Creating your own price parser: pros and cons

Many companies neglect expert assistance and decide to develop necessary products on their own, such as a CRM system. However, some immediately opt for a ready-made solution.

Which approach is better: building from scratch or using an existing product? This article will help you figure it out.

It may seem like gathering competitor pricing data yourself is a simple task. However, those who have attempted it know that the process has many hidden complexities. Some of these challenges cannot even be solved by programmers, as numerous external factors influence pricing data collection.

Content List

• Software vs. Humans
• Humans vs. Software
• Software, Humans, and Costs

Software vs. Humans

Software outperforms humans in many tasks. Automated systems can execute multiple operations simultaneously with maximum precision and zero errors. This is their main advantage but also a drawback. The downside is that businesses seeking to protect their data from price monitoring have access to effective countermeasures.

If a parser sends too many requests, websites may perceive it as a potential threat and block access. Additionally, there are other anti-scraping mechanisms in place, such as:

• CAPTCHAs: While not as common as before, they can still cause price monitoring software to stop functioning properly.
• “Reveal Price” Buttons: Some online stores hide product prices until the user clicks a specific button.
• Dynamic Pricing Algorithms: A relatively new but highly effective method of combating price parsers. These algorithms detect price monitoring tools and automatically alter displayed prices. The result? You get inaccurate and unreliable data.

Even if you have a dedicated in-house IT team, bypassing such protection measures is extremely challenging. Small businesses, which often rely on freelance developers, face even greater difficulties in overcoming these obstacles.

As we can see, the software itself is not the most crucial factor. If implemented incorrectly, a price monitoring tool may become useless and fail to achieve your business objectives.

Humans vs. Software

Let’s assume your price parser successfully bypassed website protections. Don’t celebrate just yet—more challenges await. Software cannot handle unexpected situations; it strictly follows predefined algorithms without adapting to new conditions.

Common errors that significantly impact data quality include:

• Failing to notify users of unforeseen issues, such as a competitor’s website going down.
• Not flagging serious errors, even when they occur frequently.
• Inability to track inventory updates, leading to missing new product listings.
• Difficulty adding new competitors to the monitoring system—often requiring extensive manual effort.

These errors can cause you to question the reliability of your collected data. Consequently, you won’t have a solid foundation for making pricing decisions, leading to a loss of competitive advantage.

Software, Humans, and Costs

A competitor price monitoring tool developed specifically for your business has both advantages and disadvantages, depending on your niche. Custom-built solutions are ideal for newcomers who are just starting their business. Typically, such online stores do not require extreme pricing accuracy and have a limited product range (up to 1,000 items). A self-developed price parser can also work well for businesses with stable pricing that rarely changes.

However, there are significant challenges. Even for the simplest scrapers, you need a comprehensive monitoring system. It is not enough to create a program—you must ensure it solves all the problems mentioned earlier. Only then can you achieve fast data updates with maximum accuracy. This ensures you always have up-to-date competitor pricing information, keeping you one step ahead.

Building an effective system goes beyond just price collection. It involves:

• Creating a Price Index chart.
• Developing a strategy for proper price adjustments.
• Automating supplier notifications about Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) violations.

To achieve this, you need a strong development team continuously working on product improvements.

Many businesses that initially decided to create their own price parser eventually returned to us. Why? Because they realized that partnering with a company specializing in price monitoring solutions is more cost-effective and efficient. A dedicated service provider already has all the necessary frameworks and expertise, allowing them to deliver results faster, more effectively, and at a lower cost.

If you’re ready to start price monitoring, a SaaS solution is your best choice:

• Get real-time, accurate data with clear visualizations.
• Segment products effectively.
• Adjust pricing strategies based on competitive insights.

What’s next? Research several solutions, compare available options, and select the best fit for your business needs.