The label's job: which identity are you scanning?
A rack label identifies a location, case and pallet labels identify handling units, and a product label identifies an item. Do not reuse one identifier indiscriminately for all four roles.
Rack labels
Check the printed address, such as A-03-02, against the WMS location code. Scan the lowest and highest racks from normal working positions, and test accidental scans of the neighboring bin. Include removal of obsolete labels in the plan when the rack layout changes.
Case labels
When an order spans two cases, track which items belong to each case. Separate the roles of the case ID, order number and carrier tracking number. Test adhesion on the real corrugated surface through sealing, and preserve the case identity when reprinting.
Pallet labels
Pilot mixed pallets, pallet splitting and rewrapping. Check that the unit identity and contents stay in step and can be read at the receiving warehouse. Assess label placement on the wrap, visibility during loading and readability after the journey.
Product labels
Separate the item code from tracking fields such as lot, serial and expiry. Try scanning different packaging units of the same item and verify how the WMS prevents each-versus-case confusion. Test printing and scanning on actual small, curved or glossy packages.
Explore these relationships in the pallet–case–location inventory model.
Thermal, coated paper and synthetic labels
Direct thermal labels use a heat-sensitive surface and require no ribbon. Coated paper refers to the face stock; synthetic media describes families such as polypropylene and polyester. Zebra offers paper and synthetic materials with different printing and resistance characteristics. A material name alone does not guarantee outdoor or chemical resistance. Specify lifetime and exposure before asking the manufacturer to match the label and ribbon.
Metal and permanent labels
Metal-looking polyester is not a solid metal plate; Brady, for example, identifies metalized polyester as a separate material. Specify the surface, adhesive, application temperature and removal conditions when asking for a permanent label. Replace vague durability language with agreed acceptance tests.
Wax, wax/resin and resin ribbons
These ribbon families serve different substrates and durability needs. Wax on paper is a starting point; suitable wax/resin or resin combinations can be evaluated for greater resistance. Confirm the exact pairing with the media and ribbon manufacturers, then test rubbing and chemical exposure on the printed sample.
Source: Zebra — ribbons
Colored, preprinted labels and stickers
Reserve space for variable WMS data on preprinted labels. GS1 recommends black bars on white for strong contrast and requires appropriate quiet zones around symbols. A colored label or sticker needs scanning tests, not just visual approval.
Source: GS1 — barcode implementation
Record sample acceptance
- Dimensions, winding, core size and printer model.
- The actual application surface and temperature.
- Storage lifetime, moisture, sunlight, abrasion and cleaning agents.
- Barcode readability immediately after printing and after exposure.
- Turkish text, color and a reprint example.
In Turkish, “barkot etiketi” is a common spelling variant for barcode label. Establish application conditions before selecting a material by name.
Editorial selection guide. Validate the exact model and application in your warehouse.