PRODUCT LABELLING
CONTINUED
“
With a lack of visibility over printers, many
businesses don’t realise that these devices become a prime target for threat actors. That’s because they can store confidential information from documents sent to be printed that cybercriminals can then hold to ransom or sell on for a profit.
centres use different types of software to stay on top of all the moving parts. But a major obstacle arises when these platforms don’t talk to each other. This can lead to printers not being fed with the right details, goods being shipped back to the warehouse, and labels having to be reprinted, which can all cause major delays or impact inter-vendor relations if deadlines are missed. The hidden cyber threat With a lack of visibility over printers, many businesses don’t realise that these devices become a prime target for threat actors. That’s because they can store confidential information from documents sent to be printed that cybercriminals can then hold to ransom or sell on for a profit. These devices can also act as an entry point to the wider corporate network if they are connected to a central Wi-Fi hub. These pockets of vulnerability can then result in devices being breached and left inaccessible to workers who need this type of hardware to properly fulfil their daily tasks. If a printer is unable to function, whether from improper maintenance, a cyberattack or lengthy updates to keep up with the latest legislation, this can cause notable delays. And can impact not only customer satisfaction but also staff, with SOTI’s report showing that device downtime causes stress for 54% of T&L workers in the UK. With the sector
already struggling to recruit, it’s essential that these challenges are addressed to ensure that staff retention doesn’t decline because of unnecessary pressures. Getting it right Despite all these challenges, printing labels needn’t be a heavy lift to get right. At SOTI, we’ve seen through our work with BarTender, an international provider of label design and printing software, that devices can be managed, updated and secured remotely with ease, ensuring minimal downtime and few interruptions to business operations. Even when new legislation comes into play and devices need to be updated, fast, there are templates available to make the process simple. Take Renault as an example. The automobile manufacturer needed to address growing concerns over cost, quality and lead times, due to the facility’s high production rates. By acting and implementing a modernised label printing system with BarTender, Renault achieved more agile, lean and reliable operations and one of its major distribution hubs noted feeling more prepared to deal with changes without fear of disruption. With the pace of changing requirements, it’s important that retailers, manufacturers and their supply chains are agile and can react quickly to remain competitive and avoid disruption. This starts with effective printer visibility and management.
”
28
Powered by FlippingBook