Irish retailers are facing one of the most challenging cost environments, ever. According to Newstalk’s Breakfast Business with Joe Lynam, retail pay has surged by 40% since 2020, with the National Minimum Wage set to reach €14.15 per hour by January 2026.
Recruitment specialists interviewed on the programme noted that retailers are now grappling with a delicate balance: staying compliant with wage legislation while remaining competitive and controlling operational costs. Joe spoke to Nikki Murran, Director of Grocery Retail at Excel, who pointed out that there has been about 7-8% inflation in that time, leaving a massive gap with the inflation in labour costs. And compounding the issue are rises across the costs of insurance, energy and retail crime.
This sharp rise in labour expenses is forcing retailers to rethink how their stores operate. How can they maintain high standards of pricing accuracy, customer experience, and operational efficiency without increasing staff hours? One proven answer is automating shelf pricing with DIGI Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs).
Rising Labour Costs Are Reshaping Retail Operations
Retailers are now dealing with:
- Higher payroll costs, driven by statutory wage increases
- Increased competition for skilled staff, especially in grocery and convenience retail
- Growing administrative burdens, from compliance to stock management
- The need to maintain competitive pricing, even as margins tighten
These challenges are not temporary. They represent a structural shift in the cost base of Irish retail. To stay profitable, retailers must find ways to reduce repetitive manual tasks and redeploy staff to higher‑value activities such as customer service and in‑store experience.
Where DIGI Electronic Shelf Labels Make the Difference
DIGI ESLs directly address many of the pain points raised in the Breakfast Business discussion. By digitising and automating price management, retailers can significantly reduce labour hours spent on routine tasks.
- Eliminate Manual Price Changes
Printed paper labels are a slow and resource-heavy piece of a store’s operations. They require staff to download prices, design, print, sort, distribute, and replace hundreds to thousands of labels daily or weekly. With DIGI ESLs, prices update automatically from the store EPoS, removing one of the most time‑consuming and inefficient tasks in retail operations, and freeing staff for more meaningful work.
- Ensure 100% Price Accuracy
Pricing errors are costly. They lead to customer complaints, compliance issues, and lost revenue. In a market where margins are under pressure, accuracy is not optional, it’s essential. With DIGI ESLs, you don’t need to worry about whether the prices on your shelves match the prices charged at the till.
- Reduce Operational Costs
While labour costs continue to rise, ESLs offer a long‑term cost‑saving solution. Retailers typically see:
- Fewer staff hours spent on price changes
- Lower printing and paper costs
- Reduced waste
- Improved promotional agility
These savings compound year after year, helping offset the wage increases highlighted in the podcast. DIGI customers report seeing a complete return on investment within 18 months of installing DIGI ESLs.
- Enable Faster, More Dynamic Pricing
With DIGI ESLs, retailers can react instantly to market changes, whether adjusting prices to match competitors, respond to supply fluctuations, or optimise margins. This agility can help protect the bottom line.
A Smarter, More Sustainable Future for Retail
Rising labour costs are here to stay. Retailers who embrace automation will be better positioned to manage these pressures while continuing to deliver excellent customer experiences.
DIGI Electronic Shelf Labels are not just a technology upgrade, but a strategic investment in operational efficiency, accuracy, and long‑term profitability.
As Irish retailers navigate this new economic reality, proven solutions like DIGI ESLs play a crucial role in helping them stay competitive, compliant, and future‑ready.
Listen to the Newstalk Podcast episode here or learn more about DIGI ESLs here.