Here's How to Turn Your Retail Store into an IoT-Powered, Data-Driven Smart Store This global leader in electronic shelf label technology is democratizing the accessibility of digital shelf tags.

Written by Jadeeyah C. Abang

As the world continues to adapt following the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly returning to brick-and-mortar stores. For retailers, this means they will have to be prepared for the surge of foot traffic. Not to mention, they too now have to deal with a totally changed playing field.

With most of the shopping done online in the past few years, consumers have gotten used to digital shopping experiences and this trend is not going anywhere. In fact, digital is expected to be integrated into the in-person shopping experience as store owners explore new ways to individually target consumers in-store the same way it is effectively done online.

Conversely, even direct-to-consumer (DTC) and ecommerce brands are now establishing physical storefronts to create a synergy between their online campaigns and the growing consumer demand for in-person shopping experiences.

Integrating online into the everyday shopping experience.

Establishing connectivity for consumers on their in-store and digital shopping experiences aside from enabling them to have the flexibility to shop online or in a physical store is now less daunting. Nowadays, companies are racing to provide solutions for the seamless integration of both worlds. One of the industry's biggest solution providers, SOLUM (Solum Co Ltd), has pioneered cutting-edge technologies that turn retail stores into IoT-powered, data-driven, smart stores.

Among SOLUM's latest flagship products is Newton Pro, the fastest and most durable electronic shelf label available in the market. The solution displays accurate product information and also enhances operational efficiency by supporting real-time stock management. What's more is that it also features two programmable buttons that customers can use to call for assistance or request restocking of shelves, adding further versatility to its functionality.

Newton Pro's interactive button comes in handy for businesses as it quickly alerts staff when items are sold out and enables them to check stock levels in just a few seconds. This enhances the efficiency and accuracy of picking and restocking items. With LED lights to guide staff during these tasks, Newton Pro makes inventory management faster and more precise, a valuable feature for businesses that are managing online orders.

Recently, the company also launched Newton Play which seamlessly combines the button functionality of electronic shelf labels with the features of digital signage. So with just a simple press of a button, shoppers can activate displays that provide detailed information about products. Brands on the other hand can set up gamified promotions where shoppers can interact with the display to receive prices or offers.

Increasing demand for in-store digitalization.

To kick-start 2024, Solum just announced that it will be launching its new global website, Solum-group.com, featuring the entire company's product line-up, as well as Solumstore.com, a product-based website where business owners can directly purchase electronic shelf tag solutions and more.

The launch of Solumstore.com opens a plethora of opportunities for business owners as they themselves now can directly choose from Solum's offering what electronic shelf label and solution best fits their business. The website also features direct purchase options, troubleshooting guides, and technical support for the company's customers who have purchased or are keen on purchasing their product line.

Solum's announcement at the National Retail Federation 2024: Retail Big Show and EuroCIS 2024 both known as one of retail's most important events also signals the company's increasing confidence in the rising demand for electronic shelf label technology as a growing necessity in business operations.

With businesses getting more reliant on big data and digitalization, the innovations brought about by such products help businesses understand the ever-changing consumer behavior and new trends.

Solum is also expected to launch a much-awaited addition to its product lineup, a mobile-friendly Electronic Shelf Label solution called Aims Link, which will be sold exclusively on solumstore.com