Retail space Innovation: Intelligent shelves are Becoming the "new standard Configuration" for supermarket operations

In recent years, with the acceleration of digital transformation in the retail industry and the evolution of consumers' shopping habits, traditional supermarket shelves are undergoing a silent yet profound change. From a single display tool to an intelligent retail node integrating data analysis, dynamic display and inventory management, the role of shelves is being redefined.

In a recent interview, the marketing director of Jiangsu Jinyihao Metal Technology Co., Ltd. pointed out: "Modern supermarket shelves are no longer static 'metal racks', but intelligent terminals that can interact with consumers, provide real-time inventory feedback, and assist in operational decision-making." In recent years, the company has gradually integrated technologies such as RFID identification, electronic price tag systems, and dynamic lighting modules with traditional shelves, forming a smart display solution that can be adapted to different scenarios.

The demand for flexible customization has soared: Adapting to diverse consumption scenarios has become the key to competition

With the vigorous development of various retail formats such as convenience stores, specialty supermarkets, warehouse membership stores, and community fresh food stores, the "one-size-fits-all" standardized shelves have become difficult to meet market demands. Flexible, modular and quickly reconfigurable designs have become the mainstream trend in current shelf manufacturing.

"The fruit and vegetable racks we recently designed for a fresh food supermarket not only took into account the load-bearing and ventilation requirements, but also incorporated a spray preservation module and an optimized tilted visual display, reducing the loss rate by approximately 15%," said the head of the R&D department of Jinyihao. In recent years, the proportion of customized business of this company has been continuously rising. Especially in scenarios such as new retail stores and theme pop-up stores, shelves have become an important part of brand image and consumer experience.

Environmental protection and sustainability: Green shelf materials and circular design are drawing attention

Under the impetus of the "dual carbon" goals, the environmental friendliness of supermarket shelves has also become an important dimension for procurement considerations. Shelves made of recyclable steel, with eco-friendly coatings and modular detachable designs not only reduce long-term usage costs but also align with the ESG (environmental, Social and Governance) strategies of an increasing number of enterprises.

Jinyihao Company stated that its new generation of shelf product line has fully adopted water-based spraying technology and recyclable packaging. Some structural components have been standardized and interchanged, extending the overall service life. "Many customers now not only look at the price and load-bearing capacity, but also inquire about the carbon footprint and recycling ratio," the company's production director disclosed.

Industry Outlook: The shelf as a Service (SaaS) model may become the future direction

Some leading enterprises have begun to explore the "shelf as a service" model - supermarkets no longer purchase shelves all at once, but obtain a complete set of display solutions including hardware, intelligent systems, and data analysis through leasing or service subscription. This model reduces the initial investment of the store and also enables the shelves to be updated quickly along with the adjustment of the store's business format.

Industry analysts believe that in the future, supermarket shelves will further integrate deeply with the Internet of Things, AI visual recognition, and dynamic replenishment systems, becoming an indispensable "nerve endings" in the smart retail ecosystem. For traditional shelf manufacturing enterprises, accelerating the transformation from production-oriented to "production + service + data" oriented will be the key to grasping industry trends.