Warehouse labeling allows stock and other items to be quickly located and recorded, making it an essential element of an efficient and productive facility.
The explosion of the e-commerce sector in recent years has made warehouse labeling even more important, as more and more companies rely on it to organize their stock.
SEE ALSO: The 2 best options available for marking warehouse floors.
In the world of e-commerce, the use of a flexible barcode-based warehouse labeling system has proven to be the ideal solution to cope with both daily and seasonal increases in demand.
The shape, size and material must be taken into account so that the label does not peel, smudge or smear. Another issue to take into account is the organization of the printed information, since a bad design makes it difficult for the operator to locate or read it.
If you need warehouse labeling in Brazil, Mexico or the United States, contact us at.
Key aspects of warehouse labeling
Before going into the main considerations for warehouse labeling, it is worth highlighting the following facets.
Label material
It is important to bear in mind that labels will always be subject to a lot of wear and tear, so it is always best to choose labels that guarantee greater durability. Some materials may be unsuitable in certain situations, so the choice of the right material will be based on the intended use.
Consistency
Labels should be applied consistently and uniformly throughout the warehouse. By sticking to one system, employees can maximize their efficiency in organizing and locating items.
Advance planning
From the outset, it is important to have a clear plan for a warehouse labeling system that can adapt to future needs and work in conjunction with the warehouse signage system. The following steps need to be considered: space cleaning, zone allocation, label size and placement, and staff training.
Main considerations for warehouse labeling
1. Placement of labels in the warehouse
Warehouse labeling can be placed in a variety of locations to help facilities operate optimally.
Warehouse labeling in the aisles
Warehouse labeling can be placed in aisles so that people working in the space can easily identify what is stored there. While signage can provide a general indication of what products are in an aisle, a label can be scanned to provide much more information.
Racking and labeling of warehouses
On-shelf warehouse labeling works in conjunction with aisle labeling, serving to confirm the information that was included on the aisle labels, while providing that information to anyone already present in the aisle.
Labeling of individual products in the warehouse
In addition, each product may have its own unique label for full identification. Any omission of information can be detrimental to delivery. These labels should be easy to attach, easy to scan and very detailed.
Floor storage labeling
Along with the marking of warehouse floors, floor labeling can provide important information. The passage of pedestrians or machinery on warehouse floors means that these floors are often metal. These labels must be very durable and easy to install.
2. Labeling of warehouses by type
Labels must be made of suitable materials. The most important factor is usually durability, as labels are often subject to heavy wear and tear in busy warehouses. Some common labels are:
Removable labels
Removable labels can be easily moved from one area to another. This is usually done by means of plastic holders or magnets.
Plastic label holders require their own system to hold the labels and allow them to be exchanged. They are inexpensive and relatively durable. Their flexibility lies in the ability to print new labels for insertion into the label holders when necessary, although this can be time consuming.
Magnets do not need a custom label holder, as they attach directly to shelves or other metal surfaces. This makes them very flexible where there is a lot of metal, but less useful elsewhere. They are also relatively expensive, bulky and can easily fall out of place.
Permanent labels
Once in place, these labels cannot be easily removed, as this may cause deterioration or damage. They tend to be more durable than other types of labels and are much more difficult to dislodge.
Metal tags are more expensive than other materials, but they are extremely durable and are designed to be placed in permanent locations where many people will pass through.
Labeling of suspended warehouses
These signs hang, usually from the ceiling, and are especially useful when long distance scanning is needed to quickly identify a product, are usually very large and are used primarily in labeling areas such as aisles.
Retroreflective warehouse labeling
This type of tag is relevant when barcode reading is required at long distances, as in the case of high shelves. They also allow pedestrians to optimize their time and avoid crossing other pedestrians.
3. Labeling of warehouses for specific situations
Warehouse labeling is used for specific situations or purposes, usually when standard labeling is not adequate.
Labels for cold storage rooms
As the name suggests, these labels are specially designed to prevent spoilage at low temperatures. They are usually used for perishable products that require refrigeration or freezing.
Exterior warehouse labeling
Although most warehouse systems are internal, in some situations it is necessary for items to be stored externally. Labels used in these environments should be weather resistant and extremely durable.
Advantages of optimal warehouse labeling
With the above points in mind, warehouses will experience a great improvement in their performance if labeling is used correctly.
Having inventory control in a warehouse avoids errors in the operation and saves tracking time. Companies will not waste time and resources searching for misregistered stock.
Being able to correctly identify individual products translates into increased team productivity, as workers can maximize efficiency and minimize errors.
A well-functioning warehouse labeling system allows companies to identify the level of flow in different areas, enabling periodic readjustments to make better use of space and resources.
Serviap Logistics offers warehouse labeling
At Serviap Logistics we supply and install warehouse elements in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
These include shelving, signage, labels, floor markings and collision protection. We also offer project management services and can oversee the installation, refurbishment or relocation of your warehouse from start to finish.
We count some of the world’s largest companies among our satisfied customers and partners, covering a wide range of industries such as automotive, e-commerce, wholesale and others.
As a family business that has grown internationally after starting in Mexico, we are committed to service excellence and pride ourselves in offering personalized service to every customer.
We are also dedicated to maintaining the highest safety standards wherever we operate, including OSHA certification in the United States.
Contact us at for more information on how we can help you with your warehouse labeling.
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