Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) are replacing traditional paper labels. In the modern retail industry, electronic shelf labels bring retailers not only improved operational efficiency but also a strengthened brand image. More and more retailers, including major grocers such as Walmart and Amazon Fresh stores, are installing ESLs. At the same time, the electronic shelf labeling market is also expanding and changing.
Understanding the ESL Market
The combination of IoT and retail has unleashed the potential of digital retailing, and the expansion of retailers is driving the growing electronic shelf labels market,
According to the latest data from Fact.MR, the global electronic shelf labels market size is expected to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2024 and grow to USD 7.53 billion by 2034.
The market for electronic shelf labeling is leading in Europe. Western Europe will account for 27.8% of the ESL market share in 2024. Countries such as Germany and France are expected to maintain leading growth rates due to a high emphasis on automation and sustainability, with Germany growing at a CAGR of 18.33 from 2024 to 2034.
In North America, large retailers are integrating ESLs for automation to improve efficiency and ESL utilization is expected to maintain a growing trend.
Asia Pacific is also experiencing rapid growth, led by countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea, where cost-effective manufacturing is driving demand.
Main Global Manufacturers of Electronic Shelf Labels
The ESL market is witnessing an increase in the number of players. Major brands of electronic shelf labels currently include
Minewtag
Pricer
Hanshow
Solum,
Vusiongroup
Displaydata
Zhsunyco
and others...
How to Choose the Right ESL Maker
Whether you are a small retailer or manage a global chain, choosing a manufacturer you can trust is the first step in transforming your store operations. What does it take for retailers to find an ESL provider that meets their needs? Understanding your business needs is important to finding a right esl provider.
1. Compatibility with existing systems
Ensure that your vendor's labels can be integrated with your point-of-sale (POS), inventory and pricing systems. Look for manufacturers that offer open APIs that can reduce deployment challenges, such as minewtag ESL. Don't forget to ask about software compatibility and whether the system requires additional infrastructure or upgrades. If you have more than one store, make sure the platform has centralized management capabilities.
2. Display technology
Not all ESL screens are the same, and you will need to choose based on the effect you want. If you want a low-power and eye-friendly display, you can usually choose an e-ink price tag;
if you want a more colorful and attractive display, then an LCD ESL is better for you
3. Scalability
Extensibility means that manufacturers should offer flexible templates for branding and product details to meet your diverse retail needs. And ensure the system is scalable to support your business growth.
4. Check durability and battery life
You certainly want to avoid having to replace the batteries in your ESL very often. The expected life of an ESL should be 5-10 years. Considering the diversity of retail environments, it is good for ESLs to have better durability and ruggedness.
5. Communication speed
The demand for dynamic pricing is gradually being taken seriously by more and more companies. Retail merchants can adjust prices in real time according to changes in inventory or product quality. This means that ESL must have a fast enough update speed. Different communication technologies of electronic price tags represent different communication speeds.
Therefore, evaluate the communication technology to ensure that the system can handle frequent updates without delays or interruptions.
6. Costs and return on investment (ROI)
The initial cost of an electronic label is not insignificant and includes hardware, software and installation costs. If you are concerned about the long return on investment cycle of electronic tags, the cost of ESL should be reasonable. Choosing a Chinese supplier is a good approach, like Minewtag, which guarantees a high quality product at a lower cost compared to other suppliers.
Some Questions to Ask an ESL Manufacturer
- What communication protocols do your ESLs use, and how do they ensure reliability?
- What is the typical battery life, and how are replacements handled?
- Can your ESL system be customized for my branding and promotional needs?
- Do you offer integration support for existing POS and inventory systems?
What is the warranty period, and what maintenance services are included?
As a reliable one-stop ESL solution provider, minewtag is driven by innovation and helps companies thrive in the digital age through smart and sustainable solutions. Contact minewtag team and express your needs today.