Label Printers In The Information Age

By Author: Rachael william
Total Articles: 31
Comment this article

Label printers have developed rapidly in recent years, as the methods of carrying information have progressed in new and innovative ways.

Gartner says the 'Information Age' is now into its second phase, where the use of data becomes the significant factor, rather than the creation of new technologies for carrying information.

The most visible innovations are web-based platforms like social networks and search engines, but in the physical world a variety of different label formats are essential to daily living.

"Competitive advantage cannot be sustained other than by ceaselessly pursuing new ways to compete, and changing one's culture to match the new needs," says Gartner distinguished analyst and vice-president Jorge Lopez.

Label printers in the long term

Label printers have been an essential component of day-to-day life ever since the first bar codes were used in retail environments, automating the process of calculating the total cost of a shopping basket or trolley at the till.

Those iconic monochromatic patterns of stripes, with their number codes printed below them, can now be found ...
... on the labels of almost all supermarket items, with the exception of in-store bakery products.

However, they can also be used for stock tracking and other purposes in non-retail environments such as warehouses and even offices.

Label printers and Quick Recognition

Label printers capable of printing QR codes are the new generation of bar code technology.

Like the classic stripy bar codes before them, QR codes are a two-dimensional, monochrome way of storing data.

However, unlike traditional bar codes, they do not necessarily carry a numerical reference - instead, they can carry a number or an item of text.

This could be a website URL, a product name, or a combination of letters and numbers.

Label printers and RFID

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) adds a new dimension to label printers, as they must be able to add a small electronic circuit to the adhesive side of each label.

This in turn allows the item to be identified when it passes close to a scanner, through a process known as near-field communications and more commonly called 'contactless' technology.

By adopting RFID and investing in compatible label printers, organisations can automate many elements of stocktaking and inventory processes, and benefit from cost savings in the long run as a consequence.

Systems Print Media is one of the UK’s leading label and barcode specialists, offering an unrivalled range of label printers and accessories.