Digital Innovation in the T&L sector: How Labeling Technology Keeps the Sector Moving
Author: Colby Cavanaugh, SVP of Marketing, Seagull Software
Introduction
The global T&L sector has undergone rapid technology transformation from a software and device perspective in the past two years. With increasing speed of delivery times, a surge in volume of parcel distribution globally, a desire to reduce emissions all combined with maximizing revenues and reducing returns, the tracking and locating of parcels has become a critical focus. Sourcing new ways to interconnect with customers throughout the entire supply chain has also become essential. External factors impacting the sector have not ceased, for example, the fuel crisis, the rise of omnichannel and the change of customer buying behaviour from instore to online, through to the updated cross-border regulations post-Brexit and the impact of increases in the cost of living. These have all required the sector to become more technologically innovative and agile.
So how do technology partners keep pace with this accelerated and heightened expectations? Additionally, what technology is out there to help customers and organisations keep track of their deliveries?
The Rise of the FREE Extra Last Mile: Reverse Logistics
Customer expectations in T&L requires the sector today to be interactive with their communication up to the point of delivery – and up to the point of return. For example, text and email updates of order status in transit, along with the accurate delivery time and refund expectation. Customers also expect to update and change their delivery location or safe space at a moment’s notice via their parcel tracking link.
Additionally, returns are now the norm. SOTI’s 2024 Retail Report surveying 11,000 respondents, stated that 75% expect to always know where their order is in the delivery process and 57% stated they would be more likely to choose an online retailer if multiple return points are offered.
As the e-Commerce sector continues to grow, reverse logistics is becoming more important for the modern supply chain. Factors such as fast fashion, TikTok and influencer marketing, free delivery, the rise of brand partnerships and discounted online shopping holidays and integrated loyalty points systems all drive behaviour and shape the industry’s landscape.
“Key to the reverse logistics process is providing up to date accurate labels with all deliveries to facilitate, secure and process returns. Pre-paid printed returns labels removes any doubt from the customer that their parcel is ‘in the system’ and can be tracked, yet there is still an emphasis on the customer to process the return via a form online to detail what the parcel contains and minimize risk of fraud,” states Matthew Brine, Chief Revenue Officer, at BarTender by Seagull Scientific. “We are happy to see more and more retailers collaborating with the T&L sector to ensure in store return drop of zones with parcels securely labelled and receipts provided via email to consumers. This ensures the safe tracking and return of billions of parcels globally each year.”
However, in a SOTI Report of over 3650 global IT respondents, 51% lack the tools to remotely support printers, meaning devices need to be returned to IT teams to be fixed. 50% are concerned that printers with outdated firmware are vulnerable to hacking and 40% state they lack real-time printer status and information about their settings.
So, there is a heightened need for labelling solutions, printer manufacturers and software solutions providers to work together more closely to fix this challenge for their customer.
Labelling Solutions and How They Help
SOTI and BarTender have worked in partnership for over six years, with joint software solutions certified across leading global printer manufacturers. This partnership provides organisations with industry-leading expertise and label and device management templates ready to use ‘straight out of the box’ to help speed up deployment and best practices.
Working closely together in the T&L space across Europe to deliver managed label printer solutions ensures minimal downtime, management of printers and no interruptions to business operations. The partnership was formed to help customers in environments where business-critical printing is key—such as warehouses, retail floors, healthcare facilities, and delivery routes to ensure reliability in printing and labeling to maintain seamless operations.
"The importance of label management and real-time accuracy cannot be overstated. SOTI Connect manages the printer configuration settings and can also remotely push out BarTender software updates to all printers at any time," said Shash Anand, SVP of Product Strategy at SOTI. "This ensures printer devices are up to date and compliant, reducing downtime and boosting productivity. This powerful combination eliminates damaged or lost labels and facilitates reprinting, significantly impacting the bottom line."
To find out more about the SOTI and BarTender solutions available for the Retail and the T&L sector, please contact us here.