Loftware Archives

Cloud-Connected Label Printing Solution for Supply Chain

Posted on 23 May, 202529 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Loftware, a global supplier of Enterprise Labelling, and SATO Corporation, developer of auto-ID and labelling solutions, have announced the availability of their cloud-connected label printing solution for AEP-equipped SATO printers. This comes at a time when the adoption of cloud-based technologies is on the rise, with the Loftware/SATO partnership supporting this shift to streamline business processes and enhance supply chain agility.

The joint solution, which connects Loftware Cloud with SATO’s cloud-connected printers, eliminates printer driver dependencies, allowing IT teams to avoid installation, troubleshooting, updates, and management. This significantly reduces maintenance and support costs, while enabling businesses to print from any PC browser, providing flexibility to scale or adapt operations without technical constraints. Additionally, users can access the latest approved label templates from anywhere, at any time, through a secure browser and seamlessly print from their SATO printer. The platform also streamlines user management, enabling administrators to quickly add and approve new users in minutes without the need for license keys, reducing administrative burden and improving operational efficiency.

The Loftware/SATO partnership supports a range of industry applications. This includes supplier compliance to ensure accurate, timely labeling and RFID tagging – eliminating relabelling and improving supply chain efficiency. It also enhances in-plant labelling for better process control within factories, ensures retail labelling consistency with industry standards, and streamlines third-party logistics (3PL) labelling for seamless integration with logistics providers.

Hayato Shindo, Group Business Officer at SATO Corporation, commented: “In today’s fast-paced business environment, manufacturers face many challenges, such as changing customer, legal and regulatory requirements; remote working and collaboration; rapid scaling up of operations; and improving productivity while reducing operating costs. Traditional desktop label design applications, while effective in the past, are no longer sufficient to manage these complexities. The solution provided by SATO and Loftware addresses these challenges head-on by offering a centralized and secure platform for label design and printing.”

Loftware Cloud expands labelling capabilities across internal stakeholders, external suppliers, co-manufacturers, and co-packers, who all play a role in the complex supply chain process. With seamless integration into both on-premise and cloud-based business applications such as ERP, WMS, and PLM, Loftware Cloud optimizes workflows for greater efficiency and accuracy.

SATO’s cloud-connected printers further enhance this solution with effortless installation and mobility. Simply connecting a LAN cable ensures the printer is ready for immediate use. This plug-and-play functionality makes it easy to relocate printers as needed, giving businesses the flexibility to adapt to changing operational demands.

Denis Stojanoski, Loftware Senior Alliance Program Manager, added: “Loftware and SATO have a long-standing partnership built on a shared commitment to innovation. Together, we continue to develop cutting-edge supply chain solutions that empower businesses to operate more efficiently, adapt to evolving industry demands, and future-proof their operations. By combining our expertise, we’re driving the future of labeling to deliver greater agility, scalability, and value for our customers.”

Loftware and SATO’s global partnership extends over a quarter century. In recent years, the two have developed an advanced RFID encoding and logging solution to help businesses meet stringent traceability standards. The partnership between Loftware and SATO represents a strategic shift toward addressing specific use cases to better meet modern business needs.

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Industry Calls for Greater Connection Across Global Supply Chains

Posted on 14 November, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

90% of industry professionals say there is an increased need for connection and collaboration across the global supply chain, supported by the transformative power of cloud technology, to improve efficiency, ensure compliance, avoid fines, and reduce overall costs, according to research released today by Loftware. This comes at a time when executives are focused on building more resilient, transparent, and agile supply chains to navigate disruptions and shifting consumer demands.

The global survey, which draws on insights from over 400 supply chain professionals across industries in 55 countries, found that 84% of companies believe it would be beneficial to join an ecosystem where supply chain partners share access, data, and standards to improve efficiency, ensure compliance, and reduce overall costs. Additionally, nearly three-quarters of respondents said the Cloud offers a more flexible and agile framework for streamlining labeling access for trading partners, highlighting the ongoing importance of digital transformation.

“Today’s supply chains are more global and complex, while expectations from business and consumers have increased. This has led to a greater need for connection and collaboration as companies embrace digital transformation to streamline interactions and ensure compliance with suppliers, customers, and their own facilities across the enterprise,” said Josh Roffman, EVP of Marketing at Loftware.

One significant issue for today’s global supply chain lies in maintaining compliance. Customers report continued struggles with streamlining the receipt of inbound goods, resulting in mislabelling and hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. Loftware’s research illustrates the scale of this issue, with 70% of $1 billion+ companies being forced to relabel inbound goods from suppliers and partners, a resource-intensive and costly process. However, 77% of respondents said they believe providing controlled access to labelling would help to solve this issue. Leveraging a connected network that enables publishers and subscribers to gain access to standards, data, labels, and rules can ensure that inbound goods are properly labeled.

The Loftware report also revealed that an increasing number of companies are exploring new ways to guarantee their products, shipments, and data are protected as they travel through today’s global supply chain. As illustrated in Loftware’s survey, 78% of professionals said they believe artificial intelligence can be useful in analyzing data to identify counterfeit goods, while 59% say their company is currently using serialization technology to solve supply chain challenges.

Facilitating digital transparency is a vital step in creating resilient and safer supply chains, so it’s no surprise that 68% flagged cloud technology as playing a crucial role in improving track and trace across their operations. Using cloud technology, digital traceability helps companies to ensure sustainable sourcing, protect consumers, streamline the location of inventory, guarantee on-time delivery to market, and address the growing issue of counterfeiting.

Being able to trace products both upstream and downstream is also vital for managing the product lifecycle and ensuring sustainable sourcing. Digital Product Passports (DPPs) will be key to achieving this. By scanning a product’s digital passport, stakeholders can access information about its origin, ingredients, sustainability practices, and more, enabling them to make more informed choices. According to this research, 54% say DPPs already play a significant role in enhancing supply chain transparency and sustainability within their industry, while 63% expect DPPs to be more widely adopted within the next 3 years.

For more information about the trends identified by Loftware, access the full report here.

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Rise of Technology-Infused Supply Chains

Posted on 12 December, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

More than half (52%) of companies currently host critical enterprise applications in the Cloud while 76% believe artificial intelligence (AI) will be an important part of their supply chain within the next three years, according to an annual report published today by Loftware, a software company specializing in enterprise labelling and artwork management solutions.

The global survey, which draws on insights from over 300 labelling, packaging, and supply chain professionals across industries in 55 countries, found that investing in cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and IoT solutions is no longer a tactical necessity but an enabler for business growth and agile supply chain operations. This shift in prioritization has primarily been driven by ongoing supply chain disruption, heightened consumer expectations, and growing sustainability demands.

“As companies plan for 2024 and beyond, the combination of geopolitical uncertainties, climate instability, and the threat of recession continues to impact companies of all sizes. Organizations are grappling with disruptions that extend far beyond the traditional scopes, requiring a strategic recalibration to weather the storm and emerge stronger in the face of adversity,” said Josh Roffman, EVP of Marketing at Loftware. “With this in mind, a commitment to bolstering digital transformation strategies through investment in innovative technologies will be critical to streamline operations, drive growth, and increase profitability.”

Gartner, a technology analyst firm, supports this notion and reports that global end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to grow 20.4% to total $678.8 billion in 2024, up from $563.6 billion in 2023.

Address Disruption, Uncertainty, and Cost Pressures

The Loftware report also revealed that sustainability has become a crucial strategic and operational priority for organizations of all sizes around the globe. Of those surveyed, 78% said they have already adopted sustainability initiatives across their organizations due to increased regulations and shifting consumer preferences. In fact, 77% of respondents believe stricter regulations and compliance requirements are pushing businesses to adopt sustainability practices, while 82% reported that consumer preferences for sustainable products are driving this approach.

Facilitating transparency is a vital step in creating resilient supply chains and fostering better sustainability practices, so it’s no surprise that 79% of respondents flagged global traceability as a priority for their company – an increase from 70% just 12 months ago. Using cloud technology, digital traceability helps companies to ensure sustainable sourcing, protect consumers, streamline the location of inventory, guarantee on-time delivery to market, and address the growing issue of counterfeiting. Indeed, 48% of those surveyed believe the inability to effectively manage recalls is the biggest risk of not being able to track products through the supply chain. This compares to 33% five years ago.

As highlighted by Loftware’s report, Industry 4.0 will continue to have an impact on companies and their manufacturing operations. Organizations operating across a range of industries, from automotive, electronics, and manufacturing to consumer products and life sciences, are embracing automation and standardized solutions which help them meet their own unique requirements. This is especially true for mission-critical business processes such as cloud labeling and printing, with 91% of respondents reporting seeing an advantage of using a single platform to support thermal transfer labeling and direct marking and coding. By adopting such a solution as part of a cloud-first strategy, businesses gain printing flexibility, accuracy, production line uptime, and efficiency to manage costs and support global growth.

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