Walmart Central America expands electronic shelf labels for real-time retail data

Walmart of Mexico and Central America has furthered its collaboration with Vusion, a tech firm that develops IoT and digital solutions for retail applications, to deploy the EdgeSense connected store platform across its Walmart Express stores in the region. 

EdgeSense is Vusion’s connected store platform, combining intelligent shelf infrastructure, computer vision, AI, electronic shelf labels (ESL), and real-time retail data to establish a unified operating system for physical stores.

Under the agreement, Walmart Express stores will be fully deployed with EdgeSense technology by the end of 2026. According to the companies, it is the first large-scale rollout of the platform in Latin America. 

Cristina Rodrigues, vice president of Marketing for North America at Vusion, tells Packaging Insights: “Our customer-facing displays are being localized with Spanish content, regional pricing, and promotion and store-specific planograms, so shelves reflect neighborhood realities while still synchronizing with each retailer’s operating systems.”

Paul Lewellen, chief operating officer at Walmart of Mexico and Central America, comments: “The deployment of EdgeSense will help us further modernize our store operations and empower our associates to focus on serving customers.”

“This initiative represents an important step in strengthening our operational capabilities while continuing to improve the shopping experience for millions of customers across Mexico.”

Advancing connected store strategy

The retailer has already installed labels in about 2,300 US locations and plans a nationwide rollout within the next year.

Rodrigues adds: “ESLs are a proven technology that has been in the global market for over two decades, and it’s encouraging to see adoption now accelerating at scale across the US by major retailers.”

“We’re taking what we’ve proven with Walmart in the US and localizing EdgeSense for Latin America. The EdgeSense platform stays the same. We are adapting shopper engagement, associate workflows, and deployment to local store formats, while keeping the same global platform.” 

Walmart Express stores are set to be equipped with more than 1.7 million ESLs and over 180,000 EdgeSense smart rails across the initial deployment. The companies aim to create one of the largest connected store technology deployments in Latin America.

Walmart Mexico is also planning to expand the deployment to Walmart Supercenters.

“EdgeSense is the foundational layer for data, enabling stores to become fully connected environments. This new digital ecosystem translates into more efficient stores, better on-shelf availability, and more streamlined associate workflows,” adds Rodrigues.

Philippe Bottine, deputy CEO and executive vice president at Vusion Americas, says: “We are excited that Walmart is expanding its relationship with Vusion to Walmart Mexico. By combining AI, computer vision, and real-time data, EdgeSense helps retailers achieve new levels of operational excellence while delivering better experiences for associates and shoppers.”