Overview
Based on configuration setup, item labels can be automatically printed from many of the PanatrackerGP transactions. To use the label printing setup, it does require a third label printing solution. Panatrack sells and primarily supports Nicelabel. Bartender is another option that is used by some of our customers.
A label print job file containing the item details, the printer, and the print quantity is created. A view is created to identify the item details to print on the labels. The job file is saved to directory monitored by a third-party label printing software package (typically NiceLabel) where the Automation Manager reads the file to print the labels.
The label jobs are stored in the Panatracker portal with the timestamp and the source transaction supporting the ability to reprint the labels if needed.
There are 4 different item label definitions available to setup:
- Bulk (Quantity) tracked items.
- Serial tracked items.
- Lot tracked items.
- Non-inventory items (for PO Receiving support).
Your label design is completed through the corresponding third-party software application. The benefit for the label printing application is the native support for almost every printer manufacturer as well as the ability to have label printing functions outside of the Panatracker application. This could include bin location labels or on-demand label printing outside of standard transaction data capture. The label printing software also supports multiple barcode symbologies including the ability to set up complex barcodes such as the GS1-128.
Label Setup Best Practices
Panatrack’s professional services team can assist you with selecting the ideal label size and identify what data to include as part of your label setup.
The size of your labels will mostly be dictated by the smallest item you need to attach the label to. Use of 2D barcodes supports the ability to setup smaller labels if needed. Also note, that if you do have smaller items that have a single stock area, your stock area can hold the item label.
The basic data to include in your label:
- Item Code (represented with a barcode and human readable text)
- Item Description as text. This can also be represented in smaller font size.
For serial tracked items, the serial number will also be represented in a barcode with human readable text. You may also want to consider incorporating the item code and the serial number in a single barcode, especially if your labels are small. The PanatrackerGP solution supports the ability to parse the data to the correct fields when scanned. Panatrack has their own standard for a 2D barcode called panacode.
Lot tracked items use the same logic as serialized inventory where the lot number would be represented within a barcode. Many organizations also add text fields to display Manufacture and/or Expire dates for the lot.
In most cases, the following data would NOT be part of your item label:
- Site or Bin location. The system will track where the item is located. If you add the location data to your label, as soon as it moves, the label is no longer valid.
- Quantity. GP tracks the quantity you have where it is located. Unless the unit of inventory you are labeling will never be altered, the quantity is typically never put on the item label. As an example, if tracking a unit of inventory by a pallet and the pallet quantity will never be altered, then adding either the unit of measure or the quantity would be a viable option. However, if that unit labeled will be altered at any other point, just like location, the quantity will no longer be correctly represented.
- Any data that may change at any point during your processes should not be included on a label.
Other Important Stuff To Know
Once you have label printing setup, before you start labeling all of your existing inventory, be sure to TEST YOUR BARCODES. This is particularly important if you are setting up your own label views. GP data includes padded spaces. If the spaces are not trimmed in your view, they will be included as part of the expected data and will make it so your barcodes will not be usable. Also, if you have created barcodes to be printed on documents and used the Code 3 of 9 font; that particular symbology requires a prefix and suffix of an asterisk (*) character. If that is missing, your barcode won’t scan.
If creating labels for areas or locations, consider the distance from the user completing the scan to the label location. Before printing a bunch of labels, verify the barcode can be read from the distance needed. 2D barcodes are often an ideal option when you want to create a location label to be read from a distance.
About Nicelabel
Nicelabel (or if you prefer Bartender) are third party solutions that augment the PanatrackerGP functionality. Panatrack is a reseller for Nicelabel; however, our support for the software has limitations and include:
- Training on the label designer as we work with you to set up your label formats.
- Adjusting or defining views to support your label formats.
- Ability to set up desktop label printing.
- Limited troubleshooting for the automation functions.
We typically recommend purchasing their software maintenance and support plan to have access to their resources should issues arise directly with their software. We often bridge communication between you and Nicelabel support if needed; however, additional costs for services, upgrades, etc., are completely based on your investment in the solution.