An ESL display (Electronic Shelf Label) is a digital device used to display pricing and product information, primarily in supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and other retail environments. In recent years, ESL displays have become a standard tool for modern retail operations, especially in leading retail chains such as Yonghui Superstores, Hema Fresh, and JD Supermarkets, as well as in new types of convenience stores and unmanned stores. These labels are replacing traditional paper price tags, offering a smarter, more efficient solution.
What most customers see as a simple price display tool is, in fact, part of a comprehensive system that seamlessly connects online and offline product and pricing information. In the past, supermarkets had to rely on manual labor to change paper labels, which consumed significant time and human resources. Furthermore, these changes only occurred in-store, making it difficult to synchronize product information with online platforms. With ESL displays, not only can pricing be updated accurately, but the tags can also display additional product details such as nutritional information, product origin, unit pricing, and even provide access to the latest product data.
Since 2012, some Chinese retailers began experimenting with ESL displays, but due to the high cost at the time, they were mainly limited to pilot programs in a few retail chains like Wumart, Watsons, and Suning. Widespread adoption was initially slow. However, recent market data from Quantop shows that ESL displays have now made significant inroads into various retail sectors, including fresh produce supermarkets, hypermarkets, chain stores, specialty shops, convenience stores, jewelry stores, beauty shops, home goods stores, electronics stores, conference rooms, warehouses, pharmacies, and factories. Among these, the retail sector has seen the highest adoption rate.
One of the major advantages of ESL displays is the ability to update pricing in real time. With built-in templates for price labels and promotional offers, store owners can easily synchronize product prices, names, and images with a single click. The system instantly pushes updated pricing information to all stores' screens. This allows retailers to adjust prices based on daily market conditions, making price changes simple and efficient. Shoppers can always see the most up-to-date prices at a glance, improving their shopping experience and increasing trust in the store’s pricing accuracy.
In addition to pricing, ESL displays can also showcase seasonal promotions or fresh produce with dynamic video content. This creates a more engaging experience compared to static paper price tags. By displaying colorful, moving visuals, ESL displays provide a more direct and visually appealing way to present products. Retailers can also use promotional templates to schedule and display special offers, with large screens looping videos to make promotions more visible and attractive to customers.
One of the key features of ESL displays is their flexibility. Retailers can freely customize the layout of the displays to match their preferences. A single screen can display multiple price labels in various styles. Compared to the traditional bi-color e-ink displays, these digital tags offer a more dynamic and versatile experience, making it easier to highlight products and promotions while enhancing the overall customer experience.
The adoption of ESL displays in fresh produce supermarkets is driven by their ability to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual labor, and offer more engaging ways to present product and pricing information. The ability to update prices instantly, showcase dynamic promotions, and customize display layouts has made ESL displays an essential tool for fresh food retailers aiming to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced retail environment. As more supermarkets turn to these digital solutions, ESL displays are becoming a vital component of modern retail management, offering both operational and marketing benefits that traditional paper labels simply cannot match.
Electronic Shelf Labels
Digital Signage
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ESL Accessory
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