Fujitsu (SA), the local subsidiary of the world`s third largest IT company, is piloting a method of shelf labelling that updates shelf pricing using data transmitted from a PC-based server via existing fluorescent lighting. The technology is known as electronic shelf labelling (ESL).
This follows Fujitsu and Australian-based retail technology company ILID securing a major contract with Australian retailer Ritchies. This is the first contract worldwide to take electronic shelf labelling beyond pilot phase or limited roll-out.
The software will be demonstrated at Africa`s Big Seven Exhibition at Gallagher Estate from Sunday 24th to Tuesday 26th July 2005 at Gallagher Estate. The exhibition runs from 10h00 to 18h00 daily.
The ILID technology is being piloted by a number of retail companies around the world including Kmart Australia, Co-op Supermarkets UK and Welcome (DFI) Hong Kong. ILID`s Kmart contact includes two installations of over 40 000 labels each, although still in limited roll-out phase.
The benefits of ESL include automatic price updating, accuracy and reduced labour costs. Labels are more durable lasting up to ten years, and price specials can be run at short notice by simply updating prices on the PC server.
Mal Cameron, company secretary of Ritchies said, "We chose the ILID solution because of its leading edge technology that delivers operational efficiencies to our stores. Previously, we needed a team of staff to spend many hours manually updating paper price labels. Now all price updates can be done instantaneously."
Fujitsu (SA) MD Elvin de Kock said that while there has been some scepticism in the industry about other electronic shelf labelling technology, retailers using ILID have experienced problem-free installation and clear benefits in terms of process efficiency.
"We have a number of pilots in South Africa which are showing the positive benefits of electronic shelf labelling," he said.
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Fujitsu Services (South Africa) is part of the global IT Services and Solutions company Fujitsu Services Plc which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Japan, the third largest IT company in the world, with annual revenues of $38-billion and over 35 000 employees.
Fujitsu Services is a BEE company with its BEE partner Yard Capital holding 30% of Fujitsu Services locally.
Fujitsu Services (South Africa) has moved from being predominantly hardware focused to becoming an IT services and integration specialist, combining its in-house expertise with selected partners from the whole spectrum of the IT industry.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, Fujitsu Services (South Africa) has offices in Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
Previously, under the banner of ICL, the company has operated in South Africa since 1911.
Eject is the Internet Service Provider for Fujitsu Services (South Africa).
For more information please visit http://za.fujitsu.com
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