How ESL Works
What is an Electronic Shelf Label (ESL)?
An Electronic Shelf Label is a small electronic display (usually e-paper) that replaces paper price tags in retail stores. It shows the product name, price, barcode, or promotions. The data on the label is sent wirelessly from a central server to the labels on the shelf.
Key Benefits of ESL
For Your Business
- •Instant price updates across all stores with 100% accuracy
- •Save 90% staff time on price management
- •Enable dynamic pricing and automated promotions
- •Real-time inventory tracking and management
- •Significant cost savings on paper and printing
- •Valuable customer behavior analytics
For Your Customers
- •Guaranteed price accuracy at checkout
- •Clear, easy-to-read product information
- •Real-time promotion visibility
- •Enhanced shopping experience with LED guidance
- •Consistent pricing across online and offline channels
Environmental Impact
- •Eliminate paper waste from price tags
- •Reduce carbon footprint
- •Energy-efficient e-ink technology
How ESL Communication Works
The system consists of a cloud server (accessed via web browser), a base station/router, and the ESL labels themselves. The server stores all product and price information and sends it to the labels via the router.
Communication Frequency
Most ESLs use the 2.4 GHz ISM band, the same band as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Why 2.4 GHz?
- →Low power consumption, which saves battery life.
- →Small antenna size, allowing it to fit in a tiny label.
- →Globally license-free band.
Protocols Used
Kertasa uses proprietary 2.4 GHz radio protocols designed for low-power, one-to-many broadcasting, rather than standard Wi-Fi which is too power-hungry.
One-to-Many Communication
A single router/base station can manage thousands of ESLs within 15 metre radius. When you update prices from the software, the base station broadcasts updates over 2.4 GHz. Each label has a unique ID, so only the correct label updates.
Power Efficiency
With out proprietary technology, our ESLs run on coin-cell batteries that last 10 years (2 updates everyday).
Router / Base Station Placement
The ESL router is a special gateway that talks to labels over 2.4 GHz, not a regular Wi-Fi router. It has a coverage of about 15 meters indoors, and stores may need multiple gateways for full coverage.
Data Flow Example
- 1Store manager changes price in the cloud platform.
- 2Cloud sends the update to the ESL gateway/router in the store.
- 3Gateway transmits the update over 2.4 GHz.
- 4The correct label receives the update and refreshes its e-paper screen.
- 5Customers see the new price instantly.
