Canadian hardware and building supply chain Laferté Renovation Center is deploying Pricer electronic shelf labels (ESLs) to digitise its stores.

Supplied by Quebec-based JRTech, the ESLs let the chain change prices simultaneously across its stores. The automated pricing system also helped the chain manage its in-store operations.

“Given the number of products we have to manage, we were looking for a solution that could, on the one hand, simplify our operations and, on the other hand, allow us to respond rapidly and efficiently to the growing demands of our customers,” said Louis-Jacques Laferté, president of Laferté Renovation Center.

In their Drummondville store alone, the largest in the chain with a sales area of more than 5500m² and more than 25,000 products, it was essential for Laferté to invest in technology that could improve its operational efficiency, eliminate errors and provide the basis for its omnichannel platform.

“Pricer electronic labels allow us to focus more of our efforts on customer service and not on operational tasks like changing prices or putting up promotional posters,” said Patrick Lapointe, general manager of Laferté Renovation Center. “This is a considerable advantage in the current context of labour scarcity.”

Diego Mazzone, CEO of JRTech, added: “What impressed us most about Laferté was how they analysed the use cases for our electronic shelf label system. Not only did they utilise our Pricer labels to facilitate their operations, but they also altered their operations to make the most use of the features, power and speed of our ESLs. As a result, they were able to demonstrate a faster RoI than any other banner we have seen to date.”

Founded in 1960, Laferté Renovation Center is one of the most important renovation centres in Quebec. It sells more than 25,000 different products and materials.

Since 2008, JRTech has provided retailers with electronic products to improve the efficiency of their retail operations.