Online ordering has become a permanent part of commerce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, ecommerce now comprises 16.9% of total retail sales, and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) reports that about 57% of restaurant customers order digitally. With more orders coming from mobile apps and ecommerce websites, businesses had to find ways to handle them quickly and accurately.
Ian Livesay, Product Manager at Epson America, Inc., says, “From our point of view, we see businesses trying new things with labeling.” One of the most prevalent trends is Tier 1 restaurants adding liner-free labels to their workflows. When the restaurant receives an order, the POS system shares it with the kitchen display system (KDS), but it also sends the order to a liner-free label printer. The label follows the order throughout food prep and routing to the right customer at the right place for takeout or delivery.
Livesay says that restaurants of every size, from large chains to small independents, are adopting linerless labels. One may only print exception labels to communicate modifications or allergy alerts to employees as they prepare orders. Or, a restaurant may print a liner-free label with all items in the order, customer name or order number, and the order’s destination (i.e., drive-thru, curbside, take-out, or delivery) to ensure order accuracy and correct routing. Giving your clients the flexibility to label items in the best way to support their workflows is key.
Why Restaurants Use Liner-Free Labels
In a fast-paced kitchen environment, liner-free labels are the preferred choice for several reasons:
- Improve Order Accuracy: Modifications, allergies, and special requests print clearly on every label, so staff can verify orders at a glance and catch errors before they reach the customer.
- Accelerate Operations: Liner-free labels exit the printer ready to apply, saving time with each application vs. traditional labels.
- Less Waste: Because there is no backing, there is no clutter or waste generated during labeling.
- More Labels per Roll: Employees spend less time replacing liner-free label rolls that hold 30% or more labels than rolls of labels with backing.
- Cost-Efficiency: With less waste and time savings, liner-free labels lower the cost of labeling over time.
- Build Customer Confidence: Customers want to see their name, order details, and know it’s right. Linerless labeling makes that expectation easy to meet.
Which Businesses Will Deploy Liner-Free Labeling Solutions Next?
Now that Tier 1 restaurants have made liner-free labels a standard part of their online order fulfillment processes, the rest of the restaurant industry is following suit, down to Tier 4 and mom-and-pop shops.
Livesay comments, however, that using linerless labels to support order fulfillment and to upgrade other labeling workflows isn’t limited to restaurants. “Ecommerce is next,” he says. “We see the same types of use cases, like labeling online orders for pickup or delivery, in retail.” Retail delivery and buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS) customers have the same expectations as restaurant customers for fulfillment speed and accuracy. Furthermore, retailers see less patience with errors or delays, which, according to PwC, can drive about 30% of customers to do business elsewhere.
Livesay points out, “The ROI of adding a liner-free label printer comes from improvements in order accuracy and customer retention.”
He says you should also consider supporting linerless label printing for customers using traditional backed labels who are looking for more efficient and sustainable options. There may be interest from grocery stores, convenience stores, or cafeterias that label large volumes of pre-made foods.
“In the past, most liner-free labels had a lighter adhesive. But a lot of development has gone into these products, and more options, including permanent adhesives, are available today,” Livesay says. Using these labels allows businesses that package prepared foods to print nutrition labels or expiry labels. “With the help of the right ISV, businesses can have that flexibility,” he adds.
The Opportunity for ISVs
Enabling your users to leverage liner-free labels in their processes is a light lift, particularly if you are already an Epson partner. However, Livesay says the opportunity lies in software innovation. “Liner-free labels are informational. Businesses want label formats that meet their needs. ISVs who can provide flexible templates, the option to add a code or a coupon, and a way to brand the label will have an edge in meeting demand,” he says.
He adds that ISVs can add value by identifying order fulfillment best practices and supporting them with labeling solutions. “At the end of the day, understanding the entire fulfillment process, knowing what works and what doesn’t, will lead to better solutions. Even Tier 1 merchants are still learning,” Livesay says. “Businesses will look to their POS software providers to help improve their processes.”
“A good liner-free labeling package, including the printer, media, and software, could be very enticing to POS customers,” he says. “If an ISV doesn’t seize this opportunity, someone else will.”
