Electronic shelf labels, or ESLs for short, are one of the most important recent technological innovations for retailers. This ‘electronic’ version of a price tag uses e-ink to display a price and is connected to your business software or point-of-sale system. This makes it very easy to change store prices, because a single price update in your software immediately updates all the necessary price tags.
Electronic shelf labels make your life easier in many ways, but the biggest benefit is liquor and wine stores It saves time and ensures you’ll never sell at the wrong price again. Here are five reasons why beverage retailers should invest in e-labels:
1. Accurate prices across all channels
The internet is changing the way customers shop. Many customers compare your in-store prices with online prices while they’re shopping. If these offline and online prices aren’t the same, your customers will lose trust in your store. A standardized pricing system via ESLs updates both your online prices and your in-store price tags simultaneously. No price discrepancies means no arguments with customers.
2. Cost-effective and environmentally friendly
Electronic shelf labels reduce your costs because you don’t have to keep designing, printing, and distributing physical labels over and over again. This means lower direct costs and fewer labor hours your staff has to spend replacing labels repeatedly. In addition, the digital labels have ultra-low energy consumption and can remain active for up to five years on a single battery.
3. A Better Omnichannel Experience
Many wine and beverage retailers sell through various channels, such as stores, online shops, email, social media, and more. ESLs can help with that as well, depending on exactly what you display. After all, a digital shelf label can display much more than just prices:
- Inventory Level: Let customers know whether or not your offer is limited.
- Past Prices: Make it clear when a product is on sale.
- Compatible Products: The right tonic for every gin!
4. Electronic shelf labels are easy to read and feature a dynamic layout
The electronic shelf labels (ESLs) feature a high-quality screen with high contrast and low reflectivity. The e-ink technology allows you to scan barcodes on the digital label using a scanner. In addition, you can display more than just a price; you can add text, logos, and arrows.
5. Access to additional information
Some digital labels are equipped with sensors to detect additional information, such as temperature. This way, ESLs can alert you when the temperature in, for example, a refrigerator or the store is too high or too low. This helps prevent products from spoiling. In addition, you can use electronic shelf labels in humid environments because they are water-resistant.
So, as a liquor store, it’s essential to switch to electronic shelf labels—not only to make things easier for yourself, but also to ensure you always provide your customers with accurate information. With Drinkmaster 365, the industry-specific ERP solution for the beverage trade, provides you with business and point-of-sale software that seamlessly integrates ESLs.
