HY-VEE has confirmed that it will implement price changes on a per-item basis at hundreds of its locations across the country.
The supermarket chain recently partnered with VusionGroup, a retail technology company, to carry out the update.
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VusionGroup confirmed that Hy-Vee would soon use its electronic shelf labels for merchandise in 230 stores in a announcement on Wednesday.
The tags are equipped with blinkers and can be configured with automated promotions.
Customers will benefit from digital labels through a more streamlined shopping experience, according to VusionGroup.
They can identify deals and see price changes in real time, rather than having to wait or potentially miss a sale.
The company also said Hy-Vee staff will see greater efficiency with digital labels.
This will reduce paper usage and prevent employees from having to go through the time-consuming process of relabeling items when prices change.
Instead, Hy-Vee staff can direct their focus to customer service, merchandise replenishment and other tasks, according to the announcement.
TO GET TOGETHER
VusionGroup also noted that Hy-Vee will use “intraday promotions” with the new digital tags across its 230 stores.
The promotion automatically reduces prices on perishable goods to help ensure items are sold before they spoil.
It’s unclear exactly when the price tags will be applied at the 230 U.S. locations.
Still, Hy-Vee’s decision comes on the heels of a similar update from Walmart after testing digital price tags at a store in Texas.
Walmart confirmed it would expand the tags to at least 2,600 stores by 2026 due to the successful trial.
At least 1,400 locations are expected to see the tags by the end of the year.
The retailer cited similar benefits, such as increased employee productivity and time spent helping customers.
Walmart Digital Tags
Walmart issued the following statement to The US Sun regarding digital tags.
“Walmart’s pricing strategy and business model continues to be Everyday Low Prices (EDLP).”
“Our new digital shelf labels (DSLs) are a technology tool to communicate these prices in stores and to streamline associate tasks, including price updates, stocking shelves and selecting products for online ordering.
“Digital shelf labels improve our employee productivity by simplifying tasks, and this allows employees more time to support customers.
“Customers will experience the benefit of increased support and customer service.
“Walmart continues to be a people-led, technology-driven omnichannel retailer, and we are excited to enhance customer and associate experiences with new technology and productivity tools in our stores.”
PRICE PROMISE
Greg Cathey, senior vice president of transformation and innovation at Walmart, also addressed customer concerns that stores with digital price tags could discreetly engage in price gouging or dynamic pricing.
“There’s no way this is going to be the price one hour, the next hour it won’t be,” Cathey said at a recent Walmart shareholder meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Buyers still fear the worst.
“They will raise the price after you buy it,” fumed one customer in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Another shopper called the change “very annoying.”
A third said it was “literally the worst”.
Other retailers have come under fire recently for alleged price hikes and overcharging.
A Costco customer canceled his membership after being a customer for 20 years due to complaints of rising costs.
In June, a Kroger shopper also alleged he was overcharged $400 for grocery items that were allegedly not delivered.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
