Latest news with #ESLs
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Business Standard
29-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Blink and cost of milk is different: Uber surge tech now in supermarkets
Imagine you go to a grocery store, reach for a carton of milk, and by the time you put it in your cart, the price has changed. Not because of a special sale or a cashier's mistake, but because the price tag itself is now a tiny digital screen that updates in real time, multiple times a day. That's not science fiction. It's already happening across supermarkets in Europe and the United States, where electronic shelf labels (ESLs) are replacing paper tags. These dynamic digital labels are quietly revolutionising grocery pricing — and possibly introducing a future of real-time 'surge pricing' for basic staples. According to a report published by T he Wall Street Journal, ESLs are already in use at several major US chains and allow grocers to change prices up to 100 times a day. Retailers say the shift from traditional paper tags helps reduce labour costs and paper waste, while enabling faster markdowns on perishables. However, the same infrastructure raises the possibility of surge pricing, price increases during high-demand periods, prompting concerns from regulators and shoppers. How retailers are using dynamic digital pricing In Europe In Norway, REMA 1000 uses ESLs to make real-time pricing adjustments in order to stay ahead of competitors. The Wall Street Journal reported that prices on certain items like milk or eggs may change dozens of times a day, especially around holidays. In the Netherlands, Albert Heijn, part of Ahold Delhaize, uses ESLs in over 1,200 stores. The system monitors near-expiry items every 15 minutes, discounting them up to four times daily—starting at 25 per cent and going up to 90 per cent—to minimise food waste. The company estimates this has reduced waste by over 250,000 kg annually. However, despite the tech, stores occasionally still use physical stickers because early trials showed customers often missed digital discounts. In the United States Walmart has deployed ESLs in more than 400 of its nearly 4,600 stores and plans to expand to cover half of its locations. Kroger and Whole Foods are piloting ESLs. Lidl US began rolling out ESLs in 2024. In India: Dynamic pricing is limited to transport, hospitality In India, surge pricing is restricted in certain sectors. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recently issued the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, which permits cab aggregators like Uber, Ola, and Rapido to charge up to 2x the base fare during peak hours. The updated guidelines are an expansion from the previous limit of 1.5x. There is no equivalent model for dynamic pricing in retail or grocery stores. Real-time pricing tools such as ESLs are not yet widely adopted in Indian grocery stores. Why lawmakers and consumers are worried The potential for real-time price increases on consumer staples has raised red flags among policymakers and consumers: In the US, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey (now retired) wrote a letter in 2024 to Kroger expressing concern that digital tags could allow for price manipulation during holidays or natural disasters. The letter warned that ESLs 'appear poised to enable large grocery stores to squeeze consumers to increase profits". In the UK, Members of Parliament questioned grocery chains Tesco and Sainsbury's about surge pricing technology after reports from France indicated that prices for barbeque items rose alongside outdoor temperatures. Public reaction on social media has also reflected broader anxiety, with many users speculating whether essential products might soon fluctuate in cost throughout the day. What is surge pricing? Surge pricing—also referred to as dynamic or demand-based pricing—is a strategy where prices fluctuate in real time based on demand levels. It is commonly used in ride-sharing, hospitality, and e-commerce. In the ride-sharing industry, platforms such as Uber and Lyft use this model to match driver availability with passenger demand, especially during rush hours or public events. Hospitality providers, including hotels and rental services, use similar mechanisms to adjust room rates during peak travel seasons. E-commerce platforms also employ dynamic pricing during flash sales or product launches to balance inventory and maximise revenue. What retailers are actually doing with ESLs Despite the concerns, retailers have been clear about the current uses of ESLs: The main objective is to save labour by eliminating manual price changes and reducing environmental impact by cutting down on paper tags. Most grocers, including those in Europe and the US, state that price reductions—especially for near-expiry goods or to match competitors—are the primary use. According to REMA 1000 and Lidl, any price increases are done overnight to avoid confusing or upsetting customers. Will surge pricing really come to the grocery aisle? So far, there is no concrete evidence that US grocery retailers are using ESLs for demand-based pricing. According to a McKinsey & Company report, real-time analytics and predictive modelling are increasingly enabling such pricing strategies across sectors. A 2021 report stated that dynamic pricing" doesn't necessarily require ultrasophisticated software that changes every product's price multiple times a day". Adding that even traditional retailers can benefit from "merchant-informed, data-driven algorithms that recommend price changes for selected products at some level of frequency". However, a study by researchers from UT Austin, UC San Diego, and Northwestern University added that real-time surge pricing, especially in physical stores, is unlikely due to two key constraints: In-store demand is difficult to track at the necessary granularity for algorithm-driven pricing. Customer sensitivity to price shifts is high. Shoppers may abandon purchases if prices increase before they reach checkout. What comes next for grocery pricing? While real-time price hikes remain rare, ESL adoption is expected to expand: More US grocery chains are likely to introduce the technology to streamline pricing operations. Intraday price reductions—especially on perishable or seasonal items—are expected to increase in frequency. Price increases during active shopping hours are still considered unlikely due to reputational risks and customer trust concerns. Fast food sector also experimenting with surge pricing Last year, fast-food chain Wendy's announced plans to test a dynamic pricing model for menu items in 2025. Under the proposed model, prices would vary during the day based on demand; however, it clarified that they would not raise prices during peak hours. While the company said that the rollout would begin as a test, as of July 2025, no surge pricing has been implemented. Following the announcement, Gizmodo conducted a survey that found that 52 per cent of respondents equated surge pricing with price gouging, while 65 per cent said it would complicate food purchasing decisions. The bottom line Electronic shelf labels are giving retailers unprecedented control over pricing and operations. So far, they are mainly being used for efficiency gains and markdowns, not for surge pricing. However, as the technology becomes widespread and as other industries explore real-time pricing models, the conversation around transparency, fairness, and digital automation in pricing is set to intensify.
Business Wire
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Hanshow Showcases Retail Media and Store Intelligence at 2025 CGF Global Summit
AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hanshow, a global leader in digital retail solutions, underscored its leadership in AI, IoT, and Retail Media at the 2025 Global Summit of the Consumer Good Forum (CGF), held from June 11 to 13 at RAI Amsterdam. From an immersive 'Future Store' showcase in the I-Zone to moderating one of the Summit's most anticipated panel discussions, Hanshow demonstrated how its integrated platform is driving the next wave of store transformation. Inside the Future Store: Hanshow's Real-Time Innovation at I-Zone At Booth No.8 in the I-Zone, Hanshow presented an interactive showcase themed 'Powering Your Future Store,' highlighting four core pillars of the future store: real-time pricing and shelf operations powered by ESLs; smart carts that enhance the shopping experience with autonomous navigation and seamless checkout; GenAI-enabled journeys offering contextual promotions and personalized assistance; and green technologies such as solar storage charging systems and in-store energy saving solutions. Visitors explored how these technologies interoperate to elevate operational efficiency, enhance shopper experience, and advance sustainability. The showcase drew strong interest from retailers, tech leaders, and media, offering a vivid glimpse into how Hanshow is bridging digital and physical retail to deliver a unified, scalable transformation for digital and physical retail. AI, IoT & RMNs: Driving the Next Wave of Retail Ecosystem Transformation On June 12 in the Plenary Hall, a full house of industry attendees was eager to hear how AI, IoT, and Retail Media are reshaping the retail ecosystem. Philippe Brochard—Tech and Innovation Advisory Board Member at Hanshow and former Retail CEO, moderated the plenary panel 'Redesigning Retail: AI, IoT and RMN – Empowering Tech-Driven Experiences and Sustainable Growth', joined by: Klaus Smets, Vice President, Hanshow Europe Bas Komen, Director of Sales & Marketing for Retail Media, Albert Heijn Bart Zoetmulder, Head of Market, Havas Media Netherlands Philippe opened with four pivotal shifts: the rise of Retail Media Networks, the need for AI readiness, stores as digital platforms, and leadership in sustainable transformation. Klaus Smets framed Hanshow as a key enabler connecting retailers, brands, and media agencies. He emphasized that the next frontier in Retail Media is in-store, where shelves, carts, and screens form a unified media network. 'By turning physical stores into data-driven, omnichannel touchpoints, we can synchronize availability, pricing, and messaging right where decisions are made,' he noted. Klaus added that Hanshow's all-in-one platform, combining ESLs, smart carts, and digital signages—enables intelligent, media-capable stores powered by AI, backed by strong local service, and anchored in ESG principles. Bas Komen detailed Albert Heijn's Retail Media Services aim to build brands and drive conversion for CPG brands, built on insights and strategic partnerships. Bart Zoetmulder emphasized Havas's shift to a tech-first agency model, leveraging real-time shopper data and 'Havas Forecast' to scale personalization. The panel concluded that retail transformation requires collaboration across media, retail, and technology anchored in the store. Hanshow's mission is to bridge these domains and deliver actionable, data-driven in-store experiences. Shaping the Future: Smarter, Greener, and Closer to Clients Hanshow will continue investing in IoT, AI, and communication technologies, —ESLs, digital signage, smart carts, and robots. The company is expanding local service capabilities across Europe, the Americas, and APAC to ensure faster deployment and agile response. Committed to ESG-aligned innovation, Hanshow aims to reduce environmental impact, and create long-term value through deeper collaboration with global tech and regional partners. 'We're not just building technology, we're co-designing the digital roadmap for the next era of retail with our clients,' said Shiguo Hou, CEO of Hanshow. 'Innovation must empower, not isolate.'
Western Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Sainsbury's trialling electronic shelf-edge labels in stores
The change is set to signal the end of a classic element found when doing the weekly shop, and could be rolled out in stores sooner than you think. Sainsbury's is trialling electronic labels (ESLs) in some of its bigger stores, across items such as wine, beer, spirits and health products. The new cutting-edge technology will also allow prices for products to be changed remotely via a computer. The move will lead to the removal of traditional paper price labels that are changed each time a price goes up or down. The Grocer reports that the supermarket installed the tech at three of its larger-format stores late last year. 'We are trialling electronic shelf-edge labels in a small number of our stores,' a Sainsbury's spokesperson confirmed to Newsquest. Witney, in Oxfordshire, is understood to be one of the locations where the tech is being trialled as part of its 'Future Stores' initiative. How do electronic shelf edge labels work? Electronic shelf labels, also known as digital price tags, digitally display product prices. Their digital wireless display is attached to the front edge of retail shelving and it is then connected to the store's point of sale (POS) system. Recommended reading: It is said to improve pricing accuracy, enable dynamic pricing and reduce labour costs. ESLs are not new in the UK, as they have been around for more than 30 years. They were introduced in the UK initially but are more widely seen across Europe in countries such as France and Scandinavia. Sainsbury's isn't the only retailer opting to give ESLs a go, as several other supermarkets have also recently trialled them, including Asda and Co-op.
South Wales Argus
09-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Sainsbury's trialling electronic shelf-edge labels in stores
The change is set to signal the end of a classic element found when doing the weekly shop, and could be rolled out in stores sooner than you think. Sainsbury's is trialling electronic labels (ESLs) in some of its bigger stores, across items such as wine, beer, spirits and health products. The new cutting-edge technology will also allow prices for products to be changed remotely via a computer. The move will lead to the removal of traditional paper price labels that are changed each time a price goes up or down. The Grocer reports that the supermarket installed the tech at three of its larger-format stores late last year. 'We are trialling electronic shelf-edge labels in a small number of our stores,' a Sainsbury's spokesperson confirmed to Newsquest. Witney, in Oxfordshire, is understood to be one of the locations where the tech is being trialled as part of its 'Future Stores' initiative. How do electronic shelf edge labels work? Electronic shelf labels, also known as digital price tags, digitally display product prices. Their digital wireless display is attached to the front edge of retail shelving and it is then connected to the store's point of sale (POS) system. Recommended reading: It is said to improve pricing accuracy, enable dynamic pricing and reduce labour costs. ESLs are not new in the UK, as they have been around for more than 30 years. They were introduced in the UK initially but are more widely seen across Europe in countries such as France and Scandinavia. Sainsbury's isn't the only retailer opting to give ESLs a go, as several other supermarkets have also recently trialled them, including Asda and Co-op.
North Wales Chronicle
09-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Sainsbury's trialling electronic shelf-edge labels in stores
The change is set to signal the end of a classic element found when doing the weekly shop, and could be rolled out in stores sooner than you think. Sainsbury's is trialling electronic labels (ESLs) in some of its bigger stores, across items such as wine, beer, spirits and health products. The new cutting-edge technology will also allow prices for products to be changed remotely via a computer. The move will lead to the removal of traditional paper price labels that are changed each time a price goes up or down. The Grocer reports that the supermarket installed the tech at three of its larger-format stores late last year. 'We are trialling electronic shelf-edge labels in a small number of our stores,' a Sainsbury's spokesperson confirmed to Newsquest. Witney, in Oxfordshire, is understood to be one of the locations where the tech is being trialled as part of its 'Future Stores' initiative. Electronic shelf labels, also known as digital price tags, digitally display product prices. Their digital wireless display is attached to the front edge of retail shelving and it is then connected to the store's point of sale (POS) system. Recommended reading: Sainsbury's introduces checkout-free payments in stores Sainsbury's shoppers slam changes at self-checkout tills Morrisons to revamp UK stores to offer 'farm shop' produce It is said to improve pricing accuracy, enable dynamic pricing and reduce labour costs. ESLs are not new in the UK, as they have been around for more than 30 years. They were introduced in the UK initially but are more widely seen across Europe in countries such as France and Scandinavia. Sainsbury's isn't the only retailer opting to give ESLs a go, as several other supermarkets have also recently trialled them, including Asda and Co-op.
