Best Label Printing Software

What is Label Printing Software?

Label printing software is a built-in tool that provides access to design templates, barcode generators, RFID tag encoding functions, customized branding, and data entry options. It helps the organization customize personalized company templates and labels.

The first-ever label was printed back in 1700 and was used to label small medical containers. They used to be printed on handmade paper with a wooden press and glued to the goods. The history of labeling has progressed from the 18th century to now. Today you can input information and print labels right from a screen staring back at you in minutes with the help of label printing software.

A label printing software is a program that creates those professional-looking labels you want on an adhesive piece of paper or plastic film for your products. Such software can help you guide your customers, employees, or clients with manufacturer's data, promotion, shelf-life, and more.

Traditionally, label designing requires extensive graphic design skills. But with label maker software, you can create and print a label in no time without any prior knowledge or experience in graphic design.

Who Uses Label Printing Software?

Many industries use tags like product labels and nameplates, where label printing software can ease their operations while stocking goods or documents. These industries include:

1. Automotive and Heavy Equipment Industries: They use label designing software to create unique templates to brand their vehicle exteriors.

2. Electronics and Machinery: Companies that manufacture appliances, machinery, and other equipment use labels for more than just branding. Their labels include essential operational and safety instructions to assist users with a safe and optimal experience.

3. Military and Defense Industry: Equipment used in military and defense industries must meet particular military code requirements. They use label maker software to create labels to give each product a unique barcode, serial code, and other distinguishing tags.

4. Medical and Healthcare Industry: The medical and healthcare industry also uses various tools and equipment. This machinery requires labels for instructions, safety information, and other necessary information.

5. Other Industries: With the need for branding and compliance with regulatory policies on the rise, almost all companies utilize label printing solutions to create name tags, barcodes system, instruction labels, etc.

What are the Benefits of Label Printing Software?

The benefits of implementing label printing solutions can be countless. From saving time to improving information accuracy, label printing tools offer many services that can enhance your labeling performance. Here are some of the benefits of using a label designing software in your company:

1. Improved Productivity

   Distributors and manufacturers need to print a bunch of barcode labels for goods coming into their warehouses. Most distributors print labels in advance and apply them after receiving work. Though it might seem efficient, this process consumes time and increases the chances of errors. A label printing solution eliminates this cumbersome process and helps you gain more productivity and label accuracy.

2. Simplified Compliance

   A label printing solution allows you to make label changes easily, thus, ensuring compliance. These solutions offer centralized management portals, making updating label formats and newly required information easy. Therefore, you can avoid expensive fines and costly recalls.

3. Faster Verification

   Putting away and picking items is time-consuming; you must verify each product on time. Integrating your label printing system into your ERP software can enable you to direct your workers to the right pick route with specific putaway and pick-up instructions. Thus, workers and users can now directly reach for the correct items with appropriate information fed into their ERP login systems through printed labels from software.

4. Better Tracking of Shipments

   Warehouse workers can utilize label printing solutions to manage their shipping operations. Barcode labels can verify the packing and picking of all the products included in a customer's order. Workers can label an item with an order code before packing and picking to ensure the correct items are shipped.

5. Expedite Placement of Goods

   After the assembly and packaging of items, workers can use label designing software to generate new barcodes to identify the goods. A smartphone can scan this barcode label to ensure accurate placement.

6. Brand Recognition

   A labeling solution helps you produce crystal-clear, properly issued labels, which allows you to reflect your brand. From logos to certifications to trademarks, label maker software takes care of everything required to ensure consistency and supply chain improvement.

What are the Key Features of Label Printing Software?

Different providers offer different sets of features and specifications, and you can choose the one that helps you achieve your business objectives. That being said, here are some standard specifications every label designing software provides.

• Barcode Generation

• Barcode Scanning

• Custom Labels

• Inventory Management

• Label Templates

• Serial Number Tracking

• Shipping Labels

• Barcoding/RFID

Other features of label printing software include:

1. Language Support

   Many label printing software offers a multilingual user interface to serve your organization's needs. Besides, they also support mixed languages on labels, enabling you to display and print labels in any language, including different languages like English and German.

2. Support for Various Operating Systems

   Most label-maker software supports an exhaustive range of operating systems, such as various versions of Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and more.

3. Printer Support

   These tools also support a wide variety of printers from all the leading manufacturers to ensure you don't run into configuration and support problems. Several solutions also help windows drivers and allow printing from any software.

4. Barcode Support

   Label generator software allows you to create and print 1D and 2D barcodes.

   • 1D barcodes: Modulus 10, Pharma Code, Code 39, Add-On-2, UPC-E, etc.
   • 2D barcodes: Data Matrix, MaxiCode, Codablock

5. Data Types

   Most label designing software supports fixed and variable data types from all fields and sources.

6. Graphics Support

   Some commonly supported graphics formats by most label-maker software are:

   • PNG
   • BMP
   • PCX
   • GIF

   As mentioned before, different solutions may differ in the features they offer. So go through the specifications of each solution before making the final decision

Things to Look for While Purchasing a Label Printing Software

Small business owners might get overwhelmed by the benefits of using the best label printing software if they deal with less volume of products. But here’s what you should know before investing in label-designing software:

1. Easy-to-use Interface

   Most startups and small businesses do not have a large IT team. If you are one of them, you'll need a labeling solution that does not require technical proficiency. Consider labeling software with a familiar Windows interface and easy-to-understand tools and icons. It would be best if it had set-up wizards, step-by-step guides for installation, or even 24x7 technical support.

2. Printer Support

   After creating a label, you'll need to print it out to use it on your items. Thus, your label generator software must support your label printer. You may stick with generic drivers built to work with any software; however, they might deliver low quality. Instead, opt for native printer drivers developed to simulate communication between your label maker software and printer.

3. Seamless Generation of Barcodes

   A label maker software’s primary goal is to generate barcodes, and it should do that effortlessly. Look for solutions that feature built-in barcode wizards, making the barcode generation process simple and less intimidating.

4. Use of Database Connections

   You may already have a database or spreadsheet of the order or product data. Your label designing software should connect the label designs with your spreadsheet or database to enable you to print variable data, like SKU numbers, product varieties, and more. Software that uses database connections increases your label printing process’s efficiency and mitigates the risk of errors.

5. Levels of Complexity

   Your barcode and label printing requirements can vary depending on your business and industry. For instance,

   • You can use static text and barcodes with no variable data if you're a small business with no regulations and compliances.
   • But if you are in a highly regulated industry, such as food or healthcare, you'll need stricter labeling integration and security with regulatory systems.

   Hence, choose a label printing software that best suits your business requirements.

6. Keep the Cost in Mind

   Although label-maker software can play a pivotal role in your business's branding and regulatory compliance, you don't want to overspend on it and increase your operational costs. Pick a provider that charges a reasonable rate, and choose long subscriptions to avail of further discounts.

What is the Use of Label Printing?

Label maker software creates all types and combinations of labels for identification, warning, information, instructions, and advertising. Here are some of the widespread uses of the best label printing software.

1. Product Labeling

   Permanent product identification using a label is customary. Examples include VIN plates on an automobile, food labels containing expiry dates & ingredients, installation guides, and more. Companies use label designing software for printing labels that include information like the brand name and other information required to use the product.

2. Packaging

   Tools used for packaging may have labeling attached to the package. These may carry barcodes, pricing, usage guidance, addresses, UPC identification, advertising, recipes, etc.

3. Assets Labeling

   Asset labeling is used in military and industrial environments to identify assets for operational and maintenance purposes. Companies and organizations use label generator software for creating barcodes for electronic identification.

4. Textile labeling

   Most of the garments carry care/treatment/instruction labels. These labels indicate an item should be used, stored, washed, and ironed. Some textiles containing certain ingredients are legally obliged to do compulsory labeling. Textile companies use these labeling solutions to print labels containing the company names, identification numbers, and material content.

5. Mailing

   Label printing software is used to create mailing labels and help identify the sender, addressee, and any other information required to facilitate the transit. Several software word processor programs can create standardized mailing labels with routing barcodes or special handling requirements using labeling software to comply with postal standards.