Price Monitoring and PPC Automation
Status: Production
The Problem
The client runs an e-shop with tens of products listed on price comparison sites Heureka.cz and Zbozi.cz, each with its own PPC ad. Competitor prices changed daily, sometimes several times a day. Manually checking prices, updating the price list, and refreshing ad copy took several hours each week and often lagged behind the market. The goal was to speed up pricing decisions, reduce manual work, and keep ads current.
Data Sources and Collection
The system regularly fetches prices from public comparison platforms and other available sources. For each product it tracks:
- current competitor price and availability,
- historical price trends and seasonality,
- own stock availability and margins,
- existing price list and pricing rules.
Data is stored in a structured database for further analysis and reporting.
Price Adjustment Logic
Based on configured rules, the system suggests or directly applies price changes:
- Target position in the comparison site—for example, be within the cheapest five percent, but never below a set margin.
- Minimum and maximum price to protect margin and brand.
- Stock availability—different strategy for in-stock and out-of-stock items.
- Seasonal rules—react to promotions, holidays, or sales.
The client keeps full control: critical changes go for approval, routine adjustments run automatically.
PPC Connection
When a product price changes, the system generates an updated feed for comparison sites and dynamically adjusts PPC ad copy. Ads always show the current price and availability, improving click-through rates and reducing the number of customers who click and then see an outdated price.
Operational Benefits
- Time savings – dozens of hours per month shifted from manual work to automated oversight.
- Faster reaction – competitor price changes are reflected in the own price list within hours, not days.
- More accurate ads – PPC campaigns always match current price and availability.
- Better margins – rules protect minimum profitability while staying competitive.
- Fewer errors – no more manually copying prices into several systems.
Technology
- Python for data collection and business logic
- Scheduler for regular crawler runs
- Database for price history and audit log
- API/feed connections to comparison and PPC systems
- Docker for easy operation and deployment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for a smaller e-shop?
Yes. The system can be configured by product count and price-change frequency. A basic version can be deployed for just tens of items.
Can the system react to specific competitors?
Yes. Selected sellers can be tracked and rules set according to their pricing behavior.
What about legal limits on automated pricing?
I implement only rules approved by the client, including minimum prices and human approval for critical changes.
Do I need my own developer to launch it?
No. I deliver the solution as a complete system with documentation, setup, and initial training.
Want a similar solution for your e-shop? Message me and let’s discuss what automated price monitoring could look like for you.