British co-operative group Co-op has announced its plan to introduce electronic shelf-edge labels (ESELs) across more than 1,600 of its convenience stores by the end of this year, aiming to enhance the shopping experience for its customers.
The company said the expansion will continue further, with the goal of equipping all its over 2,300 stores with ESEL technology by 2026. According to the retailer, this will become the largest implementation of such technology in the UK.
Currently, more than 700 Co-op stores are already using electronic labels. The ESELs use near field communication (NFC) technology, allowing shoppers to ‘tap to join’ Co-op’s membership programme directly through their mobile phones. This initiative is expected to make membership sign-ups easier and provide instant access to member benefits and price savings.
Co-op Operations Innovation lead David Tyas stated, “The electronic labels not only have the potential to enhance product information and transparency, avoid paper waste, and improve ways of working, they can also enhance the shopping experience and make it easier for customers to become a Co-op member and start to benefit from member price savings, promotions and deals, and save on a wide range of everyday essentials.” (Kiran News)
Earlier this year, Co-op partnered with VusionGroup to transition from paper shelf edge labels to electronic versions. The ESELs also help with store operations, including stock replenishment and online order picking, while keeping customers instantly updated on the latest Co-op price savings and deals.
VusionGroup UK & Ireland CEO Roy Horgan said, “We are proud to be partnering with the Co-op to give UK customers access to the benefits of electronic shelf labels and technology for the physical store. Co-op’s innovative use of NFC tags to seamlessly link customers to the benefits of membership directly from the shelf is just one demonstration of how this technology can transform the retail experience. With other applications across the supply chain and customer journey – for customers and associates – this rollout is an important step in what we expect will be a broader industry transformation.”
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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