Last year we wrote an Editorial about the Half-Life of Technology Knowledge, this month we explore another example of this axiom. 5 years ago, when we were asked (somewhat infrequently) about using label printing software to do production reporting, our answer was no. Today, our answer is yes.
It seems easy, you are using this software to print labels, just need it to write the data that was printed into a database table or heck, even a spreadsheet so you can use the label printed as the official production record. But some years ago, label software could only pull data in from different sources and print the labels from the data.
But software has come so far in such a quick time that it is now relatively easy to also have your software also send that data from the labels printed up to a software of record, be it your actual ERP, or your MES software, anything that is capable of receiving data in from outside sources.
So, let’s name names, who’s label printing software. Well BarTender is the main product that we sell. Followed distantly by NiceLabel who is now owned by Loftware. Both are capable of this functionality.
Is there a catch? Kind of. The basic versions won’t do this, you will need the more advanced version of the software, which you may already be using. You will also need a very competent partner to help you get this all set up for you. Cough, cough, like EMP. You also may need to do some backend work on your side to get the data imported into your system of record.
But a resounding yes to using the data that you are using to print your labels, which may be coming from multiple sources to also feed your production software with the items that were actually produced.
Want to learn more, and maybe get a demo on how this could work? www.emptechgroup.com is the best place to reach us.