What is the primary use of audit data in the context of syndicated scanner data?

The primary use of audit data in the context of syndicated scanner data is to verify sales and inventory levels. This verification process is crucial for retailers and manufacturers as it provides an accurate account of what is being sold and what stock is currently available. Audit data helps ensure that the sales information recorded through scanners is reliable and aligns with actual inventory counts.

By examining audit data, businesses can identify discrepancies between recorded sales and actual inventory levels, which can inform inventory management, supply chain decisions, and promotional strategies. This kind of verification is essential for maintaining accuracy in financial reporting and ensuring that there are no issues that could disrupt operations or affect customer satisfaction.

While monitoring customer preferences, tracking sales performance over time, and assessing product distribution channels are important aspects of category management, they are not the primary focus of audit data, which is fundamentally about the accuracy and reliability of sales and stock measurements.