To a modern shopper, a paper label raises many questions. Danavation’s Digital Smart Labels are smart enough to provide answers.

What a strange time it is to be a retailer. Just a decade ago, with online shopping on a steep ascent, everywhere you looked it seemed there was another breathless article foretelling the death of brick-and-mortar retail. Soon, they proclaimed, we would buy everything on the web and never step foot in another actual store. Today, coming off two years of intermittent lockdowns, it’s clearer than ever that no one actually wants that. We crave the human connection, the social interaction, the simple sneakers to floorboards experience of in-person shopping.

At the same time, consumers have grown accustomed to the convenience, the personalization, the agility, and the flexibility of digital storefronts, so their expectations of the shopping experience have shifted and grown more discerning. And, in an era of aggressive online price-matching and personal financial uncertainty, they aren’t willing to compromise on the sticker either, putting pressure on the already thin margins of many stores. All this while the cost of labour is skyrocketing and retailers are still struggling to make up revenue lost during the pandemic.

In short, customers demand that the doors stay open and the prices stay low while the shopping journey undergoes a thorough digital transformation. Simple, right?

In fact, it can be.

Where we’re going, the old maps won’t take us 

Surely it would be too much to ask that a single unobtrusive technology could lay the foundation for a complete revamp of the retail experience, meeting all the expectations of the modern digital shopper without obstructing the charm (or hurting the bottom line) of even the coziest shop. Right? Well, let’s talk about Digital Smart Labels, the technology that strikes at the heart of retail’s hidden engagement problem.

The labels in the store, whether they’re price tags or sales announcements or in-store navigation aids, are the informational hooks of the retail voyage, and comparing Canadian innovator Danavation’s micro e-paper Digital Smart Labels to traditional labelling is like comparing a full-featured modern internet-enabled GPS navigation system to a torn and coffee-stained folding roadmap bought at a gas station in 1992. Either might get you there, if there aren’t any unexpected surprises, but one is going to have you in a very different mood when (and if) you arrive.

The way information is packaged and delivered matters. Danavation’s Digital Smart Labels ensure that prices are always accurate with instantaneous point-of-sale synchronizing. They create an environment where the right information can always be presented in the right place at the right moment. They provide a context-appropriate gateway to remote resources like product reviews, inventory updates, and loyalty programs. But it’s not just the content they display. To quote Marshall McLuhan for a moment, the Digital Smart Labels are the message. They tell the customer by their very presence that this is an environment where information is vibrant and reliable. This is a store they can engage with on their terms.

“Today’s customers are getting younger, smarter, and faster,” says Danavation’s founder and CEO John Ricci. “They rely a lot on technology, and they’re very sharp and price-sensitive. As a retailer, you have to find a way to impress and engage them.”

An engaged customer is an empowered consumer

The little things make a big difference. And, though most labels are small, they play an outsized role as conduits of information. Out of date flyers, incorrect prices, mislabelled shelves, missing product information. Any one of these things can break the flow of shopping and send the customer to their phone, or to another store. Digital Smart Labels remove all these stumbling blocks in one fell swoop, while simultaneously cutting costs by easing the workload of employees, shrinking the carbon footprint of the store, and increasing the agility of operations. And interactions that were once a point of frustration and uncertainty become an opportunity for engagement, right there at the shelf.

“Engage customers at the shelf and they will buy more,” notes Ricci. And that’s not a trick. It’s what people want. They have spent enough time in their homes, shopping online. They’re getting back out into the world and going into stores now very much on purpose. People are there to shop, to engage, to buy. They just want it to be easy.

Technologies like Digital Smart Labels make the little things easy, so that your business can focus on the big things. Because that’s where you shine.

The post How Retail Can Step into the Future Without Leaving the Best of Itself in the Past appeared first on HiveInnovates.

A flexible, customizable food service POS system is a necessity in a competitive world where customer demand determines the future of the industry.

Having a flexible, customizable food service point-of-sale (POS) system has become a necessity in a competitive world where customer demand determines the future of hospitality. Givex is a company that can help restaurants adapt, evolve, and meet this challenge.

A POS solutions provider

GivexPOS is the platform of choice for some of the world’s largest brands, serving 113,000 locations in 110+ countries. It provides merchants with customer engagement, point-of-sale and payment solutions in a single platform, which integrates with 1000+ technology partners. 

The robust platform supports simple or complex gift card programs, customized loyalty programs, stored value or loaded tickets, a powerful omnichannel point-of-sale system with options that include fully integrated payment processing, kitchen display systems, inventory controls, labour management, kiosks, handheld ordering tablets, and merchant-skinned online ordering websites. 

Flexibility and customization are the key to success

A POS platform that supports clients by delivering on flexibility and customization is one of the most important features the food service industry needs in a fintech partner, particularly in a post-COVID-19 age. 

Hospitality Technology’s 2021 POS Software Trends Report: Accelerating Innovation, notes that, when it published its 2020 report, “Restaurant operators and solution providers were pushing POS software toward digital and online like never before, seeking to deliver convenience and efficiency to customers, whether in the dining room or off-premises. The pandemic and economic downturn of the past year only accelerated that trend, as restaurants scrambled to pivot to off-prem and meet customer demand for contactless transactions and efficiency, while ensuring as much ROI as possible.”

Working with an adaptable cloud-based POS system was one of the few ways merchants could quickly pivot their businesses to include omnichannel delivery, efficient third-party integration, and modules to allow for expansion and change.

During the pandemic, Meltwich, a Toronto-based fast casual chain with close to 30 locations, quickly moved to online ordering to meet customer demand for off-premises dining. It did so seamlessly, integrating Givex’s POS system into its delivery platform, offering uninterrupted service to its customers. And, because Givex’s platform provides customizable reports, campaign management templates, and an easy-to-use analytics tool, Meltwich was able to gain insights to enable it to implement system-wide changes efficiently.

A POS system that delivers on speed and quality

Clients have also found that working with a single source provider not only delivers customized solutions, but it also saves time and is cost-effective when the provider has all the resources needed to support the business under one platform.

Canadian coffee chain Second Cup, with more than 200 locations across Canada, was already using Givex for gift cards, loyalty programs and POS when Foodtastic — an operation with 650 restaurants across 21 brands — acquired it.

“When I joined Second Cup, I had only known Givex as a gift card solutions provider,” said Tom Hogan, VP of Foodtastic and Second Cup Canada. “As I started to integrate myself into the platform, I realized that a great point-of-sale system was just the tip of the iceberg.”

Givex worked to add historical data from the operation’s previous provider, offered full inventory management solutions, and integrated third-party providers into the customized platform, all within a tight deadline.

“Our existing POS was not supporting the growing needs of our business,” recalled Hogan. Givex was given a deadline of December 31, 2020, to complete the project. “With having to source, train and deploy technicians across the country, deal with different infrastructure at each location, and manage different cafe partner expectations, I’m sure there were some sleepless nights for the team at Givex. Through it all, they remained steadfast in hitting the mark.”

Since project completion, Hogan has seen a significant uptick in efficiency and speed of service across Second Cup’s stores.

A bright future

In the fall of 2021, Foodtastic selected Givex as its point-of-sale and customer engagement platform across all its 21 restaurant brands. Rolling out Givex’s POS system and Customer WebSuite (CWS) solutions across its brands was a massive, yet successful, undertaking.

Andy Huang is the chief operating officer of The Captain’s Boil, another Givex restaurant client with over 20 locations. “For more than five years, GivexPOS and other Givex technologies have helped improve our operations, from the kitchen display system ensuring that our food is served hot, to the robust inventory and recipe application helping control our food costs. In addition, its system seamlessly integrated with a third-party app to help manage our labour costs, and we’re very pleased with the preliminary results of the loyalty program we recently implemented with Givex.”

By demonstrating its ability to adapt to the changing landscape and offer flexible and innovative technology throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Givex was able to expand its robust tech suite and partner with new international clients over the past year, increasing its total number of customer locations to more than 100,000. 

“It’s important for us to be able to provide our clients with up-to-date, innovative technology that makes the most sense for their immediate needs,” said Mo Chaar, Givex’s Chief Commercial Officer. “That includes offering our clients complete flexibility to ensure our solutions work with other vendors, as well as ensuring that we can offer seamless integration with those products — a move that is unprecedented within the industry.”

In 2021, Givex announced the launch of GivexPay, an integrated payment processing solution, enabling the company to enhance its service offering, gain access to the latest payment innovations, and scale globally with one integrated system. 

“With this launch, we can better serve merchants looking for an all-in-one management solution that includes gift card programs, customized loyalty programs, kitchen display systems, inventory controls, kiosks, handheld ordering tablets, online ordering apps, POS, and now payment processing, with the support and scalability they need to grow,” commented Chaar.

All in all, Givex provides owners and managers with a seamless and completely customizable POS experience. The same factors that make Givex easy to use and implement mean that scalability comes naturally for the systems. 

The post Delivering The Goods: A Flexible POS System Keeps The Food Industry Running Smoothly appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Danavation’s Digital Smart Label technology incorporates artificial intelligence and big data to help retailers optimize and automate their operations.

Times have been tough for retailers lately, and it has never been more vital to optimize operations and effectively engage consumers. Canadian company Danavation Technologies Corp., the only electronic shelf label provider that is founded and grounded in North America, understands this mandate deeply. John Ricci, Danavation’s founder and CEO, has over 30 years of experience in the retail industry. He noticed that the industry was missing something — a solution that met and exceeded the needs of modern businesses and tech-savvy consumers. And from that, Digital Smart Labels^TM were born.

A powerful intelligence tool for retailers

Digital Smart Labels^TM are digital e-paper displays that enable organizations — from grocers and retails to health care providers, logistics and manufacturing companies, and beyond — to automate labelling, pricing, product information, promotions, and work- flows in real time.

The benefits of Digital Smart Labels^TM include operational efficiencies, including reducing labour costs and automating tedious manual workflows, as well as giving customers a more engaging experience.

Another major bonus is the added insight that this technology bestows. Unlike legacy paper systems, Digital Smart Labels are designed to react in real time. The advanced engineering behind the digital e-paper displays, cloud architecture, software, and, in the near future, data-as-a-service intelligence tools gives retailers valuable insights into consumers’ buying habits. Coupled with parameters such as inventory levels, cost of goods sold, sales velocity, competitor offers, weather conditions, current events, and demand/price-sensitivity, Danavation’s innovative leveraging of AI, big data, and machine learning will allow retailers to automate pricing at the shelf, optimize their product mix, and forecast inventory.

Maximizing revenue with smart price automation

“Maintaining a digital strategy and a pricing strategy is huge in retail,” says Ricci, adding that retailers are currently facing labour shortages. To keep a competitive edge and maintain margins amidst fluctuating pricing and supply, smart retailers want the ability to automate at-the-shelf pricing. The software behind Danavation’s Digital Smart Labels^TM will soon allow for rapid response to competitor activities, adapting offers based on supply and demand plus market trends to increase basket sizes and maximize revenues. “We’re working toward a system where retailers’ pricing will always be competitive,” says Ricci. “There’ll be no need for someone to set price points. The system will do it for you based on data we’re compiling.”

Understanding customer buying habits

The insights provided by Danavation’s Digital Smart Labels will also help retailers optimize their product mix. “Our Digital Smart Labels^TM will capture customer data,” says Ricci. “How long are they staying at the shelf how long do they take to buy, what do they buy, when do they buy it? We’re capturing all that data for our retailers so they can map their stores more efficiently.”

An optimized assortment plan — the right products, at the right time, at the right shelf — helps retailers to meet ever-evolving consumer demand and preferences. Using Danavation’s AI and data insights, organizations can get a clear picture of how their revenue will be impacted by assortment decisions. They can then achieve revenue targets with the best-performing product mix by market, store format, shopper segment, or even planogram.

How long are they staying at the shelf, how long do they take to buy, what do they buy, when do they buy it? We’re capturing all that data for our retailers so they can map their stores more efficiently.

Forecasting demand, the smart way

Digital Smart Labels^TM insights will also enable retailers to more effectively forecast demand. This will reduce out-of-stock events, optimize inventory ordering, increase profit margins, and mitigate excess inventory. It will also help to reduce waste, as a huge portion of global food waste is due to grocers’ forecasting and supply chain inefficiencies.

As we’ve all observed firsthand during the pandemic, the digital transformation of our society has shifted into fast-forward. This shift is affecting all industries. We’re working remotely and doing more online, and the acceleration of digital marketing and the automation of business processes across all industries are happening at a higher speed than ever before. Retailers and grocers are witnessing the shift in real time, too. It’s time for us all to enter the digital age.

The post Using AI and Big Data to Bring Retailers Into the Digital Age appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Danavation’s industry-leading technology is modernizing and digitizing a variety of industries, from retail to healthcare.

Entering Danavation’s corporate headquarters in Woodbridge, ON, you notice something special: the office feels sleek and modern with its Zen Room and tech labs, but also very Canadian. With reclaimed black walnut live-edge tables and many pieces of Indigenous artwork, our country’s unique culture and heritage are unmistakably emblazoned on Danavation’s office.

“We like promoting our Canadiana roots,” said founder and CEO John Ricci. Danavation is proud to be Canadian, and Canada should be proud of Danavation, too. As one of the companies leading the way in digital retail, Danavation is helping to secure our country’s future as innovators and trailblazers in the digital space.

Danavation is helping to secure our country’s future as innovators and trailblazers in the digital space.

Bringing retailers into the digital age

Danavation Technologies Corp. is a leading provider of micro e-paper displays in North America. The company’s state-of-the-art Digital Smart Labels enable companies to automate labelling, pricing, information, promotions, and workflows in real time.

When Ricci started Danavation, he had one goal in mind: to bring retailers into the digital age. With over 30 years of experience in the retail industry, he’d seen it all, except for one thing — a solution that met and exceeded the needs of modern businesses and tech-savvy consumers. And from that, Digital Smart Labels were born.

“We’re the only company in the electronic shelf label world that was grounded and founded in Canada,” said Ricci. “We design and engineer our hardware and software internally, right here in Canada.” This homegrown approach gives its customers an unmatched level of service, with on-site technical support and 24/7 availability, plus peace of mind in terms of security and privacy.

Transforming industries across the board

Danavation is known primarily for its work in the retail and grocery space, but its Digital Smart Labels also serve healthcare facilities, warehousing and distribution companies, military supply chains, animal services and shelters, and more.

“We live in a day and age where access to information in real time is really important,” said Ricci. “We started with automating pricing, but Digital Smart Labels are great for anywhere it’d be beneficial to have information updated in real time.”

Whether through updating and modernizing hospitals and long-term care facilities or automating workflows for logistics and manufacturing companies, Danavation’s technology is helping to transform a variety of industries.

Danavation’s platform-as-a-service effectively meets the needs of Industry 4.0 or the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) — the ongoing automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices. The company’s Digital Smart Labels enable real-time data updates, while NFC/RFID Smart Tags, IoT Smart Sensors, video analytics, and biometric systems all help Danavation to streamline connectivity, analytics, efficiency, and the customer experience.

Leading Canada’s digital transformation

Between its experienced leadership team and game-changing IoT technology, Danavation is facilitating digital transformation across industries.

“We preach three wins: operational efficiency, consumer-engaging features, and revenue generation,” said Ricci.

There’s also the sustainability piece to consider — in removing paper and plastic displays, Digital Smart Labels are a smart environmental choice. “We maintain a clear ESG commitment by advocating for environmental sustainability through significantly reduced paper use,” said Ricci. Canada is working hard to move in the direction of environmental sustainability, and Danavation is leading the way.

Digital Smart Labels are also a great choice when it comes to post-COVID considerations. Digital displays take away touchpoints, keeping retail spaces, hospitals, and other facilities safer and more hygienic for consumers and staff.

Excelling today while planning for the future

The team at Danavation has a variety of innovations in the pipeline. “Our future growth profile is expected to be supported by the continued development of new proprietary products and services,” said Ricci.

Upcoming developments currently in the works include larger-format products, multi-coloured technology, and exciting new software features to better engage shoppers at the shelf, including improved graphics and augmented reality features.

“Customers are more product-savvy in this day and age, and there’s a real thirst for knowledge,” said Ricci. “Why not try to engage them and help them make educated buying decisions? This is a great way for retailers to build up their customer base and loyalty.”

The post Danavation Is Transforming the Digital Space and Making Canada Proud appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Digital Smart Labels are transforming the grocery shopping experience and giving grocers a cost-saving and efficient way to engage consumers.

The retail landscape is changing rapidly in North America, with tech-savvy consumers demanding more from their shopping experiences — and grocery stores are no exception. Consumers want seamless convenience, impeccable customer service, and engaging experiences. Digitization plays a big role in this, and Danavation’s Digital Smart Labels are leading the way in reimagining grocery stores.

The smart new tech that’s disrupting the grocery industry

Digital Smart Labels are micro e-paper displays that enable companies across various sectors, including grocery retailers, to automate their labelling, pricing, product information, and promotions in real time. The unique innovation is a product of Danavation Technologies Corp., a leading Canadian tech company that provides Digital Smart Labels to organizations across North America.

Digital Smart Labels are small but mighty. This state-of-the-art technology, driven by cutting-edge IoT automation technology and proprietary software developed by Danavation, is modernizing the grocery store landscape and disrupting the market. In boosting sales, cutting costs, engaging shoppers, and enabling quicker responses to competitor activities, Digital Smart Labels are well on their way to shaping the future of grocery.

Importantly, modern customers increasingly expect such experiences — ones that are seamless, convenient, and highly engaging.

Giving customers a convenient, beneficial, and engaging experience

Digital Smart Labels allow grocery retailers to give customers an enhanced shopping experience. More and more, customers are using this concept of experiences to differentiate between stores, brands, and products — when grocery shopping, they’re not just buying food anymore, they’re buying an experience. Grocers should consider how they can provide shoppers with experiences that teach and enrich them, making their lives better and easier.

“You can add things like augmented reality and QR codes to Digital Smart Labels,” says John Ricci, Founder and CEO of Danavation. “For example, you could allow customers to scan a wine label and see a drone view of the vineyard, the grapes, and the wine-making process. Now they’re not just buying the wine — they’re buying the experience.”

Other details that are important to consumers can also be displayed on Digital Smart Labels, including information about ingredients or dietary preferences, product reviews, in-store promotions, cross-promotion, and more.

Digital Smart Labels offer multiple benefits for grocery stores

Digital Smart Labels also increase grocers’ operational efficiency and free up employee time, so staff can focus on product education and offering valuable customer service — much more high-impact tasks than switching out labels manually. “You’ve got smart people working for you. Have them do things that are important to you rather than menial tasks,” says Ricci.

Digital Smart Labels sync with grocers’ ERP and POS systems, offering unprecedented speed and accuracy and vastly improving in-store efficiency and productivity. This cuts costs while also generating sales — an incredible boon for grocery stores, where profit margins can be low. Digital Smart Labels also allow grocers to avoid costly mispricing errors, to improve store organization and inventory control, and to streamline labour workflows.

The post Digital Smart Labels™: What They Are and Why You Need Them appeared first on HiveInnovates.

One of Canada’s most prestigious schools, Lazaridis, develops leaders who can adapt to a world of ever-growing complexity.

Businesses today face challenges such as building more resilience into their supply chain and engaging a remote workforce, says Micheál Kelly, Dean of the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University.

“We’re going to see a lot more disruption in the years to come and companies have to pay attention to the technologies and other organizations that are moving into their space,” says Kelly. “Companies know that they’ll have to improve resilience and build more agility into their operations.

“We’re thinking a lot about the future of business, especially in a post-COVID-19 environment, and how to embed this into the curriculum so students can adapt to a world of complexity.”

The Lazaridis School is preparing students for a rapidly- changing and complex global environment. The school develops leaders with skills in management and economics, advancing knowledge in these fields by supporting theoretical and applied research. A leader in entrepreneurship education, the Lazaridis School is a founding partner of Communitech.

The post Lazaridis School of Business & Economics Prepares Students for the Future of Business appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Digital innovation helped this insurance company respond to market conditions quickly and deliver exceptional service to its policyholders and brokers.

With roots going back 125 years, the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company is ready for the future.

​​

In 1896, 20 farmers in Wawanesa, MB, started a mutual insurance company to provide affordable insurance for their farming equipment. The company has grown into a diversified North American insurer, offering a range of home, automobile, business, and life insurance products.

Building on its strong history, Wawanesa has implemented innovative technology in order to digitize its business processes, respond to market conditions quickly, and launch new products in partnership with its brokers.

“We set out to transform the way our brokers and policyholders interact with us, keeping the focus on delivering excellent service,” says Tracy Riley, Chief Digital Officer at Wawanesa.

The Future of Retail collaborative is an opportunity to explore how local businesses can meet evolving customer expectations and thrive through this unprecedented change in the retail space, says Riley, adding, “We want to do our part to increase connectivity and help small businesses across Canada thrive.”  

The post Wawanesa Builds On Strong History to Get Ready for the Future appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Digital experience design helps businesses respond to the changing retail landscape and make smarter marketing decisions.

The retail landscape is in a constant state of evolution. Cineplex Digital Media (CDM) helps retailers harness technology to respond to the ongoing change by designing customized experiences that keeps their customers coming back.

“Shopping trends and behaviour continue to evolve and impact the way consumers interact with brands. Retailers need to be agile in order to respond, while providing a great customer experience,” says Fab Stanghieri, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of CDM.

A media and digital experience company, CDM provides retailers with data-driven digital signage and creative content solutions. As a division of Cineplex, CDM understands the challenges the retail industry faces today and is committed to the future of brick-and-mortar retail.

CDM’s machine-learning software platform, FLEX SmartEngine, allows its retail partners to analyze the effectiveness of their digital campaigns and to make decisions based on real-time, in-store information.

“By leveraging digital solutions, retailers can better understand their customers’ journeys and make smarter marketing decisions, providing shoppers with the right content at the right time,” says Stanghieri. “Acting on intelligent data enables personalized content that creates deeper, more meaningful experiences for customers.”

The post Data-Driven Insights Create Connected, Meaningful Customer Experiences appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Leading hearing care solutions provider Sonova is using digital technologies and interactive solutions to set a new industry standard.

Interactive retail experiences grab consumers’ attention and increase opportunities to educate them about products and services.

​​

Sonova is a leading provider of hearing aids, cochlear implants, wireless communication products, eSolutions, and professional audiological care. It’s using interactive experiences and innovative products and services to change the retail landscape for audiology stores.

Sonova brand Schoonenberg opened the world’s first interactive audiology store, World of Hearing, in December 2018 in the Netherlands. The store demonstrates the added value of high-end hearing aids through tangible experiences, including the option to drop in for an audiological consultation without an appointment and to try out hearing aids in typical virtual situations, as well as the opportunity to immediately test them in real life. Sonova formed an Innovation Lab in partnership with Communitech almost two years ago to prototype concepts, conduct user testing, and develop solutions to create the future of assisted hearing.

“Knowing that our customers have been heavily affected by COVID-19, we’re thinking about how future retail experiences may be shaped,” says Michael Clewley, the lab’s director, adding that projects include no-touch digital solutions, such as assessing hearing problems using speech sounds delivered via mobile technologies and an app that involves family members in hearing rehabilitation.

The post Interactive, Engaging Experiences Are Shaping the Future of Retail appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Interac is helping retailers prepare as consumers seek more choice in digital payments.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Canada’s digital shift, changing how consumers shop, pay, and move money. In fact, a recent Interac survey found that more than half (53 percent) of Canadians are using digital payments more frequently during the pandemic. Seventy-two percent of survey participants between the ages of 25 and 34 say they won’t go back to using cash when the pandemic is over.

Interac knows that small businesses must be prepared for a digital-first ecosystem as consumer preferences shift. This means offering consumers the choice to pay where and how they want, whether checking out online or making a purchase in-app, in-store, or curbside. Businesses who don’t evolve to meet Canadians’ needs risk losing sales, trust, and loyalty from consumers. 

“While no organization can predict the future, Interac is here to help Canadian small businesses best prepare and respond to it. That’s why we chose to lead the Future of Retail collaborative through Communitech,” says Oscar Roque, Vice President of Strategy and Emerging Solutions at Interac. “Working with industry leaders through the Future of Retail collaborative promotes faster learning, reduces uncertainty, and helps us explore how emerging technology can create positive change for Canadians.”

The post COVID-19 Has Accelerated the Digital Shift and Businesses Need to be Ready appeared first on HiveInnovates.