By Jen Falk Announcements • Blog 0 Comments

Digital Skills to Pay the Bills

Technology and digital advancements within the print industry are continuously evolving, creating a competitive culture – but also a cause for concern. A recent article in Print Week by Rhys Handley has put the spotlight back on the digital skills divide within the print industry.

As new applications are developed, they also require the infrastructure, workflows and skills to support them. A recent study by the Open University called ‘Bridging the Digital Divide’ states as many as nine in 10 organisations across Great Britain currently lack the necessary digital skills, which range from cyber security and the cloud, to data management and social media.

As they widen, skills gaps can impact productivity heavily, with 56% of businesses saying this has already happened and half expecting profitability to be impacted within five years if the situation is not rectified. Research suggests that digital transformation can make every business in every sector more productive, and most businesses can’t afford to miss out.

With this in mind, it can become overwhelming to deal with these issues on top of your day-to-day running of a printing company. This is where strong links with suppliers of training, education and software become key in overcoming any barriers a printing company may face.

Label converters have been shifting their attention to software applications ranging from pre-press automation workflows, project management, online label ordering and business management systems.

So what can you do to identify and address the digital skills gap in your business?

  • What is your digital strategy? Define a plan of implementation with clear milestones.
  • Do you have buy-in from senior management?
  • Do you need additional people with new skills or is it a matter of introducing new skills to existing employees? Focusing on existing employees is a much lower-cost option – they know your business and they are already committed to your brand.
  • Try to look long-term rather than focusing on short-term gains.
  • Find out what training and support your software and other digital suppliers can offer.
  • Digital training should be continuously evaluate and consistent.
  • Does your organisation have a learning mindset?
  • Don’t be afraid to speak to your customers to see how you can support them on their journey.

Contact Label Traxx if you would like to discuss giving your customers online access to order their labels, prepress automation or workflow optimisation through management software. We’d be happy to help. Visit www.labeltraxx.com or come to see our experts at Labelexpo, Brussels on stand 9A10 during September 24th-27th.

By Jen Falk Announcements • Blog • • • • 0 Comments

2019 Label Traxx User Conference

Do you have questions about how to optimize your use of Label Traxx MIS? Sign up for the 2019 Label Traxx User Conference May 8-10, in Milwaukee, WI. Label Traxx is offering training on a variety of topics relating to the Label Traxx software.

Check out new modules, hear about best practice and learn from your peers. There will be 15 sessions held over a three-day period covering topics such as digital optimization through JDF, managing and monitoring KPIs with Business Metrixx, custom-report writing, monitoring profits and many more.

Click on this link to download the brochure and sign up now: https://customers.labeltraxx.com/_w0tlJkUxRwtg8R

By Katy Nightingale Announcements 0 Comments

Siteline – a new way to gain loyalty from your label buyer customers

“Stop wasting your customers’ time!” urges the latest amusing video release from Label Traxx MIS. The film clip focuses on a stressed-out label buyer who is struggling with his workload until he is introduced to Label Traxx MIS’ new web-based module Siteline. Siteline gives label buyers 24-hour access to their product and account information.

Consumers today expect to be able to place an order on the move from their phone or tablet at any time of day. They don’t want to be constricted by office opening hours. Why should buying labels be different to any other purchasing experience?

“Most label printers have been focused on efficiency gains in production and automation when it comes to growing and optimising their business,” says Chris Spooner Label Traxx Business Development Manager. “Not many label converters have reviewed their customer experience and what it takes to get pricing information and place an order. How quick and easy is it to buy from my business?”

Siteline connects directly to your Label Traxx database and gives your customers access to view their product database and order history. They can easily place repeat orders online and the jobs then automatically load into the MIS system awaiting scheduling.

“Siteline also has a specifically developed messaging tool that helps to manage projects,” explains Spooner. “Typically when you get an enquiry from a customer, it kicks off a barrage of emails that go back and forth between the printer and the customer. Six months down the line and there is a query with the product, it’s very difficult to track back to the information required. Siteline enables you to communicate with your customer in a project area with clear milestones, which makes it very easy to track its status at any point in time.”

Siteline gives your customers the buying experience they expect from a modern business and reduces the amount of time between initial enquiry and the order being printed in production. It’s also the ultimate sales tool for your reps to offer to new prospects. Differentiate your label printing business by showing your customers you care about their time.

Visit Label Traxx for a demo on booth 5920 at Labelexpo Americas in Chicago.

By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Label Traxx Joins Growing List of Digital Packaging Summit Sponsors

The Digital Packaging Summit will return to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., for its fourth annual edition and Label Traxx will be joining the event as a sponsor. This invitation-only, hosted summit designed for senior managers and business executives who want to understand how current and future digital production printing, finishing technology, software and solutions will impact their business and investment decisions. It will take place November 5-7 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

“We are pleased to welcome Atlas Die, Barberán, MPS and Label Traxx to the robust roster of sponsors taking part in the Digital Packaging Summit,” stated Brian Ludwick, publisher of packagePRINTING, a co-organizer of the event. “As digital printing continues its rapid growth throughout the packaging industry, the Digital Packaging Summit has proven to be an essential platform for suppliers and converters to meet one-on-one, sharing valuable insights into how they can make the most of this game-changing technology.”

The Digital Packaging Summit’s innovative format promotes in-depth interaction between supplier sponsors and hosted converter attendees. Digital printing users leave the event with new knowledge and guidance on how their companies can most benefit from digital printing, while suppliers gain newly formed relationships with potential digital solutions buyers.
Supplementing the program is an industry-leading lineup of speakers and panelists providing the latest insights and trends in digital package printing. The program is led by advisory board co-chairmen and digital printing experts Marco Boer, VP of I.T. Strategies, and Kevin Karstedt, CEO of Karstedt Partners.

The conference program will cater to senior level decision makers tasked with researching and understanding digital solutions and determining if the business case to invest or expand into digital makes sense for their respective organization.

Digital Packaging Summit 2018 is scheduled to take place November 5-7 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. For information on sponsoring and/or attending, please visit www.digitalpackagingsummit.com.

Source: Digital Packaging Summit.

By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Label Traxx to Promote Digital Optimization at Xeikon Café North America

Label Traxx MIS joins with nearly thirty other printing industry suppliers as a sponsor of Xeikon Café North America, promoting its digital workflow optimization solutions for label printers.  Running from May 15th through May 17th, Xeikon Café is offered free of charge to printers and label converters who register for the event at www.xeikoncafe.com.  The café presents industry trends, best practices and expert views on current and future digital packaging challenges.

This year’s event focuses on how print providers can innovate and profit from digital print. With the rapid growth of digital printing in the label and packaging segment, it is imperative that a company’s management software has the tools to support and enhance digital workflows. In a digital environment, turnaround times and accuracy are pivotal to success. Label Traxx MIS software provides label converters with the tools to support and enhance digital workflows. It allows label manufacturers to reduce waste and non-value added tasks, paving the way to more profitable work.

“We’ve developed a number of tools specifically for the digital converting market to help label converters maximize on their productivity,” explains Label Traxx sales manager Dorothy Asboth. “Integration with prepress software systems such as Esko Automation Engine and Hybrid Cloudflow also help to reduce the time spent moving orders through production. Companies can maximize press utilization and reduce errors”. Label Traxx representatives will be available to discuss these workflows with Café attendees.

Café attendees will also be able to see Label Traxx’s latest customer portal and project management tool – Siteline for Label Traxx.  Siteline is designed to save brand owners time in tracking order information, reordering existing labels and managing the projects in development.  

Visit the Label Traxx exhibit for a demonstration.

ABOUT LABEL TRAXX

Label Traxx is an end-to-end management software system designed and built specifically for the label and packaging industry. The company continues to release cutting-edge software to help label converters streamline their operations and increase profitability. Label Traxx is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and supports customers across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean and Latin America.

For more information:

Dorothy Asboth

414-839-5215

dorothy@labeltraxx.com

By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Label Traxx offers training during 2018 User Conference

Label Traxx will be offering training on a variety of topics relating to the Label Traxx MIS during its 2018 User Conference in Milwaukee, WI. There will be 24 sessions offered over a three-day period May 8-10, 2018 at the Label Traxx Corporate Office.

With 20+ years on the market and consistent ownership through its entire history, Label Traxx has continuously evolved with the label printing industry and provides a single trusted system of record for capturing, managing, and analyzing data created by daily print operations. Label Traxx offers a number of tools to help label printers streamline and automate their digital label workflow, reduce overhead costs, and eliminate the bottlenecks caused by many small jobs in production.

The 2018 User Conference conference offers guidance to users on everything Label Traxx MIS users need to know. There will be sessions on everything from equipment set up to to managing inventory to understand how to conduct your inventory efficiently and make necessary adjustments.

The 2018 User Conference also includes several sessions with professionals such as David Steger, Ann Stilp, Melissa Borowicz, Jim Fackleman, Tonita Proulx and Russell Salzer who will be there to help guide you and your business to success.

Label Traxx aims to help label converters achieve their business goals through increased efficiency, improved productivity and better profitability. Attend the sessions that best fit the needs of you and your company. Register today by completing the registration form at https://customers.labeltraxx.com/_BZpsAEQUtwcgFR  and return it no later than April 17, 2018.

Want more info? Contact training@labeltraxx.com.

 

By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Label Traxx MIS partners with Flexo Label Advantage Group (FLAG)

Label Traxx, the management software (MIS) specialist for the label converting industry has announced its appointment as a vendor partner to the Flexo Label Advantage Group  (FLAG).

Label Traxx is an end-to-end management software system designed and built specifically for the label and packaging industry.  The company aims to help label converters streamline their operations, improve productivity and quality, and ultimately increase profitability.

“We are delighted to join with FLAG as a vendor partner,” says Dorothy Asboth, North American Sales. “The organization provides a large amount of value to its converter members and we have a mutual goal in ensuring their success.”

“Label Traxx is unique in that it provides a central system to manage your entire workflow from first customer contact right through to accounting and management metrics. Label converter businesses that thrive in this data-driven world are the ones that are working smarter, not harder. Label Traxx has worked with over 600 label converters worldwide and our industry-specific label software is designed to streamline operations and offer faster and more accurate access to business data.”

“It is tremendous when industry leading companies like Label Traxx recognize FLAG as a valuable community of label converters,” says John McKay, FLAG President and Founder. “Having Label Traxx join our team of world class Vendor Partners provides the exact kind of products and resources our converter members need to be more competitive in the marketplace, while helping them become stronger companies, all without sacrificing their independence”.

About Label Traxx

Label Traxx is an end-to-end management software system designed and built specifically for the label and packaging industry. The company continues to release cutting-edge software to help label converters streamline their operations and increase profitability.

Label Traxx is headquartered in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, and has an office in the UK, plus an agent in Australia. www.labeltraxx.com

For more information about FLAG visit www.flagadvantage.com

Label Traxx Business Metrixx module: Label converters that thrive in this data-driven world are the ones that are working smarter, not harder.

By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Label Traxx enters into the German label market by going live with Römer Etikett

Label Traxx, the management software (MIS) specialist for the label converting industry, has been launched into the German label market by going live with Römer Etikett on February 1, 2018.  The Label Traxx Management Information System (MIS) will now help streamline their operations, improve productivity and quality, and ultimately increase profitability for Römer.

Claus Schuering from Römer Etikett calls it a “win-win” situation for both parties.  “On one hand, Römer could professionalize their operational business by using Label Traxx MIS while on the other hand Label Traxx, made an important first step into the huge German market with Römer being their first German customer.”

One of the key reasons why Römer decided to use Label Traxx was how easy it is to use the MIS for their company.  “From the management perspective of Römer, it is key to have all relevant information available anytime to steer its business successfully.  This will enable Römer to compete with other label printers in the German market and enable them to gain a more significant profitable business” says Schuering.

Römer is proud of the partnership with Label Traxx and believes the key to the successful partnership was the commitment of the Label Traxx employees and their positive engagement during the transition.  Label Traxx Training & Implementation Manager Stacy Felipe notes that it was a “great first install in Germany.”

By Jen Falk Announcements 0 Comments

Cost Savings and Increasing Productivity Through Software in Print

It’s great when we see employees ‘doing what they were paid to do’. They carry out the tasks as they were told or see fit, and continue to do so to the best of their ability. But let’s change the game and think about what they could being doing and are we utilizing their skills?

Company A spends 15 minutes on administrative tasks per SKU/sort when creating works orders. With 100 sorts per week, this is the equivalent of three days a week – effectively order entry is taking up 60% of an individual’s time. Dependent on their wages this will have an associated cost to it. What’s yours? If you were told that you could have an extra three days a week to work on building relationships with customers, developing new products and working on improving the business, would you accept?

Company A are forward-thinking and decide to utilize their employees time and skills to greater effect. They search the market for a tool to support them and that tool comes in the form of a specific management information system. After selecting the best fit for them they were able to reduce 15 minutes to 1 minute whilst increasing output. That’s a saving of 93%  and an associated cost saving. What could your cost saving be?

Company A now has single data entry input and can automate their workflow and perform tasks once with confidence. This has created the capacity to focus on technical projects, building customer relationships and focus on improving the business further.

The MIS has allowed Company A to step back and look at the company holistically. They pick up on trends and patterns and more importantly issues that were previously halting growth. This is all encapsulated through meaningful reports and KPI data captured for them without days of running around manually chasing data.  If you are too busy focusing on everyday tasks, then you will fail to notice things that are occurring right under your nose. No matter how big or small you think your company may be, utilize your staff and your time, it’s valuable.

Visit us at www.labeltraxx.com and begin your improvements today. Label Traxx is designed, created and supported by label experts for label experts.

Chris Spooner is Business Development Manager at Label Traxx in the UK.

Discuss your business plans with him in person at one of the upcoming events:

HP VIP Event, Israel – February 19-22

FINAT Technical Seminar, Barcelona – March 7-9

Xeikon Café, Belgium – March 20-23.

By Katy Nightingale Announcements 0 Comments

New video: optimize your internal communications

Label Traxx MIS is highlighting the need for optimized communication across your entire organization in its latest humorous video release called “The Family Shorthand”.

The short film centers around a dysfunctional team of employees who are unwilling to change to a new management software system (MIS). It shows how their quirky ways of working – on the outside of the business’ standard practices – are damaging to cross-company communication.

“Everyone has quirky employees,” jokes Label Traxx president Ken Meinhardt. “The message in this video is that label converters need to eliminate the islands of information that reside in their business.

“Label Traxx provides one framework for all of the departments across your entire business to access. Data flows automatically from one department to the next, saving time, improving accuracy and optimizing communication – both internally and with your customers.”

In management, Label Traxx gives you a single repository to view activities across your whole business. Make your employees accountable. The goal? Streamline your operations, maximize efficiency and improve your profitability.

Is everyone in your business on the same page?

About Label Traxx
Label Traxx is an end-to-end management software system designed and built specifically for the label and packaging industry. The company continues to release cutting-edge software to help label converters streamline their operations and increase profitability.
Label Traxx is headquartered in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, and has an office in the UK, plus an agent in Australia. www.labeltraxx.com