Best Buy moves ahead with ESL rollout

Best Buy will continue its ongoing implementation of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) in 2021.

The consumer electronics giant intends to deploy the ESL solution from Sweden-based digital shelf edge solutions provider Pricer in 119 stores. Best Buy has placed a roughly $13 million order with Pricer to begin implementing ESLs during the second quarter of 2021 and complete the rollout before the end of 2021.

In December 2019 and February 2020, Best Buy agreed to equip nearly 680 stores in the U.S. with Pricer’s ESL system during 2020 at a total value of around $92.5 million. However, a consequence of constraints to operate stores fully due to COVID-19, Best Buy and Pricer came to an agreement in April 2020 to reduce the scope of the project by 150 stores and delay the delivery of 40 stores into 2021.

Best Buy shifted all its stores to curbside pickup-only on March 22 on an interim basis in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The retailer began reopening stores on an appointment-only basis in May, and began admitting customers back in stores without appointment in June.