E Ink Extras

The ROI of E Ink in Retail

Written by Allison Hyers | 2025-09-26

Retail is evolving quickly, and technology is playing a big role in how stores operate. More than ever, ROI is the key measure of whether new solutions are worth the investment. Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) using E Ink technology deliver clear value by saving time, improving accuracy, and reducing the need for paper labels. The payoff is smarter operations today and a stronger foundation for the future.

 

Source: E Ink

 

Why ROI Matters for Retailers

Retailers today face tighter margins and rising customer expectations for accuracy and speed. Technology investments must prove their worth quickly, making ROI the central question when adopting new solutions. ESLs are transforming retail operations. By automating pricing updates and replacing paper labels, they unlock savings that directly impact profitability.

 

Source: E Ink

 

How E Ink ESLs Drive ROI

ESLs deliver strong ROI by addressing several core challenges in retail. They provide pricing agility, enabling chain-wide updates in minutes to support pricing strategies and increase revenue. ESLs also minimize errors and compliance risks by ensuring shelf and checkout prices always match, which improves accuracy and builds shopper trust. Finally, large-scale deployments accelerate ROI by spreading infrastructure costs across thousands of labels and leveraging centralized retail operations.

 

Source: E Ink

 

Beyond the Numbers: Additional Benefits

ROI isn’t just about cost savings — qualitative benefits enhance the business case:

  • Customer Satisfaction: Shoppers always see accurate pricing.
  • Promotional Agility: Promotions and markdowns can be executed instantly across multiple stores.
  • Sustainability: ESLs reduce paper waste and can last years on a single battery.

 

Scaling for Success

As ESL technology improves, ROI becomes even more attractive. Lower hardware costs, longer battery life, and easier system integration mean payback periods continue to shrink. Retailers adopting E Ink ESLs today are positioning themselves for operational efficiency, pricing flexibility, and long-term sustainability.

To dive deeper into how E Ink is shaping the future of retail, check out E Ink’s Bryan Chan on the RetailTech OmniTalk podcast.