Learn About Bluetooth
Bluetooth® Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL)
Standardizing the shelf edge
With the introduction of a wireless standard for the electronic shelf label (ESL) market, Bluetooth technology is helping unlock the next phase in retail digital transformation to deliver better outcomes for both stores and shoppers.
What are electronic shelf labels?
Electronic shelf labels (ESL) are small, battery-powered electronic paper (e-paper) displays that present product and pricing information at the shelf edge, replacing paper labels. ESLs use wireless technology to communicate with a central hub to form a dynamic pricing automation network.
Automated pricing
Historically, retail shelf pricing relied on error-prone, labor-intensive paper price tags and manual processes that sometimes had to be performed several times in a typical day. Electronic shelf label solutions help brick and mortar stores fully automate pricing strategies to display the right price in the right moment and enable seamless omnichannel retailing.
More efficient operations
Manual inventory management slows operations and undetected stockouts bite away at profits. Electronic shelf labeling can streamline picking and fulfillment for click and collect shoppers while also accelerating shelf replenishments to optimize product availability on shelves and avoid missed sales.
Increased shopper satisfaction
A shopper’s experience at the shelf edge is one of the most critical influences on a purchase decision. Electronic shelf labels provide always-accurate pricing, increased access to real-time promotions and product information, and a more gratifying and cohesive omnichannel experience.
Bluetooth® Electronic Shelf Labels
ESL systems have historically relied on proprietary protocols for wireless communication, presenting a potential barrier to global adoption. To address this challenge, leaders from the ESL industry teamed with the Bluetooth SIG to create a scalable, ultra-low power, highly secure ESL wireless standard based on Bluetooth® technology.
Retailer benefit
Multi-vendor interoperability
Establishing a true, global ESL standard gives retailers the freedom and confidence to source ESL components from multiple vendors knowing each component will work with the others. Backed by a proven product qualification program, Bluetooth®ESL is the standardized solution the market has needed to minimize barriers to adoption and build a frictionless, interoperable ESL ecosystem.
80%
Reduction in time spent on pricing updates
Source:SEO Imagotag
2-5%
Increase in sales after implementing ESLs
Developer benefit
Lower costs & faster innovation
With more than 5 billion Bluetooth® enabled devices forecasted to ship in 2025 alone, Bluetooth® ESL developers will benefit from the economies of scale that Bluetooth technology affords.* Increased supplier diversity leads to more attractive component pricing, driving down overall product costs. And by adopting a standardized approach for wireless communications, ESL vendors can now reallocate their engineering efforts to the development of more value-added, differentiating features and capabilities.
