New-generation labeling solutions boost supply chain agility, cut costs

MODERN label management platforms improve supply chain efficiencies and lower costs, according to a new white paper from NiceLabel.

Current enterprise and extended supply chain could benefit from a modern label management platform as legacy labeling operations yield hidden costs, inefficiencies, and risks, posits the report “Adopting Next Generation Labeling Technology Enhances Enterprise Agility and Reduces Costs”.

Enterprises in today’s networked economy are constantly faced with volatile market requirements, massive connectivity through the Internet of Things, and greater product, process, and supply chain complexity. Even as organizations and companies are keen to analyze operational and supply chain efficiencies to look for areas for improvement, one area often missed is labeling, which is generally regarded as a background process. This results in bar code and RFID labeling practices and software becoming outdated and failing to keep pace with changing business requirements.

A modern and centralized labeling solution offers enterprises many advantages as opposed to a decentralized approach. The new generation of label management solutions enables enterprises to improve agility and reduce costs, production shutdowns, and noncompliance with labeling requirements.  

Migrating from a decentralized labeling to a modern method consolidates thousands of redundant files into a few consistent templates. This greatly helps in cutting the time needed to create, maintain and update label files, introduce new products, and respond to customer requests, which then improves enterprise agility.

Modern labeling solutions also improve quality by preventing inconsistency and eliminating latency from exchanges with enterprise systems. Besides preventing mislabeling and reducing recall risks, tighter control helps prevent shipping delays and production line shutdowns.

The reduced labor, time, and expertise for maintaining label formats, making changes, and creating new labels yields direct and indirect cost reductions. Lower labeling errors, improved compliance, and better brand consistency bring about indirect savings.

Finally, improved capability to respond to change requests will enable enterprises to enhance collaboration with business partners. Enterprises will also have access to advanced labeling techniques that are equipped to prevent diversion and counterfeiting.