Hy-Vee puts focus on digital transformation and sustainable retail with deployment of VusionGroup tech

Hy-Vee has implemented a series of digital solutions from VusionGroup to help streamline the shopping experience for its customers.

The employee owned chain of supermarkets in the Midwestern and Southern United States has more than 280 locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, with stores planned in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.

It is using the VusionGroup platform to digitalise more than 230 of its stores, which are now able to update product prices and data automatically, rather than the labour intensive process of printing and hanging paper price tags.

The technology allows it to update prices and product information in real-time.

Additionally, the digital shelf tags let employees focus on other tasks such as replenishment, merchandising, and most importantly customer service.

Hy-Vee will also be able to leverage other solutions designed by VusionGroup to enable a better, more sustainable retailing model:

1. Intra-day promotions to reduce waste on perishable items, by leveraging the electronic shelf labels deployed in stores and the VusionCloud platform to lower prices automatically. Products with a shorter shelf life can quickly be marked down to further reduce food waste.

2. In-store fulfilment, through the flashing LEDs on each electronic shelf label that help guide employees during their order preparation process. Through this capability, Hy-Vee can increase the productivity when fulfilling online orders.

Hy-Vee automatically connects VusionGroup IoT to existing wireless access points, eliminating the need for additional hardware in the store.

“Partnering with VusionGroup helps us streamline multiple operations in our stores, and makes the labelling process significantly better for both our customers and our employees,” says Brian Young, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Hy-Vee.

“The ease of use of the technology, coupled with the sustainability benefits we’ve realised, make VusionGroup’s tools a winning solution for us.”

“The digitalisation of its stores enables Hy-Vee to create a richer experience for employees and shoppers, led by human first innovation,” says Philippe Bottine, CEO North America and Group Deputy CEO at VusionGroup. 

“Through automation, the retailer has more time to connect with today’s consumer where and when they need it. As physical commerce is evolving rapidly, VusionGroup’s mission is to help retailers such as Hy-Vee to thrive and achieve their digital transformation.”