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Want to keep your documents safe? Choose the right scanning solutions.

Forward-thinking companies are already starting to future-proof their business processes, and moving to a paperless office is at the heart of this movement. But aside from the greater efficiency and productivity gained by moving from physical documents to digital, there’s another even more critical aspect to consider – data security. As organisations today deal increasingly with highly sensitive user and corporate data, the need to maintain information security is more important than ever before. However, with the rise in data theft, even the process of scanning your paper records and storing on your servers could result in your valuable information being compromised.

Thankfully, there are professional document archiving solutions that can help address this.

Uncompromising security for scanning, storing, sharing

With professional document scanners like those from Brother, you can count on the latest security features and protocols to meet even the most stringent corporate mandates and regulations. These advanced scanning solutions will not only help streamline your scanning and archiving workflow, but come equipped with the latest enterprise-level security innovations to prevent unauthorised access.

These advanced scanning solutions include industry-standard protocols such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Signed & Secure PDF Authentication, Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), 802.1x and Certificates to protect sensitive assets such as images, documents and audits, and are crucial in helping businesses meet legal requirements from the latest government policies.

Defend your data from internal threats

Aside from looming external threats, there’s always a danger of your data being accessed from unauthorised personnel in your organisation. Unfortunately, up to a fifth of businesses have no plans to restrict employee access to digital documents, and this could lead to data breaches occurring from within.  That’s why it’s important for you to consider scanning solutions can restrict access to only authorised users. This can come in the form of a function lock which requires users to input a PIN before they can access certain features of your scanner, or even scanning solutions equipped with an access card reader that only allow users with an access card to start using the machine.

Gain peace of mind with document-level encryption

Securing your document workflow at the machine level is one thing, but what about the files themselves? After all, sensitive information is constantly being shared and distributed, and could easily end up in the hands of someone who could misuse it. To address this, Brother professional scanning solutions come with a suite of security features that allow you to scan directly into a Secure PDF format. This will encrypt the document and hardcode a 4-digit PIN which viewers must enter correctly before opening the file. You’ll also be able to scan to a signed PDF to protect the authenticity of your scans, ensuring that documents cannot be edited and resaved to be passed off as your original work.

Put your trust in a world-leader in scanning technology

While these are a lot of factors to consider, data theft is a huge threat that is growing each day. To learn more about the scanning innovations that can help your organisation counter these threats, while giving your digitisation workflow a boost, visit here.

 

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Here’s why a compact printer is a great Work-from-home buddy.

While video conferencing software, webcams, and fast internet speeds have made working from home and staying productive a lot more accessible, there are still some compromises that you must make compared to working from a physical office. One of them is having ready access to a printing solution on hand. But with a new breed of compact, yet feature-rich printers available today, that’s all set to change.

Why print at all in a digital age?

Rather than an archaic and fading technology, printers are the ideal complement to today’s digital processes. For one, it is far easier and faster to make edits and add comments to a hardcopy document and scan it directly to your colleagues’ emails. Additionally, printing out your weekly or daily job schedule allows you to quickly take stock of your work-in-progress without having to sort through emails and chatgroups. For those in sales, marketing, or who own small businesses, you can even print professional-quality booklets, manuals, pamphlets, brochures and other promotional materials from the comfort of your home.

Choosing the best printer for home use

Now that we’ve explored the benefits of having a printer as a work-from-home buddy, what should you consider when choosing one? Obviously, it should be compact enough to fit on a desktop, but there are some other important qualities that you should be looking out for.

Print Performance –When it comes to print speeds, not all desktop printers were made equal. Many budget options take a painfully long time to start up, begin printing, and to complete a print, making it a hassle to print even a single page – not to mention multiple copies of a document! So, make sure you choose a solution with a decent print speed to help boost your productivity rather than hinder it. 

Running Costs – Due to their affordable prices and compact sizes, inkjet printers are often chosen for home use. However, once you start printing in greater volumes, your running costs could start to add up. To help keep that in check, consider ink tank printers like those from Brother which can be refilled via ultra high-yield ink bottles instead, as these can deliver an extremely low cost-per-page of just $0.0018 per page for black and white documents – all while producing impressively vibrant printouts.

Mobile & Wireless Connectivity – In this connected world, businesses have gone agile with smartphones, tablets and mobile-connected laptops. Taking full advantage of this new era of global connectivity, Brother printers with mobile and cloud solutions make it easier than ever before to scan, print, share your information wherever your business needs take you. You can even troubleshoot problems and manage your fleet remotely from the comfort of your desk.

User-friendly design –While we’ve established that having a compact printer in your home is great for productivity, it’s not all just about print speeds and connectivity. Brother’s printers are thoughtfully designed with the user in mind and come with in-built paper trays to help keep your printouts neat and tidy. And, unlike many other brands, Brother printers feature a user-friendly LCD screen, which makes performing various printing functions a breeze.

So, if you’re thinking of purchasing a printer for working-from-home, just remember; even though there’s no shortage of options around, there are only a few that can truly deliver great value, design, and productivity in a compact, affordable package – and you can find some of them right here

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Copiers VS Printers: Debunking the myths.

When it comes to printing solutions, is bigger truly better? In the recent years, we have seen a shift from large copiers to compact laser printers and multifunction centres as businesses embrace smaller decentralised departments and home offices. But aren’t copiers supposed to be more durable, cost-efficient, and offer greater functionality over desktop printers? Let’s explore these myths and discover how you can find the best printer for your evolving business needs.

Myth #1: Copiers are more cost-effective than desktop laser printers

While it used to be common knowledge that traditional copiers were more cost-effective due to their high-volume and low cost-per-page nature, the latest laser printers from Brother is set to change all that. This new breed of desktop laser printers is not only much more affordable than copiers to purchase or lease, but with higher yield toner replacements options available, they can also deliver significantly lower running costs in the long run.

Myth #2: Copiers offer more functionality for greater productivity

Many businesses are still using copiers for their functionality. This includes copying, printing, faxing and network connectivity. However, a broad range of Brother laser printers and Multifunction Centres come with advanced features such as wireless printing and scanning, NFC tap-to-print, mobile printing and scanning apps, Cloud printing capabilities, and many more to easily match or exceed the functions of a traditional copier.  All packed in a sleek, compact device that fits easily on your desktop.

Myth #3: Copiers are more durable & can print higher volumes

When compared to many desktop printers, copiers are considered to be more reliable and capable of handling higher print volumes. But this is a myth that’s readily busted by Brother’s laser printers. Backed by industry-leading reliability and award-winning support, these productivity workhorses can be equipped with a variety of accessories such as additional paper trays, a sorter, a tower tray, or even a finisher. This allows businesses to enjoy high-volume printing that rivals those of copiers with support up to 600,000 prints over 5 years!

Fact: Brother Laser Printing Solutions deliver

Businesses are constantly evolving, and Brother has been at the forefront of print innovation for over a hundred years. Backed by its dedication to world-class reliability and customer service, our range of laser printers and multifunction centres are trusted by large enterprises, SMBs, and home office owners globally to take their business to the next level.

Perhaps it’s time to ditch that old copier and find your next productivity workhorse? Find yours here.

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Sewing tips and ideas

Sewing Machine:

If you don’t have a sewing machine it’s a good idea to find one that best suits your sewing interests. Do you plan to sew garments, quilts, clothing, or something else entirely? What type of materials do you prefer working with? Are you interested in embroidery? So many options, and Brother has all the different machines to fit your needs. Also feel free to reach out to us ambassadors, we are happy to help!

Use your resources:

If you’re a hands-on learner like me, I suggest you look around your area for sewing studios that offer classes and camps. These are great for everyone! It’s ideal to have a space and time set up to learn without distractions.  I taught sewing for adults, and it was such a great way to learn. Within a week, students went from threading their machines to sewing simple projects (zipper pouches, tote bags, doll clothes).

Another great option is to learn sewing virtually! There are many resources offered online through sewing blogs and sewing websites. Check out Stitching Sewcial, where you’ll find step-by-step sewing tutorials, patterns, and tips to use that range from beginner to expert.

Start small:

It’s a good idea to start with a simple project before diving into a more advanced one. I remember one of my first sewing projects was to pick a pattern and fabric to go with it.  I went with a dress that required all the fixings and on top of that picked a plaid chiffon fabric.  BOTH of these were not “beginner friendly” and I found myself in over my head.  I was 12 and I can remember the frustration I felt when sewing that dress. Perhaps a gathered elastic skirt would have been a better first project at that time.

Consistency is Key:  I like to say “a little each day goes a long way!”  It takes time to hone your skill. Even the busiest of days I try to find 25-30 minutes to give to my craft. Whether it’s browsing a sewing blog for tips on using a cover stitch machine or laying out a sewing pattern and prepping to cut the next day. It surprises people how long even a simple sewing project can take and this is how I like to break it down.

Don’t skip the in between steps: When I first started sewing I would speed through my project like it was a race! I would skip the “annoying steps” I felt were unnecessary like pressing, and pattern markings, etc. These steps are as important as the sewing itself and can be the difference between a wobbly hem and a professional looking garment. While it may not get done as quickly you will see the difference in the overall result.

No rules:

At the end of all of this there are no rules. Have fun and be creative. Sewing is a personal journey after all and you will find your own ways that work for you. Perhaps “that fabric doesn’t work with that pattern” but it never stopped me anyways.

This article has been republished from Brother Sews USA. The original article can be seen here:http://blog.brothersews.com/sewing/national-sewing-month/

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Why your business needs professional document archiving, and how to do it.

Even as businesses rush to embrace digital transformation in every aspect of their operations, many companies still face the challenge of digitising their hardcopy documents and storing them securely. Be it client records, invoices, financial documents, contracts or the like, a recent survey found that up to 72% of SMEs still maintain paper records containing sensitive information, citing the sheer volume and complexity of digitisation as the main hurdle to them doing so.

But does this really have to be the case? Let’s find out.

Digital archiving and why it matters

Digital archiving is the process of converting physical paper documents into digital files that can be stored and accessed on your servers, or on the cloud. More than just an incredibly effective way to store massive volumes of documents, digitally archiving can help your business with:

  • Better responsiveness — With digital documents, various departments can swiftly store and access time-critical documents without having to access a centralised physical storage location and sorting through everything to find a single file.
  • Effortless collaboration — Digitised documents allows all authorised personnel to upload, access, and share document anytime, from anywhere. This helps your business become more agile by enabling effortless collaboration across departments, branches, clients, and even countries.
  • Improved security — With digital archives, you can easily assign usage rights to ensure only the right personnel have access to the right files. You’ll also be able to readily track and monitor who has accessed, deleted or modified any data – a task that is difficult to do with paper documents.

How to start digitally archiving your documents (the right way)?

Although consumer scanning solutions that can be found on multifunction printers, or as standalone devices, these are only suitable for simple scanning tasks. When it comes to archiving, analysing and distributing massive volumes of documents, you’ll soon find them inadequate.

On the other hand, you have dedicated professional document scanners like those available from Brother. These high-speed, feature-rich scanning solutions are not only capable of swiftly scanning a wide-range of documents, but also come with professional document management tools to help streamline the entire scanning process.  More importantly, these advanced scanning devices feature robust security safeguards that meet and exceed government and industry regulations, ensuring your sensitive data is kept secure against evolving threats.

Document management for the mobile workforce

With an increasingly mobile workforce that’s constantly on the move, businesses in the financial, real-estate, sales and legal industries are turning to portable scanners that are designed for on-the-go productivity. Powered by built-in batteries, these compact and lightweight scanners fit readily into a bag, allowing users to scan documents as and when they need, while delivering professional scanning quality for archiving.

While small in size, these portable scanning solutions can be big on features, with some offering mobile and cloud solutions to help users effectively scan, store, manage and share contracts, client documents, and signed proposals from smartphones, tablets and laptops – whether they are in a café or a showroom. Now that you understand the benefits of digital archiving, the next step is exploring the available solutions, and finding out which suits your needs best. A good place to start, is with a world leader in scanning innovation here

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Labelling: The smarter solution to increasingly complex Data Centre needs

As data centres evolve to meet the growing needs of the connected world, so does the scale and complexity of which they operate. However, without an effective labelling solution at hand, it can be challenging for data centre managers and operators to keep track of their ever-increasing inventory of assets and simplify their cable management, leading to costly troubleshooting issues, prolonged maintenance times, and difficulty in upgrading equipment and systems across the board. 

But that doesn’t mean that any old label machine would instantly help your organisation meet cable labelling standards and best practices. Here’s why.

Not all labellers were created equal

You could simply pop by the nearest office supplies store to purchase consumer-grade labellers, but while they are perfectly adequate for labelling stationary, files, boxes, and the like, you’ll soon find that them out of their league in a data centre environment. You see, data centre labelling applications involves thousands of connections, cables, pathways, active equipment, racks and cabinets, to name a few, and only a robust, professional-grade labelling solution is specifically designed to not only stand up to the rigours of such high-volume printing, but include advanced features and connectivity to do it all quickly, reliably and effectively.

Seamless connectivity for greater productivity

Labelling innovations have come a long way, and advanced labellers with Wi-Fi and smart device connectivity are capable of working seamlessly with your mobile apps to support effortless mobile printing, label creation, and the transfer of labelling templates between your smart devices. This allows for greater consistency and accuracy to significantly cut down on the time and costs spent making reprints.

On the desk or on the move? 

Why not both? Look for portable label machines that can be powered using rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries to help dramatically streamline the cable labelling process whether you are in the office or in a server room. No more pre-printing stacks of labels and going through the time-wasting mess of sorting them out at the job site itself which could lead to even more errors. With a portable connected labeller, you simply print the right labels where and when you need them.

What about the labels themselves?

Your labelling solution is only as good as the actual labels themselves, and even the most advanced labelling solution can be let down by poor quality labels that fade and smear over time, or are simply difficult to read. Which is why you should always consider using high-quality, durable laminated labels that are designed to withstand abrasions, water, spills, heat, cold and harsh environments, while remaining sharp and clearly legible – not just for years, but for decades to come.

Label tapes for every application imaginable

A data centre’s labelling needs are varied, and not just any regular tape will do. When choosing a labelling machine, it’s important to consider solutions that offer and are compatible with a wide range of specialty supplies such as flexible ID tapes, self-laminating tapes, flag tapes, as well as heat shrink tubes. 

Convinced that you need a labelling solution that will stand up to all these factors? Then it’s time to take a look at Brother labelling 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, you will find the perfect fit for your data centre needs here.

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Working From Home is the new normal. But what’s missing?

Even as businesses rush to embrace a Work From Home (WFH) culture due to the pandemic, the benefits of having employees working virtually from their homes are significant enough to see this trend continuing in the post-COVID-19 world. While it may be simple enough to have a notebook pc with a webcam set up for remote working, you’ll find that employees without a printing solution available are very  likely to face a huge productivity void.

When bigger is not necessarily better

In the past, business printers were huge, floor-standing copiers that would take up a massive footprint. Although they delivered superior prints and connectivity features, they were simply too big, cumbersome, and costly to effectively deploy across your employees’ homes. On the other hand, traditional desktop printers just couldn’t match the performance, print quality, and cost-effectiveness of their larger counterparts – until now.

Small and mighty is the new normal

Today, that’s all set to change with a new breed of print solutions that are compact and feature-rich – ideal for deploying across home environments. What’s more, the best laser printers and multifunction centres from Brother are capable of delivering razor sharp text and exceptional graphics printouts at a lower cost-per-page compared to floor-standing copiers.

Best of all, these compact print solutions are capable of fast print and scan speeds, as well as cost-saving and productivity features such as automatic 2-sided printing, comprehensive paper handling, automatic document feeding, and much more – all packed into a tiny footprint that fits comfortably on a home office desk.

Staying connected means staying relevant

In today’s fast-paced world, time is the greatest commodity, and businesses that are able to connect, print, and share important information will enjoy a distinct business advantage. This is especially true in a home-based work environment, where the ability to collaborate with co-workers, clients and partners in a timely fashion can prove to be challenging.

That’s where a quality home-based printer comes in, and Brother’s latest range of compact laser printers feature mobile printing support for iPrint&Scan, Apple’s AirPrint™ and Mopria™ to ensure optimal productivity whenever you need, wherever you are.  Furthermore, the free suite of Brother Cloud Apps on these devices means users can readily access the cloud to upload scanned documents or to print documents directly from an online storage site without a computer, making it easier than ever to share and collaborate.

A new norm without compromises

Brother has been trusted by enterprises and organisations around the world for over a century, and while the trend of remote working and working from home has only recently started to gain traction, Brother has always been a leading innovator for compact, decentralised print solutions that are highly flexible without compromising on features, reliability and cost effectiveness. Take on the new norm with a trusted partner by your side. Discover Brother’s extensive range of work from home-ready solutions here

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Quick Tip: Exploring Options for Elongation Stitches

Elongation style stitches are much more fun than their rather technical name implies. The term elongation simply means that patterns in this category of decorative stitches can be re-sized in a range from 1 to 5. As they are re-sized, the pattern or shape of the stitch is maintained. Examples in the photo above show patterns stitched out in all the different sizes. Although the size varies, the density remains the same and the general shape of the stitch does as well. Depending on the size and the stitch selected, different sizes can produce interesting variations. In addition, changing the length of the stitch makes the pattern denser but also shortens the length of the pattern. One of my favorite tricks is to select a larger size pattern and then shorten the stitch length. This results in a fuller looking stitch that is a bit shorter than the original pattern. See examples of sizes below in Figure #1b:

Figure #1b

You’ll find these 7mm satin style elongation stitches built into many Brother machine models. They’re located in the Character/Decorative stitch menu of the machine. See examples of stitch menus below in Figure #2a and #2b:

Figure #2a
Figure #2b

The size key allows for elongating the stitch in a range from 1 to 5.

Some machine models include an additional feature for creating step stitch patterns. This technique allows for moving stitch patterns left and right to sew wide patterns with multi-directional stitching. See Figure#3 below:

Figure #3

Remember to change to presser foot “N” when sewing these decorative stitches. This foot has a groove on the underside, so it flows easily across bulky satin stitches. See Figure #4.

Figure #4

It’s also important to be sure fabric is firm and well stabilized before sewing these decorative stitches. A layer of tear-away stabilizer is a good choice for many situations. Be sure to test stitches on scraps before sewing your actual project. Have fun experimenting with elongation stitches, trying different sizes, patterns, and combinations. Enjoy!

This article has been republished from Brother Sews USA. The original article can be seen here: http://blog.brothersews.com/tips-tricks/elongation-stitches/

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HOW COSTLY IS IT TO IGNORE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN PRINTING?

Technology is driving change across different industries at a pace and scale never seen before in human history. The challenge for Australian businesses is to exploit the opportunities new technology brings and not get swept away by it.

A global report from Deloitte revealed that business leaders were feeling overwhelmed by the different options presented by new and emerging technology. Many said their organisations lacked the strategic vision to make a decision about the best solution for their circumstances.

But the same report also revealed a strong commitment to working with and trying to leverage technology. And furthermore, some leaders who had made bold investments in technology were starting to see results.

Businesses that can make good choices and manage effective implementation of new technology can gain an advantage over their competitors and build sustainable revenue streams.

The opportunity is out there.

Another report by PwC estimated that Australian businesses were missing out on almost $50 billion of untapped economic output through their failure to properly leverage mobile and internet technology.

Technological advancements in printing

Printers are no different from any other industry when it comes to technological change.

From more environmentally-sustainable printing to smart deployment of printers to closer integration with other connected devices, technology has transformed printing.

As a result, there are massive opportunities for businesses to improve productivity, reduce costs and support smarter, more flexible ways of working. But missing these opportunities hands the advantage to the competition and can hurt your bottom line.

We’ve pulled together three examples to demonstrate how failing to leverage new printer technology can be bad for your business.

(1) Using your Multi-Function Printer as a productivity centre

That is, as opposed to purely as a cost centre.

What exactly makes a multi-function printer a productivity centre? For starters, the Internet of Things. That’s right – it can connect to cloud services such as Google Cloud Print, allowing for remote printing. While you’re on the bus or train to work, you can print documents from your mobile directly to the printer at your desk so they’re waiting for you when you get to the office

Similarly, you can scan and upload documents directly to your businesses cloud storage. If manual data entry still exists in your business – i.e., reading a printed document then entering the data into a software application like a spreadsheet – document management systems using optical character recognition can transform the data on your printed page to data in your spreadsheet.

 (2) Security vulnerabilities make printers weak spots in your network

Cybercrime is a huge threat to businesses. The annual cost of malicious hacks, data breaches, phishing scams and other nefarious online activity at $1 billion.

As more and more devices are connected to the internet the points of potential vulnerability keep on increasing.

For businesses, failing to secure their networks against the latest threats can lead to serious financial and reputational damage.

Printers, just like any other internet-enabled device, provide a way into networks for hackers and viruses. Ensuring that your printers are properly protected prevents them exposing your business to unnecessary risk.

Businesses should get expert advice on the best virtual security measures for their particular circumstances. Here are some general rules for tighter printer security:

  • Change default passwords
  • Remove unnecessary external IP addresses
  • Disable any functionality you don’t need
  • Regularly maintain and upgrade your printers
  • Use security PINs to protect sensitive documents
  • Get expert help with printer fleet management

 (3) Bad printer deployment interrupts workflow

In a large organisation with diverse printing needs, the type and location of printers can have a significant impact on productivity, employee wellbeing and running costs.

Businesses often overlook the potential benefits of bringing in expert outside help to consult on a tailored printing solution.

Brother Balance deployment ensures that you have the right devices for your printing needs and that they are in locations that support how your business works – or how you would like it to work.

Getting up and going to the printer is something your employees might have to do multiple times per day. Making that experience as easy and convenient as possible can have a big impact on how productive and happy they are at work.

Printer fleet optimisation, for example, can help you replace large, inefficient, out-dated printers in central locations with modern, scalable printers for departments or teams, closer to where they work and designed specifically for their needs.

This gives you an opportunity to fit your printers around how you want your employees to use your workspace, rather than their use of the workspace being determined by where the communal printer is located.

If you’d like to know more about mobile, portable printing; smart printer deployment; printer fleet management; and printer security, get in touch with the team today and we’ll show you how the latest printer technology can drive bottom line results for your business.

 

This article has been republished from Brother NZ with minor changes. 

The original article can be seen here:

https://empowers.brother.com.au/2019/12/12/how-costly-is-it-to-ignore-technological-advancements-in-printing/

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How E-Commerce Success Is Tied To An Efficient Labelling Process

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.

Shipping labels need to be standardised and legible.

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 organisations such as Australia Post or Parcel Post. 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 favour 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
The multiple stages involved in e-commerce means that accurate and legible labelling is essential.

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.

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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 minimise your carbon footprint

Label printing made easy

Label printing needn’t be a hassle. With Brother’s agile labeling systems 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 utilising 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.

This article has been republished from Brother Australia. The original article can be seen here: https://empowers.brother.com.au/2019/07/17/how-ecommerce-success-is-tied-to-great-labeling-processes/