What Is the ABC Analysis Report
The ABC Analysis report in Data Export helps you organize Shopify product variants by their contribution to sales volume. It brings total units sold, cumulative ranking fields, and a grade together with product names, variant details, and SKUs so you can decide which items deserve closer attention.
Review variants for the period you choose, then use their assigned grades to structure your inventory review. This report supports prioritization; check stock quantities and supplier information separately before deciding how much to reorder.
Report Overview
- Report type
- Inventory Reports, with variant identifiers for reviewing individual items.
- Reporting period
- The date range you select when generating the report.
- Data included
- Product and variant details, Total Units Sold, cumulative ranking fields, and Grade.
- Best for
- Prioritizing variant reviews and sharing an ABC classification with purchasing or operations teams.
- Export and automation
- Download as Excel, CSV, TXT, or PDF, or schedule email delivery daily, weekly, or monthly.
What Can You Learn from Your ABC Classification
1 Prioritize the variants that need regular review
Use Grade alongside Total Units Sold to organize your review around the items contributing most to unit demand.
Example: Hypothetically, a frequently sold variant receives an A grade.
What you can do: Put that variant on your priority list, then check its current stock separately.
2 Look beyond the product name
Variant Title and SKU let you distinguish different sizes or options within a product. This helps you avoid treating every variant as equally important.
Example: Hypothetically, two sizes of the same shirt receive different grades.
What you can do: Use the variant-level classification when preparing your purchasing review.
3 Investigate lower priority items
Grades and units sold can identify variants that warrant a closer demand review. A low grade alone does not explain why an item sold less.
Example: Hypothetically, a newly introduced variant has few units sold in the chosen period.
What you can do: Check how long it was available before changing its inventory priority.
What Should You Check First in This Report
Check the reporting basis before using a grade to guide inventory decisions.
- Period: Choose a range relevant to the buying cycle, and account for promotions or seasonal demand.
- Total Units Sold: Review the quantities behind the grades; a classification alone hides the scale of demand.
- Ranking formulas: Confirm the meanings of Cumulative, Cum RAnk, and Cumulative Rank, including the sort order they use.
- Grade rules: Verify the classification thresholds before sharing purchasing priorities with your team.
When Should You Use This Report
| When to Use It | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Prioritizing variants for a sales review | Set a consistent order for reviewing variants by sales volume and grade. |
| Preparing a purchasing priority list | Prepare a priority list before checking stock, lead times, and supplier requirements. |
| Matching ABC grades to stock records | Use Variant ID and SKU to match classified items to separate stock records. |
| Reviewing assortment or promotion candidates | Identify variants for further review before an assortment or promotion decision. |
How to Create This Report in Data Export
Start with the premade ABC Analysis report so its existing fields are available together.
- Open Data Export in your Shopify admin and find the premade ABC Analysis report.
- Open the template and review its nine columns, including the ranking calculations and Grade. Ask support to clarify any formula or threshold you cannot verify.
- Select your reporting date range and apply any available filters needed for your review. Confirm how filtering affects the ranking before comparing filtered results.
- Generate and review the report, then save it and download your preferred supported format.
- Set up daily, weekly, or monthly email delivery if your team needs a recurring review.
Make the Most of This Report
Use these checks to keep your classification useful and consistent.
01 / PERIOD
Compare like periods. Use comparable date ranges when checking whether a variant’s classification has changed.
02 / IDENTIFIERS
Match by variant. Keep Variant ID and SKU in your export so similar product titles do not cause confusion.
03 / CALCULATIONS
Keep the ranking intact. Review the sort order and calculation settings before changing fields or filters.
04 / STOCK CHECK
Complete the reorder review. Check quantities, supplier lead times, and commitments separately before placing a purchase order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this report based on revenue or units sold
The supplied template includes Total Units Sold and no revenue field. Use it to review sales volume; do not interpret its grades as revenue or profit rankings.
What do the A B and C grades mean
They are the report’s ABC classifications for prioritizing items. Check the template’s calculation settings for the exact thresholds rather than assuming a standard percentage split.
Does this report show how much stock I have
The listed columns do not include stock quantities or incoming inventory. Use a separate inventory report alongside the ABC classification before making replenishment decisions.
Why are there three cumulative and ranking fields
Cumulative, Cum RAnk, and Cumulative Rank are separate columns in the template. Confirm their formulas and relationships in Data Export before using them in a calculation or removing them.
Can I export and schedule the ABC Analysis report
Yes. Save the report, download it as Excel, CSV, TXT, or PDF, or set up daily, weekly, or monthly email delivery for your team.
