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ESL

What Is ESL?

Simply put, electronic shelf labels are digital price tags that integrate with a retailer’s ERP or POS system to display accurate product prices on the shelf. Think of it as pricing automation that replaces manual operations with a swift, dynamic solution.

How ESL Looks Like

A typical digital shelf labeling system has both hardware and software features. However, an effective solution geared towards swift automation, greater customer engagement, and real-time data analytics should be:

  • Extremely thin to fit on the shelves without falling;
  • Large enough with a display of up to 12.2 inches for easy reading;
  • Combine different LED colors for display to attract buyers, e.g. white, yellow, green, black, and even red;
  • Have an in-built retail IoT platform for analytics;
  • Programmed buttons for reset.

How ESL Systems Work

A digital shelf label system leverages your local network to display or update product prices on an electronic paper displayed on its screen. Even better, businesses can control the system remotely and update their product prices across all stores simultaneously.

Some innovative ESL systems also feature ultra-low battery power mode to prolong battery lifespan past the normal half a decade. This feature can also reduce the number of battery life updates required per day for optimal performance.

What Are The Benefits of ESL?

An ESL electronic shelf label comes with various benefits, among them automation. Besides minimizing human error when updating prices manually, automation frees up your employees to focus on high-value business tasks, such as enhancing customer experience.

Other benefits of an ESL include:

  • Accurate pricing across all outlets;
  • Omnichannel customer experience, such as ordering via QR codes;
  • Easy inventory management;
  • Ideal for targeted advertising.

How To Set Up An Electronic Shelf Label

You’ll need to initialize your digital retail shelf tags before setting them up on the shelves.

Here is the procedure:

  • Plug your coordinator into a power source and connect to a Wi-Fi network via an Ethernet cable;
  • Download all the requirements e.g. the ESL’s utility software;
  • Edit article data and assign templates;
  • Add Articles;
  • Automate POS or ERP with your ESL.

Frequently Asked Questions About ESL

Why are companies investing in ESLs?

Digital store shelf labels help companies automate manual processes associated with price updates to save time, and costs, as well as minimize errors. This also ensures price accuracy and consistency across all stores.

How is information sent to each label?

Information in an ESL system is sent to each digital label via the local network.

How long is the battery life of a label?

ESL systems have varying lifespans, depending on the manufacturer, type of display, and the number of changes per day. However, some versions last for up to three years only.

How can I ensure that the labels have been correctly updated?

An innovative ESL system will report the update status, whether it’s a fail or success, on the user interface. Users can also set custom email notifications for all updates.

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