Staffless grocery store chain Lifvs deploys Pricer ESL solution

European unmanned grocery stores venture, Lifvs, has selected Pricer’s electronic shelf label (ESL) solution to power staffless pricing.

Lifvs launched its first store in 2019 and its estate now spans 27 outlets.

Unlike rivals Amazon Fresh and China’s Auchan Minute concept, both of which focus on urban convenience, the Swedish startup targets remote communities that have lost their local shops over recent years.

Thanks for recognizing Lifvs and our now chain of unmanned stores https://t.co/K8sOOgnQ3V
— Lifvs (@LifvsSverige) December 2, 2020

Installed in standardised, container formats, shoppers open the store via an app, which is then used to scan the barcodes on ESLs and pay for items.

Daniel Lundh, Founder and COO, Lifvs, says: “Our software is connected to various IoT devices, that is, all the technology in the physical store – everything from shelf labels, doors, the alarm and screens to temperature controlled boxes. From the start, we knew we wanted ESLs to be able to control the system from the central office.”

Implementing cloud-based SaaS solution Pricer Plaza, which powers the likes of dynamic pricing and promotions, shelf-edge imaging and optimisation and replenishment, Lifvs can control pricing centrally in real-time.

The ESL’s open API infrastructure connects to Lifvs’ unified commerce platform, which includes built in AI that lets the chain anticipate when it needs to place orders to minimise out-of-date products and food waste. It also feeds in data to inform stock assortment and ranging.

“We’re building a chain in which we need to be agile with our rotation of goods,” Lundh adds.

“We should be able to quickly exchange and adapt our selection. It’s easy to load a new item into the system and the information automatically goes directly to the ESLs in the stores, removing unnecessary labour hours for store staff.”

“Our entire business model is based on being able to retain a price level for consumers, which means we need to be able to control costs.”

“We do that through a smaller store with lower rent and fewer staffed hours, which lowers our staffing costs… and everything the staff doesn’t have to do lowers our ongoing operating costs. By creating economies of scale, we should be able to survive on a smaller customer base than traditional stores were able to do.”