The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs)
What Are ESLs?
Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) are digital price tags that replace traditional paper labels on retail shelves. They automatically display product pricing, promotions, and other information, all controlled from a central system.
In simple terms, ESLs eliminate the need for staff to manually print and replace shelf tickets. Updates happen in real time, ensuring accuracy and consistency across every shelf.
At FutureShelf, our ESL solution leverages award-winning technology to wirelessly update prices and promotions in seconds, keeping your store up-to-date without any of the manual hassle.
How ESLs Work
Here’s a quick look at what goes on behind the scenes:
Central management – The ESL system connects directly to your POS or back-office system. When a price or promotion changes, the new data is sent to the ESL platform automatically.
Wireless communication – The system uses radio frequency to send updates from the Access Points (installed in the ceiling) to the ESLs on the shelf.
Instant display updates – Each label receives the new information and updates its display within seconds.
Monitoring and maintenance – The system continuously checks that all labels are up to date, while also tracking battery levels and other metrics.
The entire process is automatic, reliable, and requires no staff involvement.
The Benefits of ESLs
Electronic Shelf Labels bring a range of operational and commercial benefits to retailers:
Save time and labour – Staff no longer spend hours updating paper tickets. Price changes and promotions are applied instantly across the store.
Improve pricing accuracy – Prices on the shelf always match the register, reducing customer complaints and compliance risks.
Enable faster promotions – Run time-sensitive offers or adjust prices on the fly to stay competitive.
Enhance the customer experience – Clean, consistent shelf edges and clear digital displays create a more professional look in-store.
Boost staff satisfaction – By removing repetitive tasks, staff can focus on serving customers and other managerial activities.
Reduce waste – Say goodbye to paper, printing, and constant re-labelling. ESLs are a sustainable, long-term solution.
Strong ROI – With the right store setup, many retailers see payback within the first year through operational efficiencies and improved pricing strategies.
Implementation: Retrofit & New Store Installs
Whether you’re fitting out a new store or upgrading an existing one, ESLs can be easily implemented, and here at FutureShelf we manage the entire process for you.
For Existing Stores (Retrofit)
We develop an installation plan detailing the hardware requirements, including all accessories and fittings.
AP base/s (1 per 30m2) are installed and tested.
Installation of accessories (shelf rails, hook attachments, single label fixtures etc) and ESLs, including binding each label to their corresponding product. This takes 1-3 days, depending on the size of the store and can be performed alongside standard operations.
System testing and staff training.
For New Stores
We brief your shopfitters or contractors to install the AP base/s (a simple electrical task).
Accessories and labels are installed as shelving goes in, minimising disruption.
ESLs are bound to products once they are on the shelf.
System testing and staff training.
Because FutureShelf manages the rollout end-to-end, your team can focus on day-to-day operations while we take care of the technical details.
ESLs in the Australian Retail Market
Australian retailers are quickly realising the benefits of ESL technology. Adoption is growing across bottle shops, pharmacies, hardware stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores, as retailers look to improve efficiency and maintain price accuracy.
With rising labour costs and frequent promotions, ESLs provide a reliable way to manage storewide price updates without extra workload. They’re particularly popular in pharmacy and liquor, where compliance, frequent catalogue changes, and promotional pricing make automation a huge time saver.
Retailers implementing ESLs in Australia typically see:
Significant time savings and reduced labour costs
Improved accuracy and compliance
Faster promotion rollouts
Enhanced store appearance and customer experience
And with battery lifespans of up to 15 years, ESLs deliver long-term returns for retailers.
Why FutureShelf
FutureShelf is Australia’s leading ESL solutions provider. With over 11 years of experience, we were the first to bring this technology to the Australian market and continue to lead the field, delivering end-to-end solutions for retailers nationwide. As the approved supplier for leading retail groups, we handle everything from design and installation to integration, training, and ongoing support.
Our ESL system is built for reliability, scalability, and ease of use, helping retailers save time, reduce costs, and modernise store operations.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in more information about ESLs for your store, please contact us or download our brochure.
