Should your Labeling System Determine your Label Supplier?
Companies and organizations that require a high volume of labels often use a software-based label printing system to expedite the creation of labels. In most cases, purchasing and implementing the software in-house is a significant investment.
Consequently, many remain devoted to an edition of the software for a long period of time, maximizing the return on investment (ROI) and avoiding making the investment again — upgrading to new software when the old program is obsolete — for as long as possible.
Does this mean users’ software-based labeling systems lock them into using a label supplier that provides products expressly for those specific systems?
Yes and no. It’s possible for users to end up in a situation called “vendor lock”, where a label supplier provides labels to use with a particular printing system, and also commonly sells the software and hardware that comprise the printing system. If you buy labels from a different supplier, they presumably won’t work well with your system. But “presumably” is the key word.
Using a Custom Label Supplier
If you find yourself stuck in vendor lock with a label supplier, you may be in the situation because other suppliers’ stock labels don’t suit your labeling system. If so, and you would like to break the “lock”, working with a custom label supplier such as Shamrock Labeling Systems is your best option. A supplier that specializes in custom solutions can tailor the following six label components to match your needs:
- Liner
- Release coating
- Adhesive
- Facestock, including text and graphics
- Primer or barrier coating between adhesive and facestock
- Top coat
Most custom label suppliers supply stock labels, too. When searching for a labeling solution, evaluating stock products, and then opting for custom labels if those products fall short, is the usual sequence of events. However, if you’re using a printing system that can only use stock labels a specific vendor supplies, a custom label maker may save you time by immediately recommending a custom option.
If you anticipate swapping out your stock labels with custom labels by a certain date, now is the time to contact a custom label supplier and inquire about the turnaround time for producing the labels you need.
Need a Custom Label Solution?
If you’re stuck with using labels for your printing system that leave something to be desired, Shamrock Labels is here to help. We can create labels that are suited for practically any type of software you use for your labeling system. We can also customize labels in ways that transcend the printing system, such as creating pre-printed graphics the system can’t produce and reduce your headaches!
To get started on selecting a label solution that offers everything you want and need, give us a call today at (800) 323-0249, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to supplying best-in-class labels for your printing system!