M&S makes major aisle change to scrap classic shopping feature

It’s goodbye to the old ways (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) Marks & Spencer is modernising its stores with a major aisle change, potentially spelling the end of traditional price tags for customers. In a recent announcement, the supermarket revealed plans to introduce retail technology giant Vusion’s Connected Store platform. To start with, ‘a number of’ new stores will be fitted with Bluetooth-enabled electronic shelf labels (ESL) and smart infrastructure. And following this initial deployment, there could be ‘further rollout potential in the future’. According to the company, this technology ‘is designed to help connect store systems, product information and colleague activity more effectively.’ Essentially, the upgrade means that instead of paper labels on the side of shelves, shoppers will instead see mini e-paper screens. The new technology will begin in new M&S stores before being widely rolled out (Picture: Vusion) Instead of humans needing to manually replace paper price tags, the new system automates price updates via the cloud. It also boasts ‘location-aware capabilities,’ such as flashing digital labelsto help staff locate products more efficiently, with some models featuring tools like AI inventory monitoring cameras and restock alerts. Roy Horgan, CEO UK & Ireland at Vusion, said: ‘We are pleased to be working with M&S as it continues to invest in its store estate and colleague experience. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘Our Connected Store platform is designed to help retailers improve operational execution while providing the infrastructure to support future innovation.’ What do you think about M&S replacing traditional price tags with electronic shelf labels? I like the idea, it seems efficient.Check I'm skeptical, I prefer traditional paper labels.Check I'm indifferent to this change.Check Toby Pickard, a retail futures senior partner from the Institute of Grocery Distribution, previously told Metro that ESL technology can be utilised to make physical shopping ‘more efficient.’ One of the main benefits is that it can help ‘free up’ employees from tasks so that they can spend more time on the shop floor helping customers and help retailers ‘better run their stores’. It’s set to make employees’ job easier, so they have more time to help customers (Picture: Getty Images) ‘This flashing light technology can also be used to help store associates pick online orders faster on the shop floors,’ he added. ‘In some markets, we have even seen this technology being offered to shoppers to help them find products that they are looking for, especially in parts of the store where there can be a lot of similar looking products like the wine aisle.’ Toby continued: ‘We believe that retailers will continue to push ahead with ESL technology and other in-store technology, as there are numerous benefits that digitalising the physical store can offer to them as well as brands and consumers.’ Which other supermarkets have implemented smart technology? The move follows similar digital retail deployments across the UK high street as major supermarkets and department stores race to embrace smart tech and AI-powered solutions. Last year Co-op started rolling out ESLs in its stores, becoming the first major supermarket to utilise them specifically for customer engagement. Its shelf labels contained what is known as NFCs; built-in near-field communication chips which can be read by most smartphones, meaning shoppers could tap their devices on the labels and automatically load up Co-op’s membership sign-up page. Tesco introduced influencer videos in-store (Picture: Danone) Tesco also recently revealed plans to start playing influencer videos on screens in stores, and to have human-sized robots roaming its aisles, while Morrisons began introducing AI smart trolleys in August. However, supermarkets’ developments with technology and AI haven’t all been smooth sailing. In August, Sainsbury’s was forced to suspend its facial recognition after a customer was wrongly accused of being a shoplifter. And with supermarket fridges being targeted in a series of cyber attacks over the past few weeks, it’s understandable shoppers may be wary. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Cheap £1.99 supermarket own-brand Yorkshire puddings officially crowned better than Aunt Bessie’s Arrow MORE: What’s going on with supermarket limes and oranges amid ‘unfit for consumption’ warning Arrow MORE: AI teacher leaves people confused as it fails to spell simple word