Canadian retail IoT firm Danavation Technologies has completed the first installation of its digital smart labels technology for Familiprix Pharmacy just outside of Montreal, Québec.

Initially, the provider of micro e-paper displays will install the smart labels at the Brossard Familiprix location. Based on success, there is potential to expand across additional Familiprix locations.

Familiprix is a Canadian group of independent pharmacies with over 400 locations and more than 6450 employees across Québec and New Brunswick generating retail sales of over a billion dollars.

The chain, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020, says it is the only banner in Québec that is 100% owned by its pharmacists. It has its own prescription software, PoS software, mobile applications, digital platforms and distribution centres in Québec.

“We are very excited about this first installation of our digital smart labels in Québec, and to be partnered with a sizeable, prestigious and independently-owned company like Familiprix,” said John Ricci, CEO of Danavation. “Management at the Brossard Familiprix location are eager to adopt further automation into their pharmacy, thereby shifting employee time from tedious manual price changes to high-value customer interactions focused on increasing sales and enhancing service.”

Danavation provides micro e-paper displays to organisations across North America. The digital smart labels are powered by IoT automation technology and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) software to help companies across various sectors automate labelling, price, product and promotions in real time, enhancing data accuracy and improving performance by reducing labour costs and low productivity associated with traditional labour-intensive workflows.

Familiprix, with its headquarters in Québec, has 406 pharmacies.

• Danavation has also installed the smart labels at an IGA grocery store 80km northwest of Montreal.

Acquired by Sobeys through the purchase of the Oshawa Group in 1998, the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) primarily operates in Quebec with over 270 independent affiliated grocers across the province. Danavation anticipates starting the installation before the end of August 2021.

Sobeys is one of two national grocery retail and distribution companies in Canada, with more than 1500 corporate and franchise stores across the country including retail banners such as Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods and Lawtons Drugs. In addition to this IGA installation, Danavation is collaborating with Sobeys to help enhance the retail experience for customers while improve pricing and label efficiencies in select stores.