Retail 2.0: Ambient Redefines the In-store Shopping Experience with Battery-free Electronic Shelf Labels

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, electronic shelf labels (ESLs) have emerged as the read-only price tags of today. These digital wonders spare retailers the headaches of managing paper tags. However, nestled within these ESLs are small coin cell batteries that impose limitations on the frequency of pricing updates and constrain the overall functionality of these labels. You know those batteries that end up in our landfills, leaking toxic chemicals into our water supplies. Yeah, those!

Enter Ambient, wielding biodegradable high power density PV cells, revolutionizing the world of ESLs

Ambient's vision transcends the boundaries of mere price displays. They foresee a future where ESLs transform into connected sensors, bursting with an abundance of data from the physical retail environment. These data-rich labels will generate dynamic customer insights, paving the way for smarter merchandising decisions that boost sales and elevate the consumer experience.

Bates Marshall, the CEO and Co-founder of Ambient Photonics, voiced his thoughts on this groundbreaking partnership with E Ink, saying, "As electronic shelf labels begin to see broader adoption, the impact of millions of discarded batteries is increasing. Our partnership with E Ink will reduce this environmental impact, while enabling a new breed of dynamic retail displays that businesses will utilize to optimize the retail experience without generating toxic battery e-waste."

The implications of this innovative collaboration extend far beyond price updates. The new ESLs will act as catalysts for generating invaluable customer experience data. Every interaction within the retail space will be captured: customer flow, dwell times, physical product engagement, and even buy/pass outcomes for each product on every shelf. And it doesn't stop there—environmental data like temperature and light levels will also be part of the equation. With tens of thousands of sensors per store, retailers will be empowered to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and unlock unprecedented insights and optimization opportunities.

Tim O'Malley, AVP of the US Regional Business Unit, expressed his excitement, stating, "Our collaboration with Ambient will bring a super-charged, multi-functional, and sustainable ESL solution to the Retail 2.0 market. Together we will empower retailers to make data-driven decisions and redefine the consumer experience within their stores on a minute-by-minute basis."

With Ambient's visionary technology and E Ink's expertise, a new era dawns upon the retail landscape. ESLs will transcend their traditional role, becoming the lifeblood of data-driven retail optimization, all while promoting sustainability and a brighter future for both businesses and consumers alike.

About Ambient Photonics

California-based Ambient Photonics was founded in 2019 to bring low-light energy harvesting technology to mass scale. Ambient’s technology originally developed at the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, and funded at inception by Cthulhu Ventures LLC, is backed by leading investors like Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF), Tony Fadell’s Future Shape and I Squared Capital. The company’s low-light solar PV cells deliver ground-breaking power density from a broader spectrum of ambient light, inspiring a new era in connected device form and function. Ambient works with leading global smart home and IoT device manufacturers on embedded solar cells to deliver superior design possibilities, performance, sustainability and consumer convenience. Explore endless power at: ambientphotonics.com.

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