Smarter Labeling: How Automation Software Transforms Print Efficiency & Quality

Label printing plays an important role in ensuring operational efficiency, product traceability, and regulatory compliance in industries like manufacturing, transportation & logistics, retail, and healthcare. Whether it's labeling parts on a production line, shipping packages, tagging retail inventory, or identifying medical supplies, the accuracy and consistency of labels directly impact business outcomes and the global supply chain.

Also, as organizations are working through staffing gaps or starting to rely more on layered workforces—using a mix of full-time, part-time, and temporary or contract workers—label printing can become even more prone to errors and inefficiencies, especially if it’s a manual process. Common challenges include inconsistent label quality, manual data entry mistakes, and difficulty maintaining compliance with industry regulations.

Label print automation software offers a solution. By integrating with existing business systems and streamlining label printing, automation reduces human error, boosts productivity, and ensures consistent quality across operations. Let’s explore what label print automation is, how it works, its benefits, and a real-world success story.

What is automated label printing?

Automated label printing replaces the manual task of creating and printing a label with an automated process that is faster and more efficient. The goal of print automation is to minimize touch points within the labeling process by reducing errors with human interaction. Approaches to automated label printing could look like label design software with APIs or out-of-the-box print automation software.

A complete label print automation solution connects your label design software and Zebra printing technologies with your existing WMS, MES, ERP system, LIMS, or custom application. Print automation software can quickly trigger a print job using the data from your business system. It can integrate with REST APIs, automatically populate your labels, and print to an unlimited number of printers.

Example of what this looks like in the real world

Using TEKLYNX print automation software, SENTINEL, you click “print” from your ERP system. Behind the scenes, a flat file (.txt, .csv, .xml, etc.) is automatically dropped into a SENTINEL, triggering the label printing process. No manual steps or print delays, just seamless automation and accurate labels.

What are the benefits of label print automation?

·       Reduce IT interaction: Little to no maintenance is required once print automation software is configured with your system.

·       Faster label printing: Through the elimination of manual data entry and business system integration, label printing process speed could double.

·       Automatically convert data to labels: Print automation software automatically populates the labels for you by pulling the data directly from your business system.

·       Ensure label accuracy: Automating your label printing process reduces human interactions which decreases the opportunity for error.

·       More user-friendly label printing: Reduce stress and save time by eliminating unnecessary steps to create a simpler labeling process for your print users.

Success story from the manufacturing industry

TaylorMade Golf, a leading manufacturer of high-performance golf equipment, faced significant challenges in their labeling process. “Our biggest issue was the lack of flexibility in label data sources and the restrictions it imposed on our business processes,” said Rafal Janus, Senior Manager of Solutions Development at TaylorMade. Plus, changes to their labels required a third party and any significant changes cost approximately $8,000.

After implementing SENTINEL, TaylorMade now manages their labeling process internally, eliminating the need for third-party software maintenance. This change alone reduced their total equipment cost by 50%, showing a positive return on investment (ROI).

TaylorMade currently has five installations of SENTINEL around the world and the ability to print to unlimited printers across their entire enterprise. Throughout their facilities, TaylorMade primarily uses Zebra printers along with the native label printer drivers developed by TEKLYNX to print highly accurate label designs at fast print speeds. As a result, labeling accuracy rose from 85% to an impressive 99%. Read the full case study.

What’s the best way to implement automated label printing?

Assess your current workflows

Auditing your labeling system and processes helps you make sure you’re compliant with changing regulations, your labeling system and processes support operational efficiency rather than hinder it, and you’re able to easily scale as your business grows.

How do you determine if there’s room for improvement? How do you look for hidden inefficiencies?

·       Conduct an internal audit of software: Review versions, licenses, and compatibility with other software.

·       Get feedback from design and print users: Ask your team what slows them down.

·       Track label error rate: Monitor the number of misprints over a given time.

·       Analyze recall root cause: Determine if labeling errors contributed to past issues.

·       Consult with experts: Your labeling software provider can help assess your current labeling process for improvements, advise you on how to merge two labeling environments, and show you lean labeling strategies to support sustainability.

Choose software that integrates with your existing systems

Integrating label print automation software with your existing business systems can expand your ROI by using infrastructure you already own.

Work with your labeling software provider to review your technological environment. They can help you determine the best approach to automated label printing and implement changes or new solutions with as little disruption as possible.

Monitor your progress

Track key performance indicators like print speed, label error rate, misprint frequency, labeling-related recalls, and (internal) print user satisfaction to assess the impact of your changes. Regularly reviewing these metrics will help fine-tune your label printing process over time and ensure it continues to meet your business needs.

It’s time to label smarter with automation

Automated label printing helps businesses improve efficiency, reduce labeling errors, and maintain consistent quality across operations. Instead of allocating budget to entirely new infrastructure, companies can enhance their labeling processes by building on the systems they already use—making automation a practical and cost-effective investment.

Learn more about TEKLYNX label software for Zebra printers.