Retailers Deploying Electronic Shelf Labels to Improve Functional Efficiency

The retail sector is currently focusing on increased functional efficiency, improved physical store management efficiency, effective warehouse and inventory management, and exceptional omnichannel efficiency, owing to which retailers are increasingly deploying electronic shelf labels (ESLs) in their outlets and warehouses. The adoption of automated solutions, such as ESLs, helps retailers in saving efforts, time, and costs in-store management. 

These systems are useful in product information display and management, delivery and service scheduling, and consistent process execution at physical stores. In the recent past, retailers preferred full-graphic e-paper over liquid crystal display and segmented e-paper, due to its high energy efficiency and ability to project graphical objects. 

In addition to the retail outlets, such as specialty stores, supermarkets, non-food retail shops, and hypermarkets, the industrial sector also uses varying types of ESLs to enhance operational efficiency. ESLs used in the retail and industrial sectors are available in different display sizes— less than 3 inches, 3–7 inches, 8–10 inches, and more than 10 inches.

The European electronic shelf label market is expected to exhibit the fastest growth throughout the forecast period, owing to the existence of a strong retail sector and the existence of eminent market players in the region. Moreover, the extensive labor cost in European nations will also boost the demand for ESLs in stores and warehouses in the region. 

The large-scale adoption of ESLs in retail outlets and warehouses helps retailers in achieving higher productivity and efficiency by minimizing human intervention. Thus, the mounting focus of retailers on improved functional efficiency, on account of the rapid automation of the industry, is encouraging the adoption of ESLs across the world.