brother True Cost Of Poor Label Printing User Guide
- June 15, 2024
- Brother
Table of Contents
- Warehousing and storage:
- Warehouse labelling equipment: The main problems
- The label printing equipment downtime spiral
- What are the main culprits for wasting warehouse time?
- How good quality labelling equipment can save you time
- The true cost of poor quality label printing
- How your business can save costs and boost efficiencies
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
at your side
The true cost of poor label printing
The causes, impact
and how to minimise it
Research-led
Warehousing and storage:
What’s slowing businesses down?
The warehousing and storage industry revenue is projected to grow at a
compound annual rate of 4.3 % to £25.5 billion, according to the IBIS World’s
Warehousing & Storage in the UK trends ( 2017-2022 ) report.
This growth is driven by ongoing developments in online retailing and the
fast-moving consumer goods market, meaning warehouses need to implement new
and better methods to keep up with demand both accurately and efficiently.
So, we wanted to find out exactly what’s slowing down warehouses like yours,
and what your pain points are, specifically when it comes to your labelling
equipment. To do this, we spoke directly to operations and warehouse managers
to find out how much
time they spend on equipment downtime, how to minimise this, and what they
really need from a good quality label printer.
Because you know, as well as we do, when it comes to label printing for
warehouse and logistics operations, there is a cost associated with poorly
performing equipment. But exactly how much is that cost? And what can
warehouses do to minimise it?
9,693 | warehousing and storage businesses in the UK |
---|---|
241,191 | warehousing and storage industry workers employed in the UK |
£25.5m | warehousing and storage industry revenue |
Read on to find out.
Who did we speak to?
The job titles mentioned by the respondents to our research included:
- Warehouse managers
- Warehouse supervisors
- Production managers
- Logistics directors
- Managing directors
- Planning managers
- Transportation solution design
- Analytic and material management leads
According to our research:
89% | 38% | 32% |
---|
of respondents are responsible for buying or using
printed labels.| of respondents print informative labels with manufacturer
information.| of respondents print descriptive labels and cross dock labels.
Survey conducted Oct/Nov 2022; sample size 126.
Warehouse labelling equipment: The main problems
As any warehouse or operations manager will know, the impact of poor quality
label printers goes far beyond any immediate inconvenience. Of course, when
mishaps occur – for example, text or barcodes being blurry or illlegible – it
can lead to colleagues
having to repeat tasks. This means jobs take longer and impacts warehouse
efficiency.
Where this becomes an even bigger issue, however, is when poor quality label
printing inhibits goods from reaching their intended destination, causing
goods to have to be re-sent when they fail to be delivered.
This can cause hours of disruption, not just on reprinting labels and re-
sending items, but on fixing malfunctioning equipment. Additionally, there is
a risk of losing consumer loyalty to your brand due to poor service or delayed
delivery.
All in all, our research indicated that problems with label printing are
frequent and that poor quality labelling can cost between two weeks to two
months in lost time over the course of a year.
What are the most common problems respondents face with label printing?
- 37 % – the label printout does not match the label design A mismatch can manifest as blurry or illegible text, cut text, white outlines, faded colours, and more.
- 25 % – wrong configuration or settings Causes include: changing labels, print head misalignment, wrong print density or layout and the device you’re printing from. This results in the wrong print speed, not printing edge to edge, uncentred labels, ribbon creasing or printing the wrong size image for the label size.
- 11 % – defective consumables – paper, labels, and ribbons This can be caused by using poor quality direct thermal papers or sub-optimal label and ribbon combinations. Using the right quality of label and a suitable matching ribbon are key to achieving effective print density and label resilience.
The label printing equipment downtime spiral
Consumer demands for faster delivery at lower costs are only continuing to
increase, with more than half of UK consumers recently stating they think
same-day delivery is “important”. As a result, the need for logistics and
fulfilment services to get things right, first time, is more important than
ever before.
However, errors in label printing or equipment breakdown can lead to downtime,
productivity loss, late or lost deliveries, and overall customer
dissatisfaction. Not only does this impact on the customer experience,
creating even more work when customers feel the need to make a complaint, but
it costs the time it takes to repair broken equipment.
Importantly, studies conducted on the nature of interruptions, such as
downtime, have shown that every interruption results in a loss of 23 minutes
of staff productivity.
You can work out your business’ downtime cost by calculating employee cost per
hour, budget spent fixing the issue, the number of employees unable to work
during the downtime, and the time length of the downtime.
How many times had our respondents had problems with label printing in the last six months?
- Almost half ( 49 % ) of respondents had between 11 and 40 label printing incidents.
- Nearly a third ( 32 % ) faced between 1 and 10 label printing incidents.
What did our respondents say about their experience with equipment downtime?
- 51 % have had to organise repairs.
- 39 % have experienced downtime of at least a couple of hours.
- 28 % experienced a whole day of downtime due to problems with label printing in the last six months.
- 28 % have spent a whole day with machines unavailable.
- 10 % had downtime that lasted for days, or even weeks, in the last six months.
What are the main culprits for wasting warehouse time?
In logistics and fulfilment, timing is everything. The storage and
distribution of goods is a complex chain of processes – this means one error
can make the world of difference, from goods arriving on time to never
arriving at all.
In instances where goods never arrive at all, time is wasted as employees have
to arrange replacements, to the detriment of other tasks.
Plus, when goods need to be redelivered because they’ve not arrived at their
intended location, re-labelling them to resend them is both costly and
inefficient.
According to recent research, 76 % of manufacturers admit they saw
mislabelling on more than 10 % of their goods.
However, errors aren’t the only cause of downtime in transport and logistics.
The graph below shows that 29 % of our respondents could save time with
simpler label or ribbon changes.
How replacing label rolls is eating up your time
Almost half ( 47 % ) of our respondents said that they replace label rolls on
a weekly basis. Yet, poor quality labels and ribbon rolls can cause you to
repeat tasks on top of the time lost every time you replace a roll.
In fact, data from market research company, Savanta*, stated: Label and ribbon
path misalignment when changing roll sizes and paper, ribbon jams, and ease of
use are critical printer issues.”
They also found that print mechanism failures occur at 10K-20K labels printed,
typically after media has been changed out.
According to recent research, companies like DHL print 40,000 to 100,000
labels per machine per day, having on average 10 machines in each location.
What else did our respondents say wastes time?
- 57 % said when labels can’t be scanned and get returned for re-labelling.
- 51 % have had to organise repairs.
- 47 % said waiting for new equipment.
*Source: Savanta research for Brother, June-July 2022, based on 884 responses across 5 European countries
How good quality labelling equipment can save you time
Whether it’s innovative hardware features such as our adjustable roll feeders
to help prevent misalignment or our outstanding commitment to supporting our
customers, it’s clear that partnering with a vendor like Brother means both
having high quality, reliable and simple-to-use label printing equipment, and
easy, quick access to repairs.
Things we know are central to warehouse and logistics businesses saving time.
This can be seen in the results we collected, as half of respondents ( 51 % )
mentioned that “an easier repair/replacement process” would help them save
time when printing labels, closely followed by “reliable equipment that
doesn’t break as easily” ( 48 % ).
But there are other routes to time saving that our respondents also picked up
on. For instance, 57 % of respondents stated the fact that “labels can’t be
scanned and could get returned for re-labelling” is what wastes their time the
most.
As a result, having better integration between software and printers would
save huge amounts of time. In fact, 63 % of our respondents agree with this
statement.
That’s why, at Brother, we recommend integrating a software solution to speed
up labelling. For instance, by integrating with SAP ( one of many solutions
you could choose ), you can reduce the need to input information manually,
meaning less mistakes are made, and you can save time on redoing tasks.
Plus, Brother recommends, where possible, that printers should be directly
integrated with your in-house WMS or ERP system to maintain data integrity
from source to finished label. Removing human intervention or rework and
allowing a straight data flow from your main business software significantly
improves data efficiency and ensures automatic label template selection.
With SAP, you can benefit from:
- Quick and easy setup Easy integration and print continuity within your SAP environment whether you are already using a Brother product or plan to switch.
- Leading solutions and support Collaborative innovation ensures the best combination of printer features and SAP technology paired with Brother’s “At your side” support.
- Seamless operations Create barcode labels for a wide range of applications with automated processes, ensuring smooth business operations.
The true cost of poor quality label printing
97 % of the respondents we surveyed are aware of the costs of label printing
such as hardware, software, and consumables.
But, as our research shows, the impacts of unplanned downtime, compliance
errors, shipping delays, inventory overhead, product recalls, and lost
business also need to be taken into consideration.
Importantly, three quarters of our respondents have experienced rejected
deliveries due to unreadable barcodes, resulting in goods having to be
returned and reworked, as well as a loss of reputation, and possible financial
penalties.
Not only does this waste huge amounts of time but it creates additional costs
from rearranging deliveries to losing valuable items, as well as damaging
customer loyalty.
In fact, when asked how poor quality label printing can affect deliveries, 76
% of our respondents had experienced rejected deliveries due to barcodes that
couldn’t be read and 75 % had had to re-send goods.
When asked how much time poor quality label printing costs their business per
year, 59 % said between a week to over a month.
However, in order to optimise day-to-day operations, it’s vital to understand
the cost of all this. Importantly, only when we take all these factors into
account can we calculate the true cost of poor label printing.
How much money does poor quality label printing cost your business per year?
- Only 4 % are not aware of the cost of poor label printing.
- 42 % stated it costs them £1,000 or less. ( that’s equivalent to five desktop printers per year ).
- Over half ( 53 % ) stated it cost them from £1,000 to more than £3,000 ( that’s enough to purchase up to three new industrial tabletop printers per year ).
How your business can save costs and boost efficiencies
We know label printing is an important part of any warehouse and logistics
business – but not something you want to spend too much time and energy on.
That’s why at Brother, we live for the label. So you don’t have to.
But what does that mean, exactly?
It means we live for reliability
We know consumers want everything delivered ‘now’, for low cost. That’s why
Brother label printers are built specifically for high-volume label printing
with high print speeds, large ribbon capacity of up to 600m, and industrial-
grade durability.
It means we live for quality
We know one tiny misprint can make all the difference. That’s why our printing
devices produce clear, accurate labels and receipts up to four inches in
width, with thermal print technology, and a top quality user experience. Plus,
we can advise on the best Brother labels for your needs.
It means we live for performance
We know ecommerce never stops. And when you can reliably print thousands of
labels per day, with lightning-quick loading and longer-lasting ribbons, your
productivity won’t stop either.
It means we live for support
We know you’ve not got time for things to go wrong. That’s why we’ve got you
covered with best-in-class warranty options and dedicated support “At your
side” to get things sorted.
Our label printing solutions
At Brother, we’ve been producing label printers for over 30 years. As a
result, our label printers are sturdy, reliable and include a range of high
volume industrial printers, as well as desktop and portable models. Meaning,
your warehouse can implement the most appropriate model for your operation to
increase efficiency and maximise productivity, through a choice of single user
or multi-user print solutions to match your workflow.
From receiving goods to shipping them out, our range of printers is ready to
withstand the demands of your operation, from desktop devices with compact
footprints that accommodate tight workspaces, to mobile models that are easy
to use across the warehouse. Most importantly, by using the correct media,
print quality can be assured for the lifetime of the machine.
Plus, when you buy a new Brother printer, there’s always someone to call if
things go wrong.
References
Scan the QR codes below for more information:
| |
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https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/market-researchreports/warehousing-
storage-
industry/#:~:text=The%20Warehousing%20and%20Storage%20industry,4.3%25%20to%20%C2%A325.5%20billion.|
https://www.maccopy.com/blog/avoid-costly-downtimewith-managed-print-
services/| https://manufacturingdigital.com/technology/globalmanufacturers-
reportedly-mislabel-10-goods
| |
https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2022/01/18/half-of-britssame-day-deliveries-
important/| https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/06/01
/interruptions-at-work-can-cost-you-up-to-6-hours-a-day-heres-how-to-avoid-
them/|
Talk to us
At Brother, we want to help you find the right product for your business. To
receive specific label printer recommendations for your warehouse, speak to
one of our printing experts today.
brother.dk/vi-elsker-labels
brother.ee/live-for-the-label
brother.fi/me-rakastamme-tarroja
brother.is/live-for-the-label
brother.lv/live-for-the-label
brother.lt/live-for-the-label
brother.no/vi-elsker-etiketter
brother.se/live-for-the-label
All specifications correct at the time of printing (March 2023) and are
subject to change.
Brother is a registered trademark of Brother Industried Ltd. Brand product
names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.
09/2023
References
- Global Manufacturers Reportedly Mislabel 10% of Goods | Manufacturing Digital
- More than half of Brits think same-day delivery is "important"
- Warehousing & Storage in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2023-2028)| IBISWorld
- Managed Print Services for Reducing Costly Downtime
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
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