Creating Custom Scans has always been one of the most powerful ways to use ArbiSource. That's why our users have created over 10,000 Custom Scans since our chrome extension was released.

They allow you to scan retailers that are not already built into ArbiSource, unlock your own private sourcing opportunities, and build a sourcing system that goes far beyond the standard retailer list.

But as powerful as Custom Scans are, we have always had one clear goal:

Make them as fast and easy to create as possible.

First came Custom Scans.

Then came the XPath Finder.

Then came the Custom Scan Assistant Chrome Extension, which removed the need to understand HTML, XPaths, or any of the technical details behind the scan.

And now, we’ve taken another huge step forward.

Auto-Detect Mode is here.

This is one of the biggest updates we’ve released for the ArbiSource Chrome Extension, and it is designed to make Custom Scan creation faster, easier, and more automatic than ever before.

What Is Auto-Detect Mode?

Auto-Detect Mode is a new feature inside the ArbiSource Chrome Extension that helps identify the product layout on a retailer category page automatically.

Instead of manually selecting each product field from scratch, you can now open the extension on a category page, run Auto-Detect, and let ArbiSource inspect the page for you.

The extension will look for repeated product layouts and attempt to identify the key details needed to build your scan.

If Auto-Detect is confident, it will pre-select the fields for you.

You can then review the output, make any edits if needed, and test the scan.

That means fewer clicks, less guesswork, and a much faster setup process.

Why This Matters

Custom Scans are one of the best ways to find less competitive opportunities.

With Custom Scans, you can add your own retailers, scan niche sites, test new categories, and build a completely private source of leads.

That flexibility is incredibly powerful.

The challenge has always been making that power accessible.

Some retailer websites are simple. Others are messy, slow, heavily scripted, or built in a way that makes product data harder to identify.

The Custom Scan Assistant already made this process much easier by allowing users to visually select the fields they wanted to scrape.

Auto-Detect Mode takes that a step further.

Now, instead of starting with a blank setup, ArbiSource can often give you a strong starting point automatically.

You stay in control, but the extension does more of the heavy lifting.

More Reliable Multi-Category Scraping

This update is not just about Auto-Detect Mode.

We have also improved the reliability of longer scraping sessions, especially when scraping multiple category URLs in one run.

If you are building larger Custom Scans, reliability matters.

The extension needs to move from one category to the next, continue scraping consistently, and handle different page behaviours without stopping unexpectedly.

We have fixed several issues that could sometimes affect longer multi-category sessions, making the process smoother and more reliable.

This should be especially helpful when scraping bigger retailers or when testing multiple categories as part of one Custom Scan setup.

Shopify Buttons Reordered

The Shopify testing buttons have been reordered so that users are guided more naturally towards Test With ArbiSource.

This is the preferred testing method because it allows the scrape to run through ArbiSource in the background, instead of requiring you to stay on the retailer website while the extension performs the scrape.

Manually Enter Category URLs

You can now manually enter category URLs when creating a Custom Scan.

Automatic category discovery is useful, but it is not always perfect.

With this update, you can now enter the category URLs yourself.

So if you already know exactly which pages you want ArbiSource to scrape, you can add them directly and build the scan around them.

Automatic EAN And Larger Image Detection

We have also reduced some of the smaller manual steps involved in setting up a scan.

Previously, users needed to manually run the EAN finder or larger image finder during setup and testing.

Now, where relevant, the extension can trigger these automatically.

This means fewer extra clicks and a smoother setup process, especially when working through multiple retailers.

Better Handling For Slow-Loading Websites

Not every retailer website loads quickly.

Some pages take longer than expected. Some load products gradually. Some require scrolling, waiting, or multiple attempts before all the data appears correctly.

The extension is now more patient with slower websites.

Where appropriate, it will wait longer before deciding that a page has failed or finished loading. This should reduce the chances of a scrape stopping too early just because a retailer site needed more time.

Clearer Status Updates

We have also improved the status updates shown while testing and scraping.

The extension now gives clearer feedback about what it is doing behind the scenes, including when it is waiting, testing, scrolling, loading, or trying different scraping methods.

This is especially useful on slower or more complex websites.

Instead of wondering whether the extension has frozen, you should now have a much clearer idea of what stage it is at and what it is waiting for.

Less Setup. More Sourcing.

This update is all about reducing friction.

Auto-Detect Mode is the headline feature, but all of the improvements work towards the same goal:

Helping you create Custom Scans faster, with fewer clicks, fewer manual steps, and less technical knowledge required.

Custom Scans already give ArbiSource users a huge advantage.

They allow you to go beyond the built-in retailer list, scan your own suppliers, and uncover opportunities that other sellers may never see.

Now, with Auto-Detect Mode, creating those scans is easier than ever.

As always, every retailer website is different, and manual selection is still there when you need it.

But for many sites, Auto-Detect Mode should give you a strong starting point in seconds.

The new Chrome Extension update is live now.

Chrome normally updates extensions automatically, but this can take a little time. If you want the update straight away, go to chrome://extensions, turn on Developer mode, then click Update. Once it has updated, refresh any retailer pages before using the ArbiSource extension.