What Are Electronic Shelf Labels?

Electronic shelf labels (ESLs), also called digital labels, digital shelf labels, or digital price tags, are small, battery-powered digital displays that replace paper price tags on store shelves. You set prices in a cloud dashboard, and a wireless gateway in your store sends each change to the right label, so the shelf updates in seconds instead of waiting for someone to print and swap a paper tag.

What is an electronic shelf label?

An electronic shelf label is a small screen that sits on the edge of your shelf, right where a paper tag would go. It shows the price and product details, and it changes when you change the price in your system.

With paper tags, every price change means printing a new tag, cutting it, finding the right spot on the shelf, and swapping it by hand. Miss one, and the shelf shows a different price from the one that rings up at the till. With digital labels, you make the change once, in one place, and the label on the shelf updates.

How do paper tags compare with electronic shelf labels?

Task	Paper tags	Electronic shelf labels
Changing a price	Print a new tag, cut it, walk to the shelf, and swap it	Change it once in the dashboard and the shelf updates in seconds
Sales and promotions	New tags at the start and end of every promotion	Sale prices go on and come off from the dashboard
Matching the till	Easy to fall behind when prices change often	Prices come from one place, so shelf and till are easier to keep in step
Extra information	Whatever fits on the paper	Unit pricing, origin, promo dates, barcodes, QR codes, and more
Upkeep	Ongoing printing, paper, and staff time	A coin-cell battery rated for up to 5 years at five price updates per day

What are the parts of an electronic shelf label system?

Every system has four parts that work together.

The labels

Small digital screens that mount on your shelf edges. Sizes run from 1.5 to 7.5 inches, from compact shelf-edge labels to larger labels for displays.

The in-store gateway

A small wireless unit that sends changes to your labels. Each gateway covers roughly 3,000 sq ft (about 280 m²), so larger stores typically need two or more.

The cloud platform

An online dashboard where you manage products, prices, label layouts, and promotions.

Your device

Make changes from a phone, tablet, or computer, whether you're on the sales floor or away from the store.

To mount the labels, accessories are available based on your type of shelves, so every label fits properly and looks professional.

How does a price change get from the dashboard to the shelf?

You change the price. Edit it in the dashboard, import a spreadsheet, or let the change come through from your connected POS system.
The cloud platform sends it to your store. The update travels over your store's internet connection to the gateway.
The gateway sends it to the label. It reaches your labels wirelessly, so there are no cables running along your shelves.
The label updates its screen. The new price appears on the shelf in seconds.

The same process works for a single price or a whole batch of changes, like the start of a weekly flyer.

What kind of screen do electronic shelf labels use?

Electronic shelf labels use low-power screens that look like printed paper and are easy to read under store lighting. The screen only needs power when its image changes, and it holds the image in between. That's a big part of why the batteries last for years.

Labels come in 3-colour (black, white, and red) and 4-colour (black, white, red, and yellow) versions. Red and yellow are useful for making sale prices and promotions stand out.

The main label sizes are:

1.54 in
2.13 in
2.66 in
2.7 in
2.9 in
3.5 in
4.2 in
7.5 in

Most sizes come in a standard version and a newer ultra-thin version. Freezer-rated labels are also available for frozen food sections.

How long do ESL batteries last?

Each label runs on a coin-cell battery rated for up to 5 years at five price updates per day. Most stores update prices less often than that. When a battery does run down, it's easy to replace.

What can an electronic shelf label display?

Label layouts are fully customizable. Depending on the label size, a layout can include:

Regular prices and sale prices
Product names
Unit pricing, such as the price per 100 g
Country or region of origin
Promotion dates
Barcodes and QR codes
Icons and simple graphics, such as your logo
Lot numbers, expiry dates, and aisle location

Graphics are kept simple, like icons and logos, rather than photos.

Do electronic shelf labels work with your POS system?

There are three ways to get prices onto your labels: update them in the dashboard, import them from a spreadsheet, or connect the platform to your point-of-sale (POS) system. The platform connects with many POS systems, and we confirm compatibility with yours during the quote. Ask us about your system.

What happens if the internet goes down?

Nothing changes on your shelves. Whatever is on a label stays there until it's changed, and labels only need a connection to receive new changes. Once your internet or gateway is back, you can send changes again.

How are electronic shelf labels installed?

Your labels and gateway arrive pre-configured and ready to mount, with accessories to suit your shelves. We handle setup remotely and train your staff by video, or you can self-install. Our electronic shelf labels FAQ covers setup, timing, and support in more detail.

Who uses electronic shelf labels?

Large grocery and big-box chains have used electronic shelf labels for years. The same technology now fits independent stores, especially those that change prices often or carry a lot of products.

Is it right for your store?

If your team spends time every week printing and swapping tags, or customers have pointed out a shelf price that doesn't match the till, digital labels are worth a look.

Start with the page for your type of store above, see what drives the price in our electronic shelf labels cost guide, or request a quote and we'll reply within one business day.