MAP monitoring is the process of tracking minimum advertised prices across marketplaces such as Amazon, Google Shopping to ensure your pricing policies are followed by authorized sellers and distributors. It is essential for brand value protection, avoiding violations on pricing, and maintaining healthy relationships with channels.
It helps brands:
You may wonder why MAP violations have been a persistent problem for years across many verticals. Kellogg School of Management paper ‘Determinants of MAP Violations‘ written by Ayelet Israeli, Eric T. Anderson, and Anne T. Coughlan, specifically notes “We find that higher prices, free shipping, larger assortment size, and authorization to distribute are associated with lower violation rates. In contrast, high distribution intensity is associated with higher violation rates. We also show that retailers are more likely to violate MAP when the policy is expected to expire soon. When a pricing violation occurs, we show that the extent of violation (offered price relative to MAP) is less when shipping is free, retailers are authorized, and distribution is more intensive.”
To simplify this complex repetitive MAP monitoring task and offer guidance on managing the MAP channel program, GrowByData offers an automated MAP monitoring and enforcement professionals service to support the brand’s or authorized wholesaler’s channel monitoring business.
MAP monitoring works by continuously tracking prices across marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart, Google Shopping), search engines and eCommerce sites and identifying instances where any listings fall below your minimum advertised price. With GrowByData, this process uses a hybrid model of AI-powered automation and human validation to deliver accurate, SKU-level matching—even across complex product variants or bundles.
Explore how a Minimum Advertised Pricing Strategy can protect your brand.
See how MAP monitoring works across channels
Channel violators and marketing platforms are constantly changing. Hence, a one-size-fits-all tool will NOT serve your needs. So you need a customized MAP enforcement solution to constantly change and ensure you monitor and enforce MAP policies.
You also need a solution partner who is keen to understand your needs and adjust their tools and services to align with your channel requirements. If you don’t consider these, you may have more work to do enforce your MAP policy. You may see many wrong MAP violations and miss the fraudulent ones. We have learned these through our years of MAP monitoring across small, mid, and large brands across categories. Read more on GrowByData’s Guide on Mistakes that Buyers Make Before Purchasing MAP Monitoring Software.
GrowByData’s Map Monitoring Software ensures precise and proactive identification of MAP violations. What sets GrowByData apart from the other automated tools is that they may not account for your brand’s unique business model.
Before we dive into GrowByData Solution, here are some of our MAP success stories.
Here is an example of the MAP report you get to show violations by reseller by day.
Here are 8 features of GrowByData’s Map Monitoring Solution –
Learn Top Mistakes Buyers make Choosing MAP Monitoring Solution
This involves channel managers and brand owners notifying authorized sellers to comply with established MAP prices. This includes detecting violators, communicating the MAP policy, and taking necessary actions such as banning non-compliant retailers. The brand or the wholesaler has the authority to implement the sales bans. Retailers can utilize our platform, analyze violation data, and promptly report violations, customizing the MAP enforcement service per their reseller nuances.
1. Sends Map Violation Email Alerts to Sellers
GrowByData Map Monitoring platform tactfully alerts authorized sellers about Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) violations, ensuring effective communication without irritating resellers. This approach maintains a positive relationship with authorized sellers while addressing necessary compliance issues respectfully. You might want to know more about Minimum Advertised Price Violations Free Email Template
2. Allows Sending Configurable Email Messages to Violators
GrowByData allows flexible configuration of email content and templates tailored for communication with both authorized and unauthorized MAP violators. For authorized sellers inadvertently violating MAP, communication can be informative and collaborative, seeking cooperation in rectifying pricing issues. Messages to unauthorized violators can be more direct, outlining consequences and necessary actions for compliance.
3. Offers Customized Follow-up Actions
GrowByData platform allows easy customization of follow-up actions for MAP violators based on specific needs. This customization can involve setting up automated follow-up processes (3 or more follow-ups) to address MAP violations efficiently. The platform empowers tailored responses to several violations, ensuring corrective actions align with brand policies and strategies.
4. Monitors the open rate of email alerts sent to MAP violators
With GrowByData, you can track the open rate of alert emails sent to MAP violators. This feature offers insights into how recipients, especially violators, interact with the communication, helping you analyze their engagement and assess the impact of your efforts in addressing MAP cosmpliance.
5. Provides Visual Proof of Violations
With the GrowByData Map tracking platform, brand owners and authorized dealers can use real-time screenshots as tangible proof of MAP violations. We know resellers may change prices back to the right number when you email them. However, the snapshot allows you to substantiate claims when addressing violations with sellers.
In today’s hyper-competitive eCommerce landscape, minimum advertised price monitoring is no longer optional—it’s a strategic necessity. Protecting brand equity, maintaining partner trust, and maximizing revenue all depend on your ability to enforce MAP policies effectively.
GrowByData helps brands simplify enforcement, gain visibility, and stop violations before they erode margins or relationships. Don’t settle for generic tools. Get the MAP monitoring and enforcement solution built for today’s digital complexity.
We are here to make MAP enforcement easy. Learn more about how our Enterprise MAP Monitoring Software Solution helps you enforce your MAP Price Policies. Please contact us today at info@growbydata.com to discuss your needs, and we will happily share our best practices and help!