The origin of electronic shelf labels
Retail stores are always looking for better ways to run their business, and that’s where electronic shelf labels, or ESLs, come in. These little digital displays didn’t appear out of nowhere. They were developed to solve real problems that store owners and employees have dealt with for a long time.
Back in the day, paper labels were the only option for showing product prices and details in stores. Sure, they got the job done, but they had a lot of issues. Imagine having to change the price of every single item on the shelves whenever there’s a sale or a price increase. In a big supermarket with thousands of products, this means hours and hours of work for store staff. And it’s so easy to make mistakes—stick the wrong label on a product, and you might end up with angry customers who feel cheated, or you could lose money if you sell something for less than you should.
What really kicked off the change was the progress in digital screen and wireless tech. Smart people in the retail industry saw an opportunity to do things differently. They thought, “Why not create digital labels that we can update without having to run around the store and change each one by hand?” That’s how the idea of electronic shelf labels started. With ESLs, store managers can update prices, add sale tags, or change product descriptions with just a few clicks on a computer. Whether they’re trying to match competitor prices, start a new promotion, or show when an item is running low on stock, ESLs let them react quickly, something they couldn’t do easily with paper labels.
One company that’s doing a great job with ESLs is HIGHLIGHT, especially with their HM240 model. This electronic shelf label has some features that make it stand out. The 2.4 - inch screen has really sharp contrast, so whether you’re looking at it straight on or from the side, you can clearly read the price, what the product is, and any special offers. This is super helpful in busy stores where customers are quickly looking for good deals.
Another cool thing about the HM240 is that it doesn’t use much power. It uses E - ink technology, which is like the screens on e - readers. Because of this, the battery can last for years. Store owners don’t have to worry about constantly replacing batteries, which saves them time and money.
And if you’re a store owner, you’ll love how flexible the HM240 is. You can choose exactly what you want to show—like the price per ounce, exclusive discounts for loyal customers, or how other shoppers rated the product. It can even show information in different languages, which is perfect for stores in neighborhoods with lots of different people or for big international chains.
To sum it up, electronic shelf labels started as a fix for the headaches of paper labels, but they’ve become a game - changer in retail. Thanks to products like the HM240, stores can work more smoothly, and customers can shop with less confusion. It’s a win - win for everyone in the retail world.
