Altierre

Founded in 2003, Altierre is a San Jose-based company operating in the retail technology sector, specifically focusing on Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The company was founded by Anurag Goel, who has a background in technology and a graduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, and Sunit Saxena, who serves as the Chairman and CEO.

Altierre provides a wireless IoT platform designed to transform retail operations. Its core offering is an electronic shelf label (ESL) system that enables retailers to manage and update pricing and product information dynamically. This system helps retailers compete with online stores by allowing for real-time, intra-day price adjustments and promotions, thus increasing pricing accuracy and reducing labor costs associated with manual paper tag changes. The company's technology is built on a proprietary, bi-directional, low-power radio frequency (RF) protocol that allows a single access point to manage tens of thousands of devices within a 50,000-square-foot area.

The product line includes various types of digital displays, such as LCD and E-Ink (e-paper) labels, which are designed for a guaranteed five-year battery life. Beyond pricing, Altierre's platform integrates other sensors to enhance store intelligence. These include temperature sensors for monitoring freezer and refrigeration units and out-of-stock sensors that detect when a product needs replenishment. Through a strategic alliance with Sirqul, Altierre has also incorporated augmented reality (AR) and location-based technology to help shoppers and store associates locate items within the store, further enhancing the in-store experience and operational efficiency for services like curbside pickup.

Altierre primarily serves the retail market, with clients ranging from department stores, such as Kohl's in the United States, to grocery chains in Europe. The business model involves selling the complete infrastructure, which includes the ESL tags, access points, and the enterprise software that integrates with the retailers' point-of-sale (POS) systems. The company has secured significant funding over the years, including a $22 million Series C round in 2008 and a $21 million financing round in 2014, to support its global expansion. Its technology is also scalable to other verticals, including manufacturing, supply chains, and defense.

Keywords: electronic shelf labels, retail IoT, dynamic pricing, wireless communication, in-store technology, price automation, IoT platform, retail operations, digital price tags, store intelligence, low-power wireless, out-of-stock sensors, temperature monitoring, E-Ink displays, augmented reality retail, location-based services, smart retail, retail automation, supply chain technology, asset visibility