E-commerce stores use less paper than physical stores, preferring to work with email invoices and receipts. However, they still need printers in a few aspects of their businesses, such as shipping and returns.
Traditional printers can be used for these purposes, but thermal labels are becoming more widely used by these businesses. Thermal labels are materials printed by thermal printers. These printers come in two types: Direct thermal printers and thermal transfer printers.
Direct thermal printers use special paper that is coated with heat-sensitive materials. This paper darkens when heated, preventing the need for ink. On the other hand, thermal transfer printers use a thermal ink ribbon that transfers ink to paper on heating.
Five reasons why thermal labels are perfect for your E-commerce business
Thermal printers have found a place in E-commerce businesses. And there are a few reasons for that.
- Efficiency and speed: Thermal labels are printed nearly five times faster than traditional printers. That makes them suitable for E-commerce businesses that value the speed of order fulfilment. This speed helps quicken order fulfilment, increasing efficiency and productivity.
- Durability: Shipping labels must be durable to withstand the wear and tear of passing through many stages of transit. These thermal labels are stronger than traditional labels, resisting smudges and other forms of depreciation.
Thermal transfer labels would last even longer than direct transfer labels, so you can choose the one that suits your business better.
- Compact design: Traditional printers are usually bulkier than thermal printers. For an E-commerce business with space constraints, thermal printers would be the better alternative.
- Cost savings: These printers have lower running costs due to the absence of consumable parts like ink or toner cartridges. That leads to cost savings in the long run. In addition, they are also more reliable than the traditional printers. With fewer moving parts, the chances of things going wrong are lesser.
Plus, thermal labels resist fading, meaning less wastage and fewer reprints.
- Easy integration: Many thermal printers come with networking capabilities. This allows them to integrate easily with all your E-commerce software.
They are compatible with inventory management systems, which allow for efficient tracking, inventory control, and order processing. This leads to faster turnaround times that increase customer satisfaction.
- Ease of use and maintenance: Thermal printers are easier to operate. With their fewer moving parts, maintenance is also easier. This allows casual users to work on the printers adequately.
- Easy customisation: E-commerce businesses can customise their thermal labels with logos, branding elements, and messages that enhance brand visibility and customer engagement. These help keep the brand image consistent and can be quickly done with thermal labels.
Conclusion
Print media are essential in many aspects of E-commerce, and thermal labels fit the bill nicely. These thermal labels contribute significantly to streamlined operations, enhanced brand presence, and improved customer experiences in the E-commerce industry.
Even without a thermal printer of your own, you can easily access cheap direct thermal labels from suppliers like CDM labels for all your needs.
