing.
ABM Shelf's implementation, according to the company's official data, consists of three stages and takes an average of 2–4 months: technical integration and data exchange setup, team training on working with the system, and scaling across the entire chain with analytics connection. No public trial is offered — it's not possible to evaluate the product using your own data before signing a contract.
Integration flexibility
Both products connect to the client's existing ERP/POS system without requiring its replacement. PlanoHero transfers facing data via API, SQL, CSV, or JSON. ABM Shelf officially states integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle, BAS, Navision, Odoo, Infor CloudSuite, and SAGE X3. In both cases, the depth of the ready-made integration depends on which system the chain is already using, not on whether it's a product from the same vendor.
Plan, Control, and Analyze with PlanoHero
Start a 14-day free trial with your own product data, subscribe to the Lite package for $199 per month, or contact the team about Enterprise pricing for your chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ABM Shelf be tested for free, like PlanoHero?
PlanoHero offers a 14-day free trial with your own SKUs, no commitment required. ABM Shelf has no public free trial — getting to know the product happens through a presentation or consultation with the sales department.
Does PlanoHero require purchasing additional products to integrate with an inventory management system?
No. PlanoHero transfers facing data directly into the client's existing ERP/POS system via API, SQL, CSV, or JSON — much like ABM Shelf officially integrates with popular ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle, and others). In both cases, the depth of the ready-made integration depends on which system the chain is already using.
How long does PlanoHero implementation take compared to ABM Shelf?
PlanoHero's Lite package lets you start working independently with your own data already during the 14-day free trial — this format has limits on the number of SKUs and functionality. The Enterprise package involves a full connection cycle that is completed within a few weeks after the agreement. ABM Shelf's implementation, according to the company's official data, consists of three stages and takes an average of 2–4 months.
Who is PlanoHero suited for, and who is ABM Shelf suited for?
PlanoHero is primarily suited for medium and large chains, as well as companies that need a specialized planogramming platform. ABM Shelf is suited for chains ready for a business process diagnostic and an implementation lasting 2–4 months.
How does PlanoHero verify layout accuracy in photo reports?
PlanoHero uses Image Recognition technology — deep learning-based object detection and classification. The platform automatically recognizes products in a store's photo report, checks them against the planogram, and within seconds generates a report on the number of recognized products and layout accuracy, without manual comparison. In ABM Shelf, the photo report (realogram) is attached to the planogram, but automatic product recognition in photos is not documented in the public product description.
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