SOLUM [1], founded in 2015 as a spin-off from Samsung Electro-Mechanics, is a publicly traded company listed on the KOSPI stock exchange.
It quickly established itself as a leader in power solutions, display technologies, and electronic shelf labels (ESL), driving innovation across the retail sector and has been making a lot of noice recently on its ‘global expansion’, epsecially in Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL), digital signage, IoT-powered logistics, and Retail Media Networks (RMN).
- In Europe SOLUM’s ESL technology is deployed in over 50 countries and 44,000 retail locations, with more than 220 million ESL units installed globally. Europe remains a key market, where more than 70 leading retail brands rely on SOLUM’s technology. UK, Germany, France, and Italy are at the forefront of this expansion, with ESL adoption increasing across supermarkets, drugstores, DIY stores, duty-free outlets, and pharmacies. Major retailers are integrating AI-driven dynamic pricing strategies and testing Power Rail Proof of Concept (POC) initiatives, optimising energy efficiency and automation. Discount retailers, in particular, are expanding their ESL deployments to enhance operational agility.
- In North America where over 36 million new ESL units are set to be installed this year, SOLUM says that it is strengthening its presence and says that it has secured partnerships with leading US and Canadian retailers, extending its reach beyond supermarkets to home improvement stores and other sectors.
- In Asia, SOLUM’s ESL technology is rapidly gaining traction, particularly in Japan and Thailand, where labor shortages and rising wages are driving digital transformation. Retailers in these markets are adopting ESL not only to implement paperless operations but also to improve store management with one-touch updates and localised solutions. We are also told that retailers in Asia are showing strong interest in integrated digital signage and IoT-powered smart store management. To meet these evolving needs, SOLUM is expanding its portfolio with technologies such as handheld terminals to further optimise store operations.
Sung-ho Jeon, CEO of SOLUM told us “SOLUM’s global expansion is not just about our ESL solutions, it is about leading the full-scale digital transformation of retail. Retailers worldwide are increasingly looking for integrated solutions that go beyond pricing automation, and we believe SOLUM is at the forefront of this shift with our innovative solutions including ESL, digital signage, IoT logistics, and RMN technologies. With our continued growth in Europe, North America, and Asia, SOLUM is proving itself as a driving force in the evolution of smart retail. We remain committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance efficiency, engagement, and profitability across the global retail industry.”
SOLUM says that retailers are increasingly looking beyond ESL and integrating digital signage and RMN to maximise in-store engagement and advertising revenue. SOLUM is responding to this demand with NDI-based 8K digital signage solutions, enabling seamless integration with ESL technology. Retailers are leveraging RMN to convert their physical stores into data-driven advertising hubs, improving targeting precision and unlocking new revenue opportunities.