Using Integrated Labeling Systems to Maximize Efficiency

Using Integrated Labeling Systems to Maximize Efficiency

BY: NICK RECHT / DATE: 02/08/2024 / TOPICS: ENTERPRISE LABEL MANAGEMENT, PRINT AUTOMATION

Software system integration is a key tool used by businesses to enhance operations. Instead of each software application existing in its own silo, system integration allows separate applications to talk to each other. Integrating disjointed software solutions is commonly viewed as a challenge, but at TEKLYNX, we offer four main ways to integrate labeling systems with your existing technology stack.  

Labeling systems are a prime candidate for integration because they require accurate data that is generally housed within other software systems. In this blog, we’ll dive into the four ways labeling systems can be integrated with other business systems. 

Integration & Automation Consult

Why integrate labeling systems? 

Integrating your labeling system with your existing business tools has several compelling benefits. 

• Data accuracy is easily maintained when the label printing software can talk to your business system or database. Without integration, you may rely on manual data entry, copying and pasting, or importing data between systems. Integrated labeling systems accept data directly from the business system, boosting accuracy to nearly 100%.  
• Usability is maximized when systems are integrated. Disjointed systems mean the user must frequently switch between applications and work with many different user interfaces. When systems are integrated, the end user can work in as few as one single system.  
• Efficiency is often a primary goal for businesses, and labeling system integration is a key way to achieve it. Manual data entry is slow and often results in mistakes and rework, while integration automates data entry. 
• Scalability means that your system can handle continually increasing demands. This could be new locations, additional users, or longer usage hours. When your integrated labeling system is efficient and easy to use, it’s also easy to scale as your business grows. 
• Additional functionality can be achieved when systems are integrated. When your labeling software is integrated with your business system, you might find that it makes sense to also print documents such as pick lists, pack lists, or bills of materials (BOMs) through the same system. With a fully automated label printing system (more on that a little later), it might make sense to trigger an advanced shipping notice email at the time of the print job.  

Read real life labeling integration success stories from companies of all sizes.  

4 ways to integrate labeling systems 

Now, let’s dive into the four main ways we guide TEKLYNX customers through labeling system integration.  

1. Connect your label design software to a database  

Database connections are a powerful first step to labeling system integration. Available in all TEKLYNX label design solutions, connecting your labeling software to your business database makes it easy to get the right data printed on your labels.  

1. Choose from OLE or ODBC connection to Excel, Access, SQL, or your cloud database in the database connection wizard.
2. Follow the steps to select the required tables and fields to connect to your label template.
3. Each field becomes a data source in the label design software, ready to be dragged and dropped onto the label template.

With a database connection set up, you can page through database records to view live data on your label template. At print time, you can select the database record(s) you wish to print or print all records. 

Watch our detailed training webinar, Creating Database Connections with TEKLYNX Software. 

Building database connections in your label design software is the first step to labeling system integration. Accuracy and efficiency increase, but your users still need to open the label design software to print labels. A fully automated label printing system eliminates this for maximum efficiency. 

2. Full automation via low-code integration 

While some claim that full automation requires deep programmatic integration, TEKLYNX offers a better solution. Fully automated label printing is possible with a low-code integration method.   

First, let’s define “fully automated label printing.” This means that the moment an action occurs in your business system, accurate labels are printed in less than one second. That’s fast!  

The action that triggers a label or document print job could be anything that makes sense for your business. We often see print jobs triggered by a work order being sent to production, order status being changed to “Ready for Shipping,” or clicking a button in the ERP system. When this action occurs, your business system will either add a record to a database or export a file to a watch folder. SENTINEL, our label print automation solution, catches this data and instantly triggers a label print job to the defined printer.  

The best part about this method of integrating your labeling system is that it involves little to no programming or training. When it’s time to upgrade your business system, the impact on your labeling process is usually very minimal and production can continue without interruption.  

3. Integrate label printing using RESTful API 

RESTful API has become a popular approach for building labeling system integrations that are easy to use, flexible, and scalable. According to TEKLYNX Sales Engineer, Robert Lenski, “At least 4 out of 5 new customers will use REST. It is the same use case as it always has been, but a much more modern communication method for anyone trying to integrate their technology stack.” 

Integration via RESTful API has many advantages, including bi-directional communication between systems. Instead of your label printing system simply receiving data, you can now send a response back from the printing system via RESTful API to your business system.  

This bi-directional communication allows you to see whether a print job was completed and any errors that may have occurred.  

Learn more about the future of RESTful API labeling systems.  

4. Custom integration tools 

While a universal, low-code integration is a great solution for most companies, sometimes a business requires a custom label printing solution. TEKLYNX offers a robust set of tools to build the ideal label printing solution for end users and software developers alike.  

CODESOFT + API 

CODESOFT is our enterprise-level label design solution. Paired with the API add-on, it enables customers to combine business logic with label printing.  

The typical CODESOFT + API customer has a custom application that handles some aspects of their production process and often has in-house development resources. Integrating the CODESOFT + API with the custom application allows real-time data to be pulled into the label template. 

One exciting use case for CODESOFT + API is a custom integration with a popular Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Test results from the LIMS are gathered, placed onto the label template, and printed. The end user never interacts with CODESOFT, just the custom application. This is just one example of creative label integration solutions made possible by CODESOFT + API. 

TEKLYNX SDK 

The TEKLYNX SDK offers labeling integration fit for large -scale applications. Independent software developers can use the TEKLYNX SDK to integrate high-quality, proven label printing technology into their own solutions.  

With the TEKLYNX SDK, not only does the end user never interact with the label design solution, but the labeling software doesn’t even have to be installed on each workstation.  

Take a closer look at label system integration and automation 

Learn more about label system integration and automation in my on-demand webinar, Modern Approaches to Automating Label Printing: 3 Powerful Methods. Hear use cases and user stories for CODESOFT + API, SENTINEL, and the TEKLYNX SDK. The recording is available now.

Ready to chat with a TEKLYNX integration expert about your labeling integration needs? Get in touch with us today. 

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