Digital SELs

TECHNOLOGY: CO-OP

Regional Co-ops expand use of digital SEL tech

The co-ops say initial trials increased store efficiency, improved pricing and product information compliance, and reduced paper waste.

Scotmid Co-op and Southern Co-op stores have begun using electronic shelf labels from SoluM, a Samsung-invested company.

The retailers have been working with Cambridge-based technology company, Herbert Retail, to introduce a new value layer at the shelf edge. The integrated technology enables fast, accurate and confirmed information updates, in terms of critical and accurate retail information, such as pricing and promotions.

Herbert Retail is supplying and installing the electronic shelf labels after initial trials resulted in increased store efficiency, improved pricing and product information compliance, and reduced paper wastage.

Allan Robertson, Programme Manager for Innovation and Change at Scotmid, said: “We are always looking at innovation to pick out the solutions that land real benefit for our customers and colleagues. SoluM’s electronic shelf edge labels look great, transform our stores and present our price and product information more clearly to our customers. Our store teams are really loving this – removing the burden of price and promotion tasks and compliance isn’t just a productivity boost – it’s been a morale boost too.”

The collaboration between the three businesses started at an event hosted by the Association of Convenience Stores as part of a technology showcase where the trio explored electronic shelf labels and the common collective benefits of the solution.

The two retail co-operatives initially trialled Herbert’s technology in two of their stores and have now extended the deployment to take in 23 stores with further installations being planned across the estate, replacing traditional paper-based shelf edge pricing and promotion labels, in favour of digital screen technology.

Paul Sargeant, Southern Co-op’s Business Information and Solutions Manager, said: “The new electronic shelf edge labels sit beside our strong and continued commitment to sustainability, as well as a drive to offer our customers a seamless in-store experience.

“It was great to work cooperatively with Scotmid and Herbert to create an offering of mutual benefit for all. The SoluM electronic shelf edge labels from Herbert really enhance the look and feel of the store whilst giving us the ability to highlight extended information to our customers, such as allergens and country of origin information.”

Herbert Retail will be driving forward with the next phase of the rollout over the coming months.

Mark Channen, Sales and Marketing Director at Herbert Retail, said: “Our electronic shelf labels essentially give retailers fully compliant digital real estate for the lines that they sell. The label content can be changed based on a multitude of criteria, to facilitate retail productivity such as better waste management on date sensitive items, or perhaps run timely offers based on seasonal trends or excess stock reduction, and of course there is the elimination of constant paper label waste produced by stores.”

Meanwhile, new research conducted on behalf of the electronic label supplier Pricer finds that 57% of consumers want to be able to access digital information in the aisle to help with shopping decisions.

The survey of 2,000 UK shoppers shows 57% would like to have more access to product details in addition to pricing, while 49% would like more digital signage at the shelf-edge to help inform their buying decisions.

In addition, the research reveals that 49% of shoppers are frustrated that product details at the shelf-edge were inconsistent with information on a retailer’s website and 37% said they had they abandoned a purchase because of excessive information at the shelf-edge.