It’s difficult to overstate how important barcodes and shipping labels are to modern commerce. In retail environments, product barcodes are essential to maintaining accurate inventory, tracing products, and facilitating the retail process. During shipping, labels play a role in directing shipments across increasingly complex global supply chains and maintaining front-to-back traceability. In recent years, QR codes have also expanded how companies engage their customers and trace their goods around the world.

Given the indispensable functions of these labels, much has been written about the different printers and application systems that help companies outfit their goods with required codes and information. In comparison, much less has been written about the tools that companies use to design these labels. 

No coding/marking solution is complete without label design software, and, like printing hardware, label design software has made some impressive improvements over the years. In the past, label design required a significant amount of manual input from users. Today, label design software solutions simplify the entire label design process via complete data network integration. 

Here, we examine the advantages of modern labeling software by comparing two of the most popular options on the market: NiceLabel, created by Loftware, and BarTender, created by Seagull Scientific. Throughout this NiceLabel vs. BarTender comparison, we will see:

• How both of these programs can improve the label design process.
• The different functionalities of these two programs.
• Which program may be right for your needs.

Software Breakdown: How Programs like NiceLabel and BarTender Work

NiceLabel and BarTender are both considered industry-leading label design programs. Both programs have existed since around the early 1990s and have helped companies of all industries streamline their labeling processes for decades. 

Programs like NiceLabel and BarTender improve labeling in the following ways:

1. They Provide Users with Intuitive Label Design Tools

One of the most obvious benefits offered by label design programs is their intuitive graphic design features. Without needing any specialized training, anyone can use a label design program to locate the required label template and populate it with the appropriate product information. 

Whether you need to produce a GS1 product barcode or a detailed shipping label, NiceLabel and BarTender can help you create it within minutes.

2. They Connect Previously Siloed Data Sources for Streamlined Labeling

Label design programs don’t just provide users with easy-to-use templates, they streamline the entire process by automatically pulling product data from across the entire company database. 

When a company doesn’t have an integrated data network, employees are forced to manually input all relevant product information when designing a label. Not only is manual data entry tedious, but it can also often lead to product labeling mistakes that can take hours to rectify. 

Today’s labeling programs can connect with other business systems to automatically update variable data such as expiration dates and batch codes. By reducing manual data updates, label design programs can boost both label accuracy and general labeling efficiency. 

3. They Enable Users to Remotely Control All Labeling Workflows 

Thanks to network integration, NiceLabel and BarTender allow companies to remotely manage all printing operations. Via one single interface, users can:

• Send labeling tasks to specific printers.
• Pause and resume labeling at any time.
• Change task priorities and relocate a job in case of complications.

NiceLabel vs. BarTender: Application Differences and Why They Matter

Although NiceLabel and BarTender work in very similar ways, they do differ when it comes to certain functionalities. While they share more similarities than differences, their distinctions can prove to be significant depending on specific business needs. 

However, before delving into these differences, it is important to note that if you already have one of these products installed, it is very difficult to switch systems. Changing from one label program to another requires an entire IT infrastructure overhaul and possibly a change in printing hardware as well. Consequently, we always recommend performing a close NiceLabel vs. BarTender comparison before investing in either program. 

The chart below is a good comparison starting point, but we still recommend speaking with an expert before making a purchase:

Want more articles like “NiceLabel vs. BarTender?” Stay connected to C&M Digest by subscribing to our newsletter. With information on hardware, formulas, and other important marking topics, our newsletter will keep you updated on the latest industry developments. To get in touch with us about possible collaborations or ideas for coverage, contact us today.