Retail brand management company Trax has introduced its signal-based merchandising (SBM) solution, allowing brands to gain visibility down to individual product levels. The tool uses Trax's "flexible merchandising workforce" called "Flexforce" to collect data from consumer packaged goods (CPG) makers and retailers, identifying out-of-stock products and average duration. Trax then uses this data to highlight high-impact stores, improving ROI by deploying Flexforce in near real time. Flexforce then works with store managers to adjust inventory, pull products from the backroom, and update shelf tags to ensure accuracy. The company has recently raised $50 million to support product development, expansion into new markets, and acquisitions. Crisp, a collaborative commerce firm, provides retailers with real-time inventory data and has recently acquired Atlas Technology Group. Both companies aim to optimize the manufacturing, distribution, merchandising, and marketing of CPGs.