Helium 10 collects data through direct connections to Amazon’s API, proprietary algorithms, and machine learning models. The data we provide within certain tools such as Profits, Refund Genie, Follow-Up, Inventory Protector, and Alerts is derived from Amazon’s API and represents actual Amazon data. For everything else, our technology team monitors and parses extensive data on a daily basis, transforming that raw data through multiple artificial intelligence and machine learning models.
With over 450 million ASINs in their database, Helium 10 pulls from a library of over 450 million unique ASINs! This massive data operation helps Amazon sellers make informed decisions about products, keywords, and advertising strategies. But what exactly powers this system, and how reliable is the information you’re getting?
The 3 Main Ways Helium 10 Gathers Data
Helium 10’s data collection operates through three core methods that work together to provide comprehensive insights for Amazon sellers.
Direct Data from Amazon’s API
For operational tools like Profits, Alerts, and Inventory Protector, Helium 10 connects directly to Amazon’s API to pull real-time data. The data we provide within certain tools such as Profits, Refund Genie, Follow-Up, Inventory Protector, and Alerts is derived from Amazon’s API and represents actual Amazon data.
This API access means you’re getting authentic figures for your sales, inventory levels, and performance metrics. When you use Helium 10’s tools, you are also using an API, but it includes information made available by Amazon on more than one seller’s products. This broader access allows Helium 10 to show you competitor data and market trends that individual sellers couldn’t access on their own.
Estimates from Proprietary Algorithms
Since Amazon doesn’t share all data publicly, Helium 10 developed its own estimation methods. For all other data, our technology team monitors and parses extensive data on a daily basis, transforming that raw data through multiple artificial intelligence and machine learning models. The final results are our best interpretation of performance estimations, sales estimations, keyword search volume, relevance estimation, product rank estimation, and so forth.
These algorithms analyze patterns in Amazon’s Best Seller Rank (BSR), review counts, and other public metrics to estimate sales figures. In fact, Helium 10 gives estimates within 22 units above or below actual sales. This level of accuracy helps sellers make decisions without needing perfect data.
Insights from User Activity
Helium 10 also learns from how users interact with the platform. When you use tools like X-Ray or run searches through the Chrome extension, the system collects anonymized data about search patterns and product performance. This user-generated data helps improve the accuracy of their estimates and provides insights into trending products and keywords.
How Accurate Is Helium 10’s Data?
Helium 10’s accuracy varies by data type, but their estimates consistently track close to actual Amazon performance. Helium 10 makes every effort to provide you with the most accurate data at our disposal. We assure you that the tools provide useful data for research purposes and can be used confidently.
For Brand Analytics validation, it’s important to note that in most cases, the accuracy of Helium 10’s search volume estimates aligns closely with Brand Analytics, with about 98% accuracy. This high accuracy rate comes from Amazon’s own data validation systems.
However, accuracy isn’t just about exact numbers – it’s about getting insights that help you make better decisions. Of course, it is important because, for example, if the actual sales are 50, you don’t want to be in a tool that says it’s 1000 because yeah, you’re going to make different decisions based on that. The goal is data that’s close enough to guide your strategy effectively.
What Data Powers the Most Popular Tools?
Different Helium 10 tools rely on different data sources, depending on their specific functions and the type of insights they provide.
Product & Keyword Research (Black Box, Cerebro)
Black Box and Cerebro use a combination of Amazon’s public data and proprietary algorithms. Black Box is the gold standard in Amazon product research software with over 2 billion products and keywords in its database. These tools analyze historical sales data, BSR patterns, and keyword performance to help you identify profitable opportunities.
Cerebro, the reverse ASIN tool, specializes in competitor keyword analysis. This powerful tool identifies the most effective keywords to build into your product listing and Ads. Cerebro is a sophisticated tool with a huge pool of filters that allows you to cast a wide net and then narrow the keyword catch down to only the most relevant and effective words ranked by Amazon for a specific product.
Operations & Analytics (Profits, Inventory Protector)
Operational tools connect directly to Amazon’s API for real-time data accuracy. The data we provide within certain tools such as Profits, Refund Genie, Follow-Up, Inventory Protector, and Alerts is derived from Amazon’s API and represents actual Amazon data. This means your profit calculations, inventory tracking, and performance metrics reflect your actual Amazon account data.
The Profits tool particularly benefits from this direct connection, showing you accurate revenue, fees, and profit margins for your products. While the refund amounts within Refund Genie are still estimates, we are confident in them.
Listing Optimization (Scribbles, Listing Analyzer)
Listing optimization tools combine keyword research data with Amazon’s ranking factors. The Listing Analyzer examines your product pages and compares them against successful competitors to identify improvement opportunities. Listing Analyzer helps users get a broad, top-level view of their current or potential competitors’ listings simultaneously. Listing Analyzer helps you identify the most important keywords relevant to their product.
These tools use a mix of search volume data, competitor analysis, and Amazon’s best practices to recommend optimizations that can improve your visibility and conversion rates.
Does Helium 10 Offer Its Own API?
While Helium 10 doesn’t offer a public API for third-party developers, they do provide enterprise solutions for larger businesses. Think of it as a custom solution for agencies and large businesses based on their individual needs. Every business is different, which is why Helium 10 doesn’t believe in the “cookie-cutter” approach to software solutions.
For most sellers, the platform’s web interface and Chrome extension provide sufficient access to all the data and tools you need. That’s why our Enterprise Plan takes what we do best (data-driven seller tools) and tailors it to what you know best (maximum efficiency!)
How Do These Methods Compare to Jungle Scout?
Both Helium 10 and Jungle Scout use similar data collection methods – Amazon API access, proprietary algorithms, and machine learning models. The main differences lie in their specific algorithms and how they process the data.
While Jungle Scout has historically positioned itself as more accurate in some areas, Helium 10 still has highly-accurate search volumes available and will continue to have the most accurate estimates of any tool in the market. Both platforms continuously improve their data models to provide better insights.
The key advantage of Helium 10’s approach is the breadth of data sources and the continuous refinement through machine learning. We always knew this data cap could be a possibility, so we have been developing our own proprietary prioritization engine over the last few months by doing the following: Gathering billions & billions of keyword data points. This new engine will employ the latest in machine learning, big data, artificial intelligence, and more to provide Helium 10 members with the most accurate data estimations possible.
Is Helium 10’s Data Reliable for Sellers?
Yes, Helium 10’s data is reliable enough for making informed business decisions. The platform’s multi-layered approach to data collection provides a comprehensive view of Amazon’s marketplace. Lastly, the manners and methods of Helium 10’s data-gathering processes are done using proprietary algorithms; thus, we cannot explicitly share how we gather the data you see inside your Helium 10 dashboard. We assure you that the tools provide useful data for research purposes and can be used confidently.
The data is particularly reliable because it comes from multiple sources and undergoes continuous validation. Again, we are validating our performance against our competitors and against actual marketplace results for the targeted population. This constant validation helps maintain accuracy and identify potential issues.
For sellers, the most important factor isn’t perfect accuracy but consistent, actionable insights. You do want to look through the window, and figure out if you need to take the umbrella with you or not. So, in some cases, we are providing estimates, and those estimates should be validated, especially in extreme circumstances.
Tools like the Misspellinator, Keyword Search History, and Seller Assistant all benefit from this reliable data foundation, helping you optimize your listings and track your performance effectively.
Final Thoughts: Data You Can Trust
Helium 10’s data collection combines the best of Amazon’s official API with sophisticated estimation algorithms and machine learning models. This multi-source approach provides reliable insights that help sellers make informed decisions about products, keywords, and advertising strategies. While no tool can guarantee 100% accuracy, Helium 10’s commitment to continuous improvement and validation makes it a trustworthy platform for growing your Amazon business.
Ready to leverage reliable data for your Amazon success? Start your free Helium 10 trial today and experience the power of comprehensive Amazon data firsthand. Check out our complete guide to Helium 10 features to see how each tool can help optimize your business.
