By Travis Wayne, Product Manager, TEKLYNX

Artificial intelligence (AI) is shifting the way companies look at design, creating, and managing product labels. AI is making more things possible than ever before; things that were unimaginable a few years ago. As people start to rely on AI more for their jobs, that poses the question of whether AI should be used for everything? When is the right time to use AI and what time is the “old fashion way” of doing things the better option.

With the advancement of AI, it isn’t uncommon to ask yourself, “Do I need professional labeling if AI can create my labels?” The short answer is, “Yes.” While AI has the capacity to create labels, it doesn’t have the capacity to replace accuracy, traceability, and compliance-driven foundation that professional label design software can provide.

The limitations of AI

As AI continues to grow, it brings risks that businesses must consider before relying on it for label creation.

1. Copyright and trademark violations

One of the biggest concerns with using AI is copyright and trademark issues. AI-generated labels may not apply for copyright protection because AI grabs existing information and designs from across the whole internet to use to create the label it was prompted to. This can lead to layouts, content, images, or icons that are already used in other labels to appear in your design.

Ultimately, the label design falls on the company, not the AI platform, which can lead to costly disruptions, recalls, or damaged brand reputation.

2. Compliance risks

AI excels at generating content quickly, but regulated labeling environments demand more than speed. They require precision, consistency, and strict adherence to industry standards, areas where AI tools fall short.

AI can tell you about compliance, but does it fully understand the regulations it’s talking about? Regulations like OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, GS1 compliance, GHS, nutrition and allergen labeling, or UDI regulations are complex and need more attention to detail than AI is capable of. Regulations are always changing and evolving. That could be with label formatting or data included on the label. AI generated labels cannot keep up with the pace of these requirements and can take a lot of effort to change.

AI also lacks built-in auditability. A professional labeling system provides version control, approval of workflows, and traceability of products going through the supply chain. These safety steps come in handy when recalls occur because labels can be traced to the exact spot of the error and be fixed. AI, on the other hand, puts out labels that are harder to trace in an event of a recall because of the lack of audit trails it provides.

3. Inconsistency

AI-generated labels can be inconsistent. An incorrect field, or barcode placement can cause major problems when getting your label through the supply chain. For example, if AI produces a barcode with an improper quiet zone, the required clear space around the symbol, the barcode may not scan correctly, leading to delays or rejected shipments. Small details matter in the creation of labels and because AI generated labels focus on speed and convivence, you risk facing recalls or delays because of an incorrect label.

In this stage of AI, relying solely on it for label creation can carry many risks, whether it is a legal issue, regulation problem, or simply a misplaced piece of data. These risks can create disruptions in the supply chain and negatively impact your company and customers. That said, it doesn’t mean in the future AI can’t be used in conjunction with label design software. As the development of AI continues, it has the potential to support design, automate repetitive tasks, and potentially speed up workflows. However, at this stage, AI shouldn’t be the only tool relied on when creating labels. It’s still important to invest in professional labeling software.

Why professional labeling still matters

While AI can make certain things more efficient, when it comes to labeling human interaction is still needed. Human oversight in labeling remains essential to validate content, interpret evolving regulations, and catch errors that AI may overlook. Professional labeling software can provide accuracy, version control, and traceability, ensuring that every label meets regulatory standards and company requirements. Labeling software also offers creativity and flexibility to create labels that truly reflect your unique brand identity.

Investing in professional labeling

Assessing the right time to invest in professional label design software is necessary for your business. Be on the lookout for the following signs:

• Increased workload and inefficiency: Are labeling tasks taking longer than they should, causing unnecessary delays in your operations? This inefficiency can have a direct impact on your bottom line.
• Scaling challenges: Consider whether your current labeling environment can seamlessly support your company’s growth. If it’s struggling to keep up, it might be time for an upgrade.
• Inaccurate data on labels: Have you started noticing errors on your labels? Such inaccuracies can have a significant impact on branding, inventory management, point of sale, order fulfillment, and relationships with retailers or distributors.
• Compliance requirements: As industry regulations evolve, can your current software adapt to ensure continued compliance? Falling out of compliance can lead to penalties and fines from federal regulators.

As your labeling needs evolve and your company grows, there are options for your labeling.

• Print workflow automation: Minimizes human touch points to reduce errors and increase print speed.
• Label security and traceability software: Centralized control, audit readiness, and compliance support.
• Centralized label management: A centralized label management solution that handles label design, approval, printing, and reporting can help organizations with complex labeling requirements.

How to choose the right labeling solution

Selecting the right label design software is important. To ensure you make the best choice for your company, consider the following:

• Assess your needs: Start by identifying your specific label design requirements. Your label design software features should align seamlessly with your unique needs.
• User-friendliness and customer support: Choose software that’s user-friendly so you can design and print labels with little to no training. Plus, a helpful customer support team can be a lifesaver during crucial times.
• Compatibility: Ensure the software seamlessly integrates with your current systems or databases and printers to maintain data accuracy and label quality.
• Regulatory compliance: Select software that not only meets current labeling compliance requirements but also has the flexibility to adapt to future regulations.

As AI continues to evolve and gain popularity, it’s important to remember that some tasks still require a traditional approach. Professional labeling is one of those areas.

When choosing a labeling solution, it’s important to select one that meets your company’s needs and provides tools to make labeling as efficient and accurate as possible. Equally important is finding a provider with reliable customer support to be there for you through the ups and downs.