Richer, dynamic consumer information, Increased Promotion effectivity, Sales Volumes and Margins

The high quality (100 dpi) graphic screen of ZBD’s Smart Electronic Labels (SELS) can be used within the Electrical Sector to display a wide variety of consumer information about the product - as well as pricing, availability and competitor information.  The range of ZBD labels - 50, 300 and 500 - supports the mixed    needs of the Electrical environment: with displays for eurohook rack items through to free-standing          double-size format displays for high-value and large items.

With SELS it now makes sense to deploy a single, simple, electronic labelling solution throughout the store to give complete control of all product information, pricing and promotions at the touch of a button.

Installing electronic labels from ZBD is as simple as putting out the label with the product (a variety of     fixings    are provided) and connecting a small USB device to the Back-office PC.  Installation can be done during   normal hours without disruption, saving on cost and hassle.

Once in place the software solution provides simple integration, which means that Electrical retailers can    exploit the information and knowledge in existing systems, e.g. Detailed product data and comparative information, loyalty card information in the CRM system, inventory information or brand information from suppliers.

SELS gives Electrical Retailers unprecedented power and control to meet the demands of their customers       in an ever changing and increasingly competitive environment.

By providing complete control of exactly what customers see displayed next to the product, Electrical     retailers can now implement finely tuned and responsive merchandising strategies based on geographic, demographic and competitive information already held - and as it changes.

Sales volumes and margins can be increased or margins protected where necessary by implementing merchandising strategies such as:

• Dynamic competitive strategies:  Electronic goods is a highly competitive environment with increasingly well-informed ‘digital consumers’ having access to comparative data such as Which?, kelkoo and Pricerunner.  Retailers already respond to competitive pressures in certain geographies but today it is typically     a manual process, which is unresponsive to dynamic markets. With SELS retailers can respond to a competitor by store and by product, as required -     ensuring prices are neither too high or, equally importantly, too low.
• Automatic Competitor Price Display.  Prices offered by designated competitors can be displayed and updated as appropriate at the point of purchase on the SELS.  Equally text links to price comparison sites (such as Scope, going live in October 2008) can be displayed to provide richer comparative content.  Importantly the data displayed can be automated and dynamic as competitor positioning changes.
• End of Line markdown / promotion management.  Management of end-of-line products can be a complex and potentially costly activity. With SELS retailers    can automate the management and promotion of products nearing their end-date.  Business rules can be applied automatically per-store or according to a   global algorithm.
• Automatic reassignment of replacement goods: If an item becomes unavailable within the store for any reason the label can be automatically updated -     pointing the customer to suitable alternative – driven by the in-store inventory management and/or EPoS system. 
• Enhanced product information: With consumers becoming ever more brand-conscious SELS provide the ability to use brand information most effectively       where it can impact sales, and provides the possibility for the retailer to sell advertising space to the brands. In addition, key consumer data – such as power consumption and comparative value indicators – can be displayed, reassuring the customer and improving the all-important ‘customer experience’.
• Integrated media and messaging: By deploying SELS retailers can use fully integrated media throughout the store. For example, a promotion highlighted as     the customer enters the store can be reinforced on the label next to the product, reminding the customer of the promotion. The electronic labels provide the    store with the ability to make such promotions more targeted by allowing different promotions to be displayed at different times.

Reduce operational costs
Using paper tickets is a very labour intensive, error prone method of pricing and promoting products.  Until    now it has been the only really cost-effective method available to retailers.

With the introduction of SELS, ZBD provides a way for retailers to manage all the costs associated with    paper ticket management and streamline their operational processes effectively. For example: