Difference-in-difference is the same methodology economists use to measure real-world causal effects. PathX runs it at campaign scale, on actual retailer POS data, every week.
DiD compares a test group's actual sales against what those same stores would have done if they had only followed control-group trends. The gap between actual and expected is the incremental lift: not a guess, not a model output, but the measured difference.
Every result is evaluated at the SKU and store level, not rolled up to a single category number you can't break apart in the buyer's room.
A randomization algorithm selects control stores constrained on four dimensions simultaneously, so the matched group is as close as possible to the test group before the campaign starts.
Control group is typically 8-20% of total measured locations. Test/control groups are built and delivered within one week of campaign launch. Store-level measurement is the best practice; regional and channel-level reads are available.
Privacy-friendly, transparent, and retailer-aligned, because the number comes from the retailer's own register.
| Typical competitors | Pathformance | |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology | Match-market or panel-based | Difference-in-Difference on retailer POS |
| Data basis | Extrapolated from a small sample | 1:1 transaction-level impact |
| Setup | High minimums, rigid parameters | Quick feasibility, flexible study design |
| Strategy | Pay-per-view data cuts | Pre-campaign insights included; in-flight optimization on 7+ week campaigns |
Submit an RFP approximately 4 weeks before launch. Feasibility is confirmed within 48 hours. Pathformance returns recommendations on budget, flight length, and store count.
Test and control groups are identified, matched, and delivered approximately 5 business days before campaign launch. Best practice: store-level data, up to 3 retailers, minimum 4-week campaign.
For campaigns running 7 or more weeks, PathX provides mid-flight visibility so underperforming stores can be cut and budget reallocated before the campaign ends.
Final reports delivered approximately 4-5 weeks post-campaign, including a client-success review with you and/or your client.
Submit an RFP. Feasibility is confirmed within 48 hours.
Best-practice study design: store-level data, up to 3 retailers, minimum 4-week campaign. Pathformance returns recommendations on budget, flight length, and store count to set the campaign up to clear a defensible result before you commit the spend.
Tell us the retailer, the flight, and the meeting you're preparing for. We'll confirm feasibility within 48 hours.
Solutions
Week-over-week incremental sales lift at the SKU and store level, sourced from retailer POS data. The number your category buyer needs to see.
Causal incrementality measurement for lottery and gaming campaigns, isolating true lift from baseline ticket sales across retail locations.
Cross-channel media incrementality tied directly to in-store sales outcomes. No walled-garden estimates.
Data Sources