Category: Label Printer

Barcode labelling volumes have increased significantly in recent years, especially as the market sees growing consumer dependence on, and preference for, ecommerce channels, and serialization programs in pharmaceutical, automotive and food and beverage manufacturing sectors continue to expand.

Serialized products promote supply chain consistency and enhance overall visibility with the ability to track-and-trace using assigned serial numbers. At the same time, ecommerce volumes are higher than ever before.

Consumers today expect the perfect order with the fastest possible delivery 100% of the time, placing tremendous pressure on organizations in the industrial supply chain to ensure labelling accuracy and legibility while also efficiently managing escalating labelling volumes. Strategic technology investments will be essential to improving organizations’ overall workflow efficiencies and order fulfillment rates.

The need for unique (and accurate) product identification, and serialization as a result of it, is greater than ever before because of elevated shipping and receiving volumes, driving a resurgence in investments in reliable industrial label printers for high-volume applications.

A substantial increase in barcoding volumes will drive investments in industrial printers, which are designed to support labeling applications in high-throughput environments. VDC’s research shows that demand is particularly strong among organizations in industrial/manufacturing and transportation/logistics verticals for this specific form factor.

What is driving investments in industrial label printers?

The top five key drivers contributing to rise in demand for industrial label printers are:

1. Need for barcode labelling in the post-pandemic world is more pronounced

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a surge of online demand for all types of products, even as global supply chains experienced massive disruptions. Businesses pivoted to online order fulfillment during the pandemic in 2020, increasing their reliance on industrial printers for applications like shipping and receiving, inventory and asset management, and picking and packing list requirements in the warehouse. Business is now as busy as, if not busier than, what has historically been associated with peak capacity at warehouses and fulfillment centers. This makes it essential for organizations to take stock of inventory, track product movement through the supply chain, and facilitate last-mile traceability.

Organizations participating in a recently-conducted VDC survey highlighted the following as the label types driving maximum labelling volumes across a variety of application environments:

• Manufacturing – Finished Goods Labels (28%), Shipping Labels (28%), Item/Product Labels (12%)

• Retail – Item/Product Labels (40%), Shipping Labels (16%), Picking Lists (12%), Tickets/Tags (12%)

• Transportation and Logistics – Shipping Labels (56%), Picking Lists (16%), Item/Product Labels (8%)

2. Industrial label printers maintain their position as the solution-of-choice in the industrial supply chain

High-volume applications in manufacturing and distribution rely extensively, and almost exclusively, on industrial printers with ruggedized metal bodies and long durability for their ability to create long-lasting and sturdy labels. VDC’s conversations with organizations having existing industrial printer deployments show that this class of printers demonstrates minimal risk of breakdown, superior print quality (regardless of how many labels are printed in one go or even tough ambient conditions), and strongest overall performance. Print performance considerations are paramount investment drivers, especially in rugged environments, as detailed below:

• Print quality – label quality is of paramount importance especially given the high cost of chargebacks and other fines due to inability to read barcode labels and related errors. With serialization efforts and the adoption of data-rich barcodes (such as GS1 DataMatrix) and on-demand, variable information printing, the pressures on print quality are only increasing.

• Printer durability – given the harsh environments these printers are subjected to, it is extremely important for the printer body to be hard-wearing and be able to withstand the elements – particularly dust, dirt, grime, and rough handling.

3. Industrial printer deployments and investments not restricted to rugged environments

Retailers have seen their labelling processes undergo a significant change with omnichannel strategies revamping their operational and technology requirements. Parcel and pallet labelling, as well as direct-store-delivery (DSD), creation of micro-fulfillment centers, and buy online pickup in store (BOPIS) options will drive demand for industrial label printer hardware for businesses in this vertical. Labelling requirements and volumes within stockrooms are at higher levels than ever seen before, prompting businesses in this vertical to make strategic investments in industrial printing solutions—both within their stores as well as in warehouses.

4. Compliance mandates necessitating adoption

Organizations’ concerted efforts to improve their traceability initiatives and maintain compliance with constantly changing customer, government, and industry regulatory mandates, like in life sciences and food and beverage, will drive industrial label printer adoption and growth. Coupled with relevant software applications, such investments will help them automate the labelling process in order to minimize error incidence and regulatory violations.

5. Price affordability opening up the market to a larger population

Vendors have expanded their industrial printer product portfolio in recent release cycles to also offer mid-range options for organizations to choose, which opens up investment options for a larger segment of the population. That said, users understand the price premium associated with investment in this class of printers that are highly ruggedized and durable, designed to validate use for high-label-volume applications.

Industrial label printers are part of the bigger picture

No one piece of hardware is a complete solution in itself. Static data labels compound confusion and increase errors in today’s highly dynamic production/supply chain environments. The potential for mislabelling increases with reliance on static databases and/or label templates, especially as it becomes challenging to edit, manage, and update various versions, ultimately leading to labelling errors.

Labelling is now mission-critical to organizations’ overall supply chain management and traceability initiatives, which places greater emphasis on labelling automation with certified integration to sources of truth for data—such as various enterprise application systems.

Organizations are keen to address their gaps in visibility—from raw material sourcing through production and global distribution—and are taking significant steps to gain better insights into product movement through the supply chain. As traceability standards get more stringent across industries businesses are placing stronger demand for dynamic solutions that can be tightly integrated with disparate systems to promote collaboration and consistency across globally distributed locations.

With industrial printer adoption and deployment scaling new heights, VDC expects organizations to increasingly evaluate ways by which to ensure that their investments are scalable and can seamlessly integrate with backend systems of record. In addition, with the lifespan of industrial label printers often exceeding 6+ years, the need for strong lifecycle support – including remote management and monitoring tools – are critical requirements for product selection and investment.

Globalization is transforming how organizations view technology investments. Businesses now require ruggedized stationary printer hardware that can withstand the rigors of industrial environments (across the globe), evaluating options along their relative ability to print thousands of labels per day in high-volume use cases. Consumers’ faster delivery expectations will also push the need for dynamic, high-volume label printing solution investments for asset tracking, inventory accuracy, and end-to-end visibility through the last mile.

Learn more about Brother’s industrial label printers.

Proper labelling is essential in not only data center performance and reliability, but also in high-performing enterprise networks. To keep data centers and networks running smoothly, it is important to know what’s being deployed where, what each component’s purpose is and what it is connected to. The advantage of a clearly labelled infrastructure is that system components can be quickly and accurately identified to facilitate fault tracking and replacement; so that the downtime impact on infrastructure and business services will be as minimal as possible

Industrial Cabling Standards

Brother has been given UL mark license on the Brother TZe tapes that have been tested and certified to become a UL recognized component under the UL-969 standard, Marking and Labelling Systems.

Durable Labels

Brother Pro Tape range, part of the TZe laminated tape series, is designed to be used in various indoor, outdoor, hot, and cold environments. The tapes are resistant against liquid, grease, acidic and alkaline chemicals, fading caused by UV rays and abrasion. Designed to be super thin, yet technologically elegant, the label contents are protected by clear laminated film. Labels printed from Brother Pro Tape range are engineered to achieve industrial standards across manufacturing, datacom, electrical, chemical, and general business applications.

Ideal Labels for Datacom Specialists

Brother offers a wide variety of labels specially designed for data centers.

 

Safety and Facility Signages Labels

Printer resolution determines the clarity of the labels and this is critical when you want to keep things organized and ensure work safety standard is not compromised.

Safety and facility signages (like safety instructions and electrical hazard) and voltage marking labels for electrical equipment/enclosures/panelboards and excreta must be properly marked.

The Brother Pro Tape range is available in a variety of industry standard colors such as red, fluorescent orange and fluorescent yellow-come in handy for producing eye-catching safety labels for on-the-spot safety inspections.

Cables and Wires Identification

Create professional labels to increase work efficiency and productivity with Brother heat shrink tubes. The non-adhesive heat shrink tube is wound in Brother TZe tape cassette in flat tube form. After printing, the tube can be open and pass through a cable or wire. Apply heat with a heat gun, the tube will shrink to fit and grip itself onto the cable or wire.

The Brother flag tape is suitable for small diameter cables from 2.0mm to 8.0mm, making it ideal for fibre optic cable identification. The label is in a special pre-cut shape. Once printed the long “tail” can be placed around the cable and the label can be folded over the tail to lock the label into position.

For wider diameter cables that are 3mm or more, the flexible ID tapes in Brother Pro Tape range are suitable for creating cable wraps. The flexible ID tape is also suitable for use on other tightly curved surfaces such as pipes and conduits. Barcodes and other detailed information can be included when used in the style of a cable flag.

The Brother Pro Tape range has been developed and tested to meet the needs of electrical and datacom professionals who require dependable, durable, long term identification solutions.

As a leader in print innovation and the preferred choice for the installation and identification of voice and data cables in the telecom and datacom industry worldwide, discover how Brother Labelling Solutions can help you with your needs.

E-commerce is an industry born out of our desire for the best price and fast product delivery.

Sellers in online stores such as Ebay, Amazon and Etsy have been active for over a decade to provide the myriad of options for buyers but poor quality labels are still common and can have significant impacts on ongoing profitability and customer service.

So, what’s the link between a great labelling processes and e-commerce success, and how can you tick all the right boxes? In this article, we explain the essential considerations to refine your labelling process.

How to refine your labelling process

Just like any aspect of a business, you want to have your labelling process down to a T so that you invest minimum time and see maximum results. Here are some tips to make that happen:

1. Avoid wastage

Wasted labels and paper are more than a nuisance for businesses that rely on ecommerce; they’re actively reducing your profit margins. If your printer is firing out misprints galore, this is a red flag that your e-commerce operation isn’t as smooth as it could be.

Worse still, if you don’t catch these misprinted labels before they go out for delivery, there’s a good chance your customers will experience delays in receiving their goods or might not receive them at all. It’s often, therefore, worth investing a little more in a machine that produces higher quality labels, so that yours are always properly centered, sufficiently adhesive and feature clean text with no streaking.

2. Ensure compatibility with delivery companies

The most professional looking labels on the planet are no good if they’re not compatible with the demands of delivery organizations. It’s worth noting, however, that even if some models aren’t compatible with your chosen shipper out of the box, you may well be able to edit your label to achieve the desired result.

3. Look for a speedy setup

If you’re upgrading the printer you use for your e-commerce labels, a slow setup can mean a bottleneck in orders and slow delivery to customers. When researching your options, read consumer reviews – these will often highlight setup issues, or recommend products that were quick and easy to get up and running.

Talking of speed, you also should investigate the printing rate of your chosen model, so you have an idea of how your investment will impact the speed of your entire process.

4. Seek out portability

Large industrial label printers may be the norm in huge warehouses, but they’re often not the best option for online sellers. Having portable label printers can help with on-the-go printing and will save you space.

In addition, choosing a wireless model also stops your office getting cluttered with cables, and also means you can print directly from your phone or other mobile devices.

How to create the perfect label

Now that you’ve got streamlined your labelling process, let’s look at how you can improve the labels themselves. This may seem so easy you can ignore it, however failing this last little step can make all the difference to whether your service is completed.

• Print your labels: First time e-commerce sellers may feel they have adequate time to quickly handwrite their labels – but beware the problems that come from this manual task. Writing your labels will quickly become very time consuming which can limit the speed of your production line. Furthermore, writing is not always 100% legible and is prone to smudging in transit. Do yourself a favor and invest in a high-quality label printer early on – it’s fast, efficient and accurate.
• Invest in quality: Labels need to be clearly laid out, very adhesive and most importantly fully legible. High quality print labels ensure all of these factors and are much less likely to break off, tear or smudge in transit.
• Ensure correct sizing: Some printers are able to automatically detect the size of the label tape you’re using, adjusting the onscreen template accordingly so you can check that everything is as it should be. This is particularly useful if you use different shipping companies for different products or destinations.

Easy labelling mistakes to avoid

Having discussed what you should do, it’s always a good idea to discuss some easy mistakes that can be equally simple to avoid.

• Sticking your labels over corners or seams: Your package will be scanned at every checkpoint along its journey. Barcodes that aren’t easily scannable are only going to slow things down or make delivery impossible altogether. Ensure that your label is on a level, flat section of packaging without any structural interruptions.
• Consider your paper choices: Printing your shipping labels onto standard paper may seem like a cheap and easy option, but it creates a less-than-professional look. This can make your customers reconsider the quality and legitimacy of your business.
• Avoid removable labels: Easily removable labels may be a blessing once the customer is in possession of their product, but in transit they can be a nightmare. Don’t risk having your labels lost.
• Reusing old boxes: Even for the most green minded among us, reusing old tatty cardboard boxes is a no no. Not only do they look unprofessional, they can also break in transit, and the presence of old labels can be confusing for carriers. New boxes are a must – but try and find a producer who manufactures from recycled materials to minimize your carbon footprint.

Label printing made easy

Label printing needn’t be a hassle. With Brother’s agile label printers it is simple to both keep track of your inventory and get accurate delivery. Taking advantage of advanced portable printing solutions will make for a smoother, more accurate process. For example, our portable wireless print solutions can deliver fast reliable printing by utilizing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, AirPrint®, and MFi.

For more information on how to improve your labelling process, get in touch with the team at Brother today.

With many of us now settling into our new work from home lifestyles, we’re still looking for ways to make our new-found workspaces more functional, easy to use and ultimately a space that encourages productivity. An essential way to encourage productivity in your new workspace is to get organized! When everything has its place and is easy to find, completing your work tasks at home becomes less stressful and time consuming. With our range of label printers, organizing your workspace and around the home has never been so easy.

Your work from home setup

Did you know that labelling your supplies and belongings can prevent them from being misplaced or accidentally disappearing off your desk? Although you may not have to ward off your colleagues from stealing your favorite pen at home (maybe instead it’s a family member, housemate, partner, curious cat…), labelling your office space or your desk can give you that sense of fulfillment from being organized, and in turn enhance and support your productivity. A Brother P-Touch machine will make itself right at home – with its durable, laminated tapes you can easily label your folders, books, pens and computer cables – the possibilities are endless!

Your kitchen/pantry

It only takes a few quick scrolls through Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to see how creative people are getting with organizing their pantries and kitchens into organizational masterpieces. Why waste time trying to figure out if it’s plain or self-raising flour in that container? How many times have you heard your partner/children/housemate exclaim “I don’t know where that goes” in a bid to get out of washing up or unstacking the dishwasher? Although aesthetically pleasing, having a well-organized kitchen and pantry is hugely beneficial to help keep your kitchen clean, tidy and save you time doing chores when you’d rather be doing something else.

Kids’ stuff

With isolation restrictions beginning to ease in most areas, children are beginning to return to school – which means that you’ve likely spent a small fortune on a long list of things to get them ready for the new school term…90% of which is probably going to go missing before the term is over. Although by no means a new concept, labelling you child’s belongings such as backpacks, clothes, stationery… anything you can stick a label on…in a bid to prevent their belongings being lost is a huge advantage to having them returned to you. Our TZe laminated labels come in a range of colors and designs and have been tested to the extreme so you know that these fun, personalized labels not only look great, but are made to last.

Your bathroom

When you have to share a bathroom with a number of people, the morning rush can be particularly chaotic. Minimize the chaos by labelling a caddy in the bathroom with your name and putting all of your products in there so you can be more efficient in the mornings. By giving everyone their own caddy for their products and accessories, you’ll no longer experience that overwhelming sense of frustration that comes from rummaging through the cupboard while looking for what you need – save the time, mess and stress! It may also stop others from pinching some of your expensive cleanser you’re not willing to share too.

Your storage room

If you don’t have a storage room full of stuff that you’re not sure what to do with, half-finished projects, and tools lying around all over the place – you probably know someone that does. Getting your storage area organized in a way that allows you to find what you’re looking for not only saves you time but also money. Ensuring that everything has its place means that you don’t accidentally purchase the same tools twice, and you know where to find them when you need them. Having a well-labelled area for your tools also helps you store them safely and can prevent any accidental injuries due to improper storage.

So, if you’re working from home and feeling unmotivated or disorganized in your surroundings, take a little break from your desk, grab a P-Touch label printer, your favorite TZe labels and accessorize, personalize and organize a space around your home today.

Medical laboratories play a crucial role in the healthcare system and the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced just how important they are for the sector.

To cope with demand during busy periods, laboratories need to work efficiently, reliably, safely and quickly, as working to the highest capacity could help save lives.

Getting people tested, needs to be done fast if labs are to reduce the spread of potentially dangerous diseases and reduce the risk to others.

The pandemic has accelerated the use of technology in the sector, with healthcare departments embracing digitization to make processes as smooth as possible, even in times of crisis.

We take a look at how using label printers can help make laboratory testing more safe and efficient.

Safety first

In a medical laboratory setting, it is absolutely crucial for any samples or tests to be labelled accurately to ensure patient safety. It also helps to keep any potential transmission risk to others down to a minimum.

Handwritten labels increase the risk of incorrect identification of samples which could endanger patient safety, whereas technology, such as mobile label printers will help eliminate the risk of illegible labels.

Time is of the essence

When it comes to testing procedures, time is also vital. Having faster processes that you can rely on, allows more laboratory testing to take place. Using equipment that has a label peeler, for example, automatically separates the adhesive label from the carrier film and makes it easier to stick it onto the tube, even when wearing gloves. As well as making the process quicker, it ensures compliance with strict health & safety rules. 

Flexible solutions

Flexibility is also offered for those printing labels in a medical laboratory. A device that offers a wide range of label sizes and types should be considered so one label printer can be used for samples of varying sizes. Even patient wristbands can be printed on a label printer machine, which can be useful if a patient test comes back positive and they need to be admitted to hospital immediately.

Labelling on the move

The sheer scale of the pandemic, accelerated the need to deliver mobile and drive-in testing, which gave staff the additional challenge of working in cramped environments with limited space.

It’s important for medical workers to have the correct tools and solutions to operate to the highest standards despite the extreme stress and personnel shortages. A compact and reliable device that is easy to move and maintain will help healthcare providers keep up with rising demands.

You could also consider a device with optional accessories, such as the battery unit and the WLAN or Bluetooth interfaces which means the label printer can be optimally retrofitted for mobile use. Some devices with a touch panel display can even be used as a stand-alone solution without being connected to a connected PC.

Integration to your systems

To make processes even smoother, individual label templates can be created so it is quick and easy to select the label style of your choice. Editing software can be used to create this and can be linked to Excel files to create a mail merge function. Alternatively, the label printer can also be adapted to the respective default settings of existing system requirements and integrated into them.

There is no doubt that the pandemic has impacted the healthcare system and created a lot of change. Digitalization has been a major force in helping the sector cope through incredibly challenging circumstances. With the right technology in place, and the right partners on hand to implement it, this move to digitization in the medical laboratory, can help deliver long-term positive outcomes for staff and ultimately bring better care to patients.

For more information about our label printer solutions for medical laboratories, reach our solution team by email @bicgulfsolution@brother.ae