If you sell anything that requires informational labeling, it may be high time to consider something a little bit different: How about a SmartLabel?

The SmartLabel is Made for Smartphones

By scanning a QR code on the side of a package, customers can instantly access all the information that they could ever want about your product.

In this era of information-based sales over persuasion-based sales, the SmartLabel may well become King. You know shoppers are already Googling that information, this new type of label allows you to control the conversation.

With SmartLabels as a part of your marketing, you’ll be able to meet shoppers where they are, finally. Although a company that sells cosmetics, for example, isn’t required to disclose the ingredients in the same way food manufacturers are, making that same information available can be a goodwill gesture to people who may be on the fence.

It will be an enormous undertaking, that’s not a question. But, marketing to Millennials is a whole different kind of effort than marketing to their parents and grandparents. They’re tech-savvy and they don’t bother with sales pitches. Either they want the item or they don’t. Making the facts available online and focusing more effort on creating attractive, eye-catching and accurate packaging is going to be the key to maintaining a fruitful relationship.

SmartLabels Aren’t for Everyone

Again, the SmartLabel isn’t a mandatory part of the new law, this is just a good time to make major changes to your packaging since everybody else is going to be doing it. But these special QR codes are not for everyone. There are many cases where you may not want anyone to know too much about what you’re selling.

For example, if you’re less than proud of the ingredients in your cleaners, you may want to just keep on going and forget the QR code ever existed. The SmartLabel is designed with consumer transparency as its first priority.

Other manufacturers are concerned that because of the standard format that the data behind the SmartLabels take, their company branding will be lost in a sea of look-alike tabs. This is a valid point, but, remember, you got that customer to your package so you’re very close to getting that package in their shopping basket already. Your branding worked its magic, SmartLabel or no SmartLabel.

Customers’ are increasingly difficult to reach because of ad blockers, cord cutting and the fall of print media, but they still look at product packaging each and every time they go to the market. This is your big opportunity to connect with them on their level and meet them where they are. Sometimes all it takes is a QR code on a SmartLabel to make a lifetime customer.

The post The Connection Between Customers’ Behavior And Your Packaging first appeared on Smart Returns.

When it comes to smart labels and smart tags, though, looks can be deceiving. These tiny, unassuming devices are growing in popularity among supply chains across the globe, but they’re not without issues.

As smart tags become more common, it’s going to be important that your returns management team is familiar with these devices. After all, they could save your business a lot of money.

Smart Tags: What’s Trending, Both the Good and the Bad

Like any young technology, smart tags aren’t perfect. These smart tags that offer features like real-time tracing, re-programmability and simultaneous identification have massive potential, but it will take some time for the supply chain to really figure out how to use them to their potential.

Here are some key reverse logistics label trend to watch:

• More applications in more industries are going to increase usage. Just a few years ago, smart tags were a barely recognized technology, but today they’re being put to work in retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, logistics, as well as the food and beverage sector. The more uses that can be found for these small and mighty devices, the better.
• Increasing disposable income of buyers is driving market growth. Shoppers with disposable income are increasingly going online to make purchases and they’re demanding to know where those purchases are as they work their way through the supply chain.Smart labels and smart tags make this possible, even allowing those buyers to track their packages with street level accuracy in some cases.
• Lack of consistent standards may slow growth on the global market. For all the great stuff coming out of the smart tag technology, it has a fatal flaw that has to be corrected for it to be a truly effective tool. There are no consistent standards across the globe.That means that smart tags used primarily in Asia may not be able to be read or used in North America, or vise versa. Once this is resolved, a lot of the paperwork issues that often slow down the international supply chain could be eliminated and the smart tag used instead.

Smart labels and smart tags are going to continue to be useful tools for reverse logistics and throughout the supply chain for the foreseeable future, provided that a standard can be established that all shippers and markets will conform to. In the meantime, they’re still a great boost to customer experience, allowing both your team and the customer to see exactly where their package is in the shipping process.

The post 3 Key Trends In Smart Labels, Smart Tags first appeared on Smart Returns.