Label Insights

The vital role of a technology partner that understands the label industry

Craig Tait, Chief Product Officer, eProductivity Software (ePS), details the evolution of MIS, MES, and ERP systems.

Released By ePS

July 28, 2025

Craig Tait, Chief Product Officer at eProductivity Software (ePS), leads the strategic direction of the company’s ERP and MES solutions for label and packaging manufacturers. With 28 years of international experience, Craig brings deep operational knowledge to the development of software that embeds Lean and TPM principles, helping customers eliminate waste, streamline processes, and improve performance across production, inventory, maintenance, quality, and commercial workflows.

Tait’s leadership is grounded in real-world manufacturing expertise from senior roles at Tri-Wall, United Carton Industries Co., Smurfit Westrock, and Saica Group. He sits down with L&NW to explore the evolution of MIS, MES, and ERP systems, and how the newest technologies will shape the industry’s future.

L&NW: What’s important to know about the newest MIS and ERP solutions available for label printers today?

CT: The biggest shift is that today’s MIS, MES, and ERP systems go far beyond just tracking jobs. Modern solutions focus on real-time data, seamless integration, and automation, giving label converters greater visibility, reducing manual processes, and enabling faster, more informed decision-making.

At ePS, we’re taking that a step further with our factory-smart, cloud-ready platform. Connecting every part of your packaging operation – from estimating, planning, and scheduling to production control and plant-floor data collection – into one intelligent, fully integrated system. Whether you’re using ePS ERP and MES solutions or integrating with third-party systems, our platform ensures data flows smoothly from order to delivery.

It’s also scalable and modular, so whether you’re running a single site or managing multiple plants, the system can grow with you. By reducing reliance on manual processes and siloed systems, it simplifies complexity while helping you drive profitability. And with secure, remote access, your teams can manage operations anytime, anywhere.

L&NW: How does ePS help meet the trend for automation?

CT: Automation is at the heart of everything we do. Our software removes manual touchpoints wherever possible. For example, ePS Automator streamlines repetitive tasks behind the scenes. PrintFlow 4D dynamically manages production schedules using advanced algorithms and rule-based logic, automatically adjusting in real time to changes in machine availability or material supply. Auto-Count 4D automatically collects live production data from the shop floor, eliminating the need for manual reporting. Insights 4D, our Business Intelligence solution, provides instant visibility into performance metrics without having to crunch numbers manually. It’s about freeing up your people to focus on value-added work.

Built on industry expertise, our solutions are designed to improve team productivity, streamline workflows, and adapt to evolving operational needs.

L&NW: How does ePS help customers on their journey with this technology?

CT: We view technology as a journey, not a one-time purchase. Every customer starts from a different point, so we work as a partner to understand your business goals and challenges first. Our solutions are modular and scalable, so you can roll them out at your pace, whether you’re modernizing one site or transforming an entire enterprise. Additionally, we bring decades of industry experience to help align the technology with your operations. And once you’re live, tools like Insights 4D help you track progress and identify opportunities for ongoing improvement.

L&NW: What’s the first step in implementing this software?

CT: It all starts with your business objectives. What challenges are you facing? What goals do you want to hit? Once that’s clear, we work with you to map out your current workflows and identify where technology can make the biggest impact – whether that’s automating estimating, improving production planning, or gaining better inventory control.

From there, the approach is flexible. Some customers want to start small and scale up gradually. Others are ready for a more comprehensive rollout. There’s no one-size-fits-all path. What matters most is finding the right balance between our industry experience and earning your trust, so we tailor the process to where you are in your journey. For us, building long-term relationships is just as important as delivering the right solution.

L&NW: What are some of the challenges in the label industry, and how can ePS help here?

CT: The label industry is currently facing several pressures, including supply chain uncertainty, rising material costs, shorter lead times, and smaller, more customized production runs. Add to that a shrinking skilled workforce and increasing customer demands for speed, service, and transparency, and it becomes clear that converters need to work smarter to stay competitive.

At ePS, we help address these challenges in practical ways. Our software gives you real-time visibility over raw materials, automates key processes like estimating and production planning, and captures vital production knowledge digitally, so you’re not reliant on individual expertise. You can also provide customers with real-time updates on orders, improving service and building trust.

But operational efficiency is just one part of the equation. Sustainability is becoming a business-critical challenge too, with customers, regulators, and brands expecting packaging companies to demonstrate environmental responsibility. That’s why we’ve partnered with CarbonQuota to integrate automated carbon measurement directly into our Radius ERP. This allows you to calculate the carbon footprint of each job during the estimating and planning stages, enabling you to make informed decisions about materials and processes, not just for cost, but also for environmental impact.

With embedded, auditable carbon data, you can track, report, and reduce your emissions as part of everyday production, meeting both customer expectations and regulatory demands without adding complexity to your workflows. This means converters can include carbon metrics on quotes or respond to brand-owner audits with accurate, system-generated reports, without needing to rework spreadsheets or manually calculate emissions.

In short, whether it’s increasing efficiency, improving transparency, or driving measurable sustainability, ePS helps you stay ahead of today’s industry challenges.

L&NW: How does customer feedback and collaboration help shape your R&D?

CT: Listening to our customers is critical. We have customer advisory boards, user groups, and ongoing feedback sessions to make sure we’re building what the industry actually needs. Our service teams work closely with converters every day, so their insights directly inform our product development. Whether it’s simplifying workflows for smaller converters or advancing automation for larger plants, customer input shapes everything we do.

But we don’t work in isolation. Our network of technology partners plays a key role in our innovation process. We collaborate with industry leaders such as Esko and HP, integrating their technologies to deliver even greater value to our customers. For example, by working with HP, we can connect directly to digital presses and automate job ticketing and production workflows. Our collaboration with Esko enables seamless integration between prepress and production systems, ensuring that data flows efficiently from design through to conversion.

Together with our partners, we help customers streamline processes, reduce touchpoints, and unlock greater automation across their operations. By combining customer insight with partner collaboration, we ensure our solutions evolve with the industry, delivering practical, scalable tools that help converters adapt, compete, and grow.