Walmart has begun rolling out digital shelf labels across the country, with the technology now live in nearly 2300 stores. The retailer expects to complete the rollout into next year.
The company said it carries hundreds of thousands of SKUs, each requiring a clear and accurate shelf price. Pricing updates linked to new inventory, rollbacks, and markdowns can take hours or even days when paper tags are changed manually.
Digital shelf labels (DSLs) allow price changes to be updated in an instant, reducing the time associates spend replacing paper tags.
Using a mobile device, associates can also activate LED lights on shelf labels to identify items that need to be restocked, helping them locate products more quickly on the sales floor.
Walmart said the technology gives associates more time to assist customers rather than manage pricing tasks. Digital shelf labels also replace traditional paper tags and can help reduce pricing errors and paper waste.
“Our goal is clear: faster service for customers, simpler processes for associates, and more time spent where it matters most on the sales floor,” the company said.
“That’s what innovation should always look like.”
- Further reading: What’s driving Walmart’s narrow race with Amazon?
