Digital and paper labels in one system – Shelf Edge’s hybrid approach to shelf price management

Automation of price management is currently one of the priorities for retail chains in Europe. Electronic labels are the answer to this need, but implementing them on every shelf is not always justified from a business perspective. What if you could combine tradition with modernity and manage both digital and paper price tags from a single tool? Meet Shelf Edge – a system from the Exorigo-Upos Group, which promotes a hybrid approach to price management in stores.

Shelf Edge – the most important information

• The Shelf Edge system supports both electronic and traditional paper price labels at the same time.
• The tool is perfect for places with high price volatility (e.g. departments with fresh fruit and vegetables), allowing you to keep paper price tags in other assortment zones.
• The system does not make the store dependent on a single hardware manufacturer – it works seamlessly with leading suppliers of digital devices, such as Vusion and Hanshaw.

Why doesn’t every shelf have to be digital?

Electronic price labels (often referred to as ESL – Electronic Shelf Labels) are becoming an increasingly common sight in retail spaces, and their main task is to automate price updates and manage in-store promotions. However, the rapid implementation of such a solution across the entire market can be expensive. How else to approach it?

The easiest way to understand this is with the example of a standard supermarket. The greatest dynamics and price volatility usually concern the fresh food sections, such as vegetable and fruit stands. For this reason, stores decide to implement electronic labels primarily to efficiently manage high-turnover and promotional items. On the other hand, for the rest of the assortment (products with a long shelf life or household chemicals), standard printed paper labels are often placed next to the shelves.

Shelf Edge is two worlds connected by one system

To ensure an environment in which two different types of price tags operate efficiently, a proper label management system is essential. The answer to this need is Shelf Edge – a solution provided by Exorigo-Upos.

The main advantage of the Shelf Edge system is that it works in a modern hybrid environment. What does it mean? Store staff no longer have to work in two separate applications – one for digital screens and the other for generating prints for traditional shelves. Our software comprehensively supports both electronic and paper labels. This is a significant logistical facilitation that clearly distinguishes Shelf Edge from competing systems on the market.

Technological independence and freedom of choice

From an IT architecture perspective, an important advantage of Shelf Edge is that it offers full freedom in selecting the final hardware solution provider. Store owners do not have to worry about becoming addicted to a single brand. The system successfully works with devices from many label manufacturers. We have already completed numerous implementations of this software in the UK. Drawing on this experience, we are gradually entering the Central European markets with our solution. The open and flexible design of the Shelf Edge makes it easy to connect to other systems used in the store, simplifying operations at every stage.

FAQ – frequently asked questions