Need for Speed: Tips to Boost Label Print Speeds

Need for Speed: Tips to Boost Label Print Speeds

BY: TRAVIS WAYNE / DATE: 01/29/2019 / TOPICS: ENTERPRISE LABEL MANAGEMENT, PRINT AUTOMATION, LABEL DESIGN

Does your company have a goal to print labels faster? Most companies do since faster print speeds ultimately create efficiency. To help your company begin achieving its labeling goal, TEKLYNX has developed three labeling best practices focused on streamlining the printing process to create faster print speeds.

If you need help deciding which barcode label software solution is right for your business or want to leverage our expertise to implement best practices in your labeling environment, get in touch with a TEKLYNX labeling expert. 

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Now let's start with the best practice that focuses on the core way print speeds are affected: communication.

Labeling best practice #1: Optimize software to printer communication

Much like in life, without clear communication, it's difficult to work efficiently. Have you ever had to write a report where your supervisor’s guidelines weren't clear? You probably had trouble writing because you didn't know how long the report should be or what data to include. Your label design software communicates the guidelines for the label with your printer, much like how your supervisor communicates the guidelines of the report to you. When communication is unclear, it slows down your printing process.

To optimize the communication between your software and printer, leverage TEKLYNX embedded printer drivers, which ensure crystal clear communication, since the software speaks the native language of the printer. With “What You See Is What You Get” label printing, you don’t need to slow down because of redesigning and reprinting, you just print and go.

Additionally, use the resident font installed on the printer instead of on the computer. When using non-printer resident fonts, letters and numbers are sent as images, which increases the amount of data transferred during print time. More data means more time wasted printing!

Communication is key for increasing print speeds, but another way to print labels faster revolves around how you're adding data to your labels, which brings us to the next best practice.

Labeling best practice #2: Set up forms for print users

Instead of having the print user open a label file, then edit the text, and then edit the barcode fields, all directly on the label, you can design a printing form in your labeling software that only allows the print user to type in data at print time. This form helps the print user move quickly through the printing process, while also avoiding unintended edits to the label design and decreasing the chance of human errors. TEKLYNX label design software CODESOFT comes with built in form designer tools you can leverage to implement this best practice into your company’s labeling process.

Now that your software and printer speak the same language and you've set up a form for label data entry, it's time to evaluate the printing process itself, which is the third best practice.

Labeling best practice #3: Print from the internet

Using configurable browser-based printing interfaces to print labels across your organization drastically reduces the amount of time it takes to print because it doesn't even involve opening the label design software! Instead, print users find the correct label by typing in a unique identifier for the label, like part number or order number, and then the labeling system generates the label based on database connections.

TEKLYNX CENTRAL is an enterprise label management solution that leverages configurable browser-based printing interfaces, which makes it easy to print from anywhere in the world, and quickly, too. This feature makes it easy to integrate supplier networks, creating further ease in the supply chain labeling process.

Print speed ties directly to your labeling process' efficiency; the faster the printing process, the more time can be allotted elsewhere. The best practices in this article, along with other strategies to help your company label better, can be found in TEKLYNX Best Practices for Barcode Labeling eBook. By following the best practices of optimizing software to printer communication, setting up forms, and printing from the internet, your company is speeding toward a faster label printing process.