Compo

The production technology of price labels developed Compo on the basis of electronic ink (e-ink) was for the first time implemented in 2014, and on passed pilot tests in large retail networks of Russia.

Start of commercial deliveries of electronic price labels to the first clients is planned for the 4th quarter 2018. According to the CEO of the company Alexander Belous, use of this technology will allow to increase an indicator of a goods turnover of retail networks by 3-5%.

"In the conditions of difficult competitive struggle between retail networks implementation of digital technologies of dynamic pricing will allow to get powerful benefit. Electronic price labels in retail allow to increase significantly cost efficiency, to automate data collection, accounting and planning, – Alexander Belous comments. – Besides, such technical solutions create space of opportunities for implementation of additional functions, for example, for implementation of navigation of buyers to goods or advertizing".

Electronic price labels of foreign production which are used in the Russian retail are distributed not really widely because of absence in the market of effective technological solutions: they differ in uniformity and do not allow to adapt these systems for needs of specific retail network. Meanwhile the Russian technology allows to reduce cost value of electronic price labels, has sufficient flexibility for adaptation under requirements of the specific customer and allows addition of already purchased and set products with new features without replacement of the equipment.

According to Alexander Belous, it is not just about electronic price labels, and about full automation of trading floors though electronic price labels are a flagman and most mass product during trade intellectualization today. They not only replace the paper price label and reflect the relevant cost and information on goods, but also interact with the buyer directly in the course of purchase in full accordance with global trends in automation.

In addition to cooperation with the Russian operators of networks of retail, Compo has representations abroad and conducts intensive negotiations on an entry into the Chinese, Iranian markets and also on the organization of sales network in neighboring countries.

2018

Serial production of electronic price labels

The Compo company with assistance of 'VEB of the Innovation' starts serial production of electronic price labels for the Russian customers, considerably expanding a product line for automation of a trading floor. From II quarter 2018 in addition to the 'shelf' price labels focused on installation in large networks FMCG in a line of the company there were autonomous price labels, more usual for the European consumers, capable to work fully in any place of a trading floor irrespective of infrastructure. This part of a line is focused, first of all, on shops of electronics and, to a lesser extent, on fashion-retail.

According to the CEO Compo Alexander Belous, at the moment production of the company is completely localized at capacities of the partner enterprises in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Also since December, 2017 own pilot production of the company functions.

'At early stages of work we relied on foreign partners as it allowed to avoid labor-intensive process of transfer of difficult technology processes. However with development of the Russian business there was obvious a need of complete localization of production for Russia. This process took more than half a year, but now we can note that except for screens on electronic ink all other components of our system - completely Russian'. Also Alexander Belous announced plans for self-produced deployment with approximate terms the IV quarter 2018 - the I quarter 2019.

'It is difficult to implement electronic price labels with a wide lineup and a certain technology novelty by forces of third-party contractors. The main problems which we had to face - unavailability of many companies to use of non-standard, unusual technical solutions, readjustment of production processes and also the high costs inevitable at the organization of contract manufacturing. Our product mass, and therefore is very critical to cost value. It requires full control over processes and technologies, critical for business", - Kaneev Anwar, the director of production comments on Compo.

Investiiya from "VEB of the Innovation"

"VEB of the Innovation" invests to 200 million rubles in the resident Skolkovo Compo company, the producer of electronic price labels of new generation for retail.

Partnership with "VEB of the Innovation" will allow to use contacts and infrastructure of Group of VEB worldwide that will facilitate an exit to international markets. The company is going to supply to the market up to 20 million electronic price labels annually, continuously increasing production in the next 5 years.

"At the heart of the product developed by Compo company technical solution which was completely created and is for the first time implemented in Russia lies. Such technologies create base for development of retail in our country, completely corresponding to logic of digital economy, and create base for entry of the Russian technology companies into foreign markets, – the CEO of "VEB of the Innovation" Kirill Bulatov comments. – We calculate that with a financial support from our party the Compo company will be able to implement the export potential of perspective technology surely. Today process automation and their transfer to a digital format – one of the directions, most interesting to investors, in development of technologies. For example, the American company Amazon and Chinese Alibaba was started by several shops in the staffless store format when the most part of processes is automated and does not require participation of personnel".

Within strategic support from "VEB of the Innovation" the Compo company will receive not only investments, but also the individual leasing program from VEB-leasing company which will allow to offer Compo to clients the products on more attractive conditions.

"VEB of the Innovation" can offer the Russian technology companies not only mechanisms of the venture funding, but also access to a broad spectrum of financial instruments of Group of VEB, being "single window" of Vnesheconombank concerning support of the innovation projects, – Kirill Bulatov tells. – Specifically in a case Compo is that retail partner networks will be able to receive products of the company on profitable terms of leasing".

In addition to hi-tech price labels, in the future the technology of "electronic ink" can be applied in any other areas where energy efficient displays of the graphic information, including in production of advertizing carriers, automatic machines of retail, the industrial equipment, etc. are demanded. Use of e-ink technology for production of advertizing carriers will also allow to create inexpensive and ergonomic solutions for placement of promotional and information materials.