What VARs Need To Know About Their Customers' Business Labeling Needs
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
A recent Loftware Enterprise Labeling Trends Survey has identified a number of key factors that are impacting supply chain strategy and ultimately labeling processes today. Labeling has become a mission-critical component in the current supply chain with global expansion of businesses. Among the trends that have been identified as affecting the labeling process are growing customer demands and evolving regulatory requirements. VARs need to be aware of these factors in order to better serve their customers’ changing needs.
The survey results are based on input from more than 500 supply chain professionals, representing a wide range of leading global companies. Based on the responses from the survey, Loftware has distilled five significant trends in the labeling process:
- Businesses are standardizing labeling for consistency and efficiency, allowing for the streamlining of maintenance and oversight while also offering the control to make rapid label changes throughout the supply chain. Standardization is driven by the need to simplify maintenance and deployment; to ensure labeling consistency; and supporting business continuity.
- Integrated, dynamic labeling is essential. The report asserts “Today’s labeling needs to be both dynamic and data-driven to meet evolving customer and regulatory standards. Customers’ labeling requirements are more demanding and variable than ever and businesses failing to meet those requirements in a timely fashion find themselves with dissatisfied customers that are likely to turn to competitors.” VARs need to be sure to meet the following expectations in order to keep their clients happy: integration with business systems; meeting customer and regulatory requirements; and allowing rapid label changes.
- Labeling intersects the supply chain at all levels. “Labeling has become a significant consideration for supply chain activities that span from upstream production to downstream distribution and delivery of finished goods. To ensure an effective supply chain strategy, companies must consider how labeling intersects all levels of their supply chain. This is especially true with evolving demands such as globalization of manufacturing, safety and quality of products, shorter lead times, lean business environments, and changing market dynamics,” the report explains.
- Technology advances influence labeling. For example, cloud-based computing offers endless possibilities for outsourcing applications and computing infrastructure, which allows companies to focus on core competencies.
- Evolving global regulations continue to impact labeling. The report found that “The effect of regulations and emerging standards continue to impact businesses globally across a wide range of industries. Labeling is a specific area where constant change is necessary to comply with evolving regulations. More often than ever companies are looking for solutions that will assist them in achieving compliance in order to avoid fines, disruptions to their supply chains and ultimately loss of business.”
VARs should be cognizant of the evolving landscape of the labeling process, and provide solutions to their clients that will meet these ever-changing needs.
For articles based on the full report, visit http://www.loftware.com/5trends/