Product Traceability Is More Important Than Ever
Packaging labels are the backbone of any supply chain management system and is relevant in all industries. With today’s expectations, consumer goods need to be traceable to be able to pinpoint any issues that may arise. Having a good organization of packing labels can help any issues be resolved quickly and efficiently. More than ever, it is important for any company to have transparency, safety and accountability front of mind. But how exactly can labels contribute to tracing an item and why should businesses invest in including them into their packaging? Below are some ways labels can play a role in enhancing your business.
Why is Enhancing Your Labels Important?
Being able to track down a product refers to the ability to track the history, distribution, and location of a product. As a company, you should be able to track the whereabouts and process of any product within your supply chain. From raw materials to delivery, there are times where you may need to find information about a product at any point of the process. Ensuring items are traceable in any step of the process can allow a company to have complete control over the items that they are producing and offering. You will be able to quickly address any issues that may arise. Whether there is an issue such as a product recall, compliance situation, or a simple quality check, it is important to have control in knowing where a specific product is located. This will minimize risks and help ensure your customers and possible shareholders that you can be trusted. It can also show that you care about the well-being and accountability of your business.
There Is More to A Label and Packaging Than Just Looks
Packaging isn’t just for marketing or convincing a customer to buy your product. They can help serve a vital function in helping your product to be traceable. Below are a few different things you can include in your packaging that would help identify items and ease your efforts whenever you may need to rely on this process to find a specific batch of items.
Serialization and Barcoding
Assigning a unique code to a product is one of the biggest and most popular ways to track down a product. You can utilize a barcode, QR codes, or RFID tags that are printed directly to the product or its packaging. These codes can contain detailed information that only you have access to. You can include its production batch and a manufacturing date. You can also implement organization that the product must be scanned at every step of the process to record its data, so you have detailed information at every stage. Though this is the most common practice, you need to make sure this is what would work best for your company. Understanding your process and what would work best in your environment will help you decide which identifiable information method will work best for your business.
Batch Numbers and Expiration Dates
Another aspect that you can include in your product labels is an expiration date and a batch number. In case of a contamination, you will be able to inform your buyers, retailers, suppliers, and distributers the exact batch that was affected. This will help everyone be able to identify if the products or items that they have in their possession are defected or contaminated. Having clear and legible labels are a must so everyone can clearly see your traceability efforts. This will help reduce any risks or health issues and prevent larger crises from happening.
Share How Your Products Are Made
Being able to have identifiable tracing can also be used to show buyers where the products they are buying are coming from and how they are produced. Allowing buyers to know where you are sourcing materials, where you are producing, and how it is made can make them more aware of the quality of the product they are purchasing. When customers become more conscious of the products they are buying, they are likely to return when they can be informed in their purchasing decisions.
Tracking Labels Can Assist with Compliance and Regulations
If your business is in the food or pharmaceutical industry, being able to track a product is likely to be required. You will need to follow strict regulations and may be required to proceed with a specific method of being able to trace items. You can be subject to hefty fines if you are unable to maintain the well-being of a product by being able to track your items. Having a robust tracking organizer will avoid these complications and avoidable fines. Accountability and transparency are at an all-time high of importance. Customers expect that you will be honest about any issues or recalls of your products. Giving buyers access to the origin and quality of the products they are buying will allow them to ensure it meets their expectations of quality and safety. Being transparent is a great way to advertise and market your business which will ensure buyers will continue to purchase from you.
Build Trust with Your Customers
Including Special Codes or Indicators Can Authenticate Your Goods
In a world of many companies offering very similar products and sometimes exact copies, putting identifiable information on your packaging can allow buyers to authenticate products. This will give them the peace of mind that they are not buying counterfeit items. Allowing buyers to use QR codes or another digital solution to check the origin and quality of your product will allow them to verify that they did not buy something of lower quality. There are many companies that will take your product, reproduce it, and package it to look like it’s from your company. The ingredients or parts used in these counterfeit items can be a risk to an individual’s well-being and you don’t want buyers to think this is the quality that your company is selling. Allowing your buyers to check the origin and authenticity of your items will help them differentiate from any off-market items.
It Is Cost Effective
While implementing an identifiable information solution can be costly, this identification can save your company a lot of money. If you do not have the ability to narrow down a certain group of items that may have been affected, you may be left with having to recall the entire lot. This can be an enormous cost and affect the health of your business. Being able to focus on a specific group will allow you to only recall a small part of production and save you a lot of money.
Are You Ready to Enhance Your Packaging?
Implementing labeling organization can be very overwhelming. At Mammoth, we have been offering label solution services for over 60 years. Our company can provide you with the ideas and the solutions you need to help make your company successful or help take it to the next level. We want to see all our clients succeed and we are ready to show you how this service can provide for your business. Let’s get started!
1. Discovery Call
When you are ready to learn more, let us know and we will set up a call to learn more about your business and how Mammoth can help you. After understanding what your company needs to succeed, we will come up with a solution that is tailored and perfect for you.
2. Design
After our initial call, our team will take away all our learnings and come up with a visualized labeling plan that we will present to you and your team. This may include what your new packaging can look like or where you can add your new traceability solution. We will present these options to you and come up with a solution that you are happy with.
3. Implementation
Once approved, we will work with you and your team on implementing this new labeling into your production process. We will be with you every step of the way!
4. Maintenance
Once you outgrow or want to add more to your labeling information, we will be here waiting for you. We will work with you to update your packaging and make it work with whatever phase your company is at.
Find The Best Identification Solution for Your Company Today
Enhancing your company’s labeling is more important now than ever. By integrating serial numbers, barcodes, batch numbers, and other information, you will build trust with your buyers while also having the ability to track your items. Mammoth can help you find which labeling solution is right for your business. While traceability will continue to evolve, investing today in the right solution for your company will make it easier for you to implement new systems in the future. We will be with you every step of the way and we are ready to help evolve your business. We believe that packaging labels are crucial to the success of any business that sells consumer goods. If you want your business to thrive while also being protected, take the precaution by implementing traceability.
