FACHPACK 2022: three key takeaways to improve your supply chain packaging

FACHPACK 2022, which took place last week in Nuremberg, Germany, brought together companies from all over the world for three days of presentations and networking opportunities. The conference provided attendees with the opportunity to learn more about trends currently impacting supply chain packaging, such as e-commerce, digitalization, and sustainability.  

Read on for three key takeaways from the conference.  

#1 Companies are undergoing a digital transformation. Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, cloud technology has become increasingly attractive to manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers. Its quick deployment times, low upfront costs, easy access, ability to scale, and seamless updates benefited companies when operations were disrupted by shifts in supply chain models. As such, many companies are currently running digital transformation programs that include moving core business applications to the cloud. However, it’s vital that labeling be considered as part of that process. By deploying labeling in the cloud, businesses will see several benefits, including cost savings, accessibility from any location at any time, next-level security, efficiency gains, and more. 

#2 The e-commerce boom presents opportunities for businesses of all sizes. The continued surge in online shopping has brought a renewed focus on labeling and packaging to accommodate increased packing and shipping as the public moves away from traditional retail and purchasing from brick-and-mortar establishments. E-commerce storefronts are now all the rage, and those providers understand that labeling is a key function that has a significant impact on business. The e-commerce boom presents both opportunities and challenges for companies that need labels for product identification, warehousing, order management, shipping, inventory, and other activities. Customer-facing labeling has become equally as important with the next competitor just one mouse click away. In fact, some online shoppers end up making their purchase decisions based on the product package. The right label can improve customer satisfaction, impact delivery, and potential delays, strengthen corporate branding, and even reduce returns. Learn more in our ‘2022 Top 5 Trends in Labeling and Packaging Artwork’ report. 

#3 Sustainability is top of mind for consumers. Consumer pressures to address sustainability are rewriting the way businesses across sectors operate. Often overlooked, packaging is a vital consideration when companies look to make their business models greener. However, incorrect labeling on packaging can have a serious impact on the sustainability of supply chains. Labeling errors often result in the scrapping of otherwise sellable perishable goods, creating unnecessary waste. A failure to get it right can also lead to issues that result in an unsustainable need to quarantine and re-label products. By contrast, accurate labeling facilitates a more sustainable supply chain with no incorrectly labeled products being recalled and scrapped. That’s why forward-thinking companies are turning to the cloud to help reduce their environmental footprint.