Automated Labeling & Printing

From Weighing Stations to Order Labels to Self-Service Kiosks

The Problem

Manual label printing and management creates operational bottlenecks and quality issues across multiple workflows:

  • Wrong labels because pricing, templates, or order data don't reach all printers
  • Over-packing and wastage because weights aren't validated in packing operations
  • Manual data entry to log weights, orders, and labels—taking 6+ hours per station per week
  • No traceability linking labels to actual operations (packed weights, order IDs, timestamps)
  • Compliance issues with missing or incorrect label information
  • Operator bottlenecks waiting for labels to print from distant stations

Whether you're handling 25-30 packs per minute, printing shipping labels for hundreds of orders, or managing self-service kiosks—manual label management doesn't scale.

The IoTReady Solution

Centralized label management + IoT-enabled printers + automated workflows—for weighing stations, order fulfillment, and self-service kiosks

100% Label Accuracy

Automated sync of pricing, SKUs, and label designs keeps every printer up to date. No more yesterday's prices.

Wastage Detection

Real-time weight validation detects over-packing and under-packing. Eliminate 90% of wastage from weight discrepancies.

Zero Manual Entry

Weight captured automatically from scale, label printed instantly, data logged to cloud. Save 6+ hours per station per week.

Centralized Management

Update prices, add SKUs, or change label designs from central dashboard. All printers sync automatically.

Full Traceability

Every label linked to actual packed weight, timestamp, operator, and location. Complete audit trail for compliance.

Real-Time Monitoring

Live dashboard shows packing rates, discrepancies by SKU, and production issues as they happen—not at end of shift.

See It In Action

Watch how operators achieve 25-30 packs per minute with automated weighing and labeling

What You're Seeing:

A worker places a packet on the scale. The system automatically:

  1. Captures the weight from the scale
  2. Validates weight against expected range for this SKU
  3. Prints a barcode label with correct price, weight, date, batch info
  4. Worker applies the self-adhesive label and moves to next packet

Performance:

  • 25-30 packs per minute per operator with zero labeling errors
  • Under 3 seconds from placing packet to label printed
  • 100% traceability linking every label to actual weight and timestamp

How It Works

1. IoT-Enabled Weighing Scale

Our WiFi/Ethernet device connects your existing weighing scale (Essae, Clonet, or any brand with RS232) to the cloud. Weight data captured automatically—no manual reading.

2. Automated Label Printing

Integrated with off-the-shelf barcode printers (Zebra, Argox, TSC). Supports all standard labels: paper, vinyl, transparent. Print speed: 25-30 labels/minute.

3. Centralized Label Management

Cloud-hosted software manages label designs, pricing, and SKUs. Role and location-based permissions control who can update what. All printers sync automatically.

4. Real-Time Data & Analytics

Every weight, label, and timestamp logged to cloud. End-of-day reports show production by SKU, discrepancies, and operator performance.

5. ERP Integration

Data flows to your WMS/ERP via API. No manual data entry required. Works with SAP, Zoho, ERPNext, custom systems.

Use Cases Across Industries

The same IoT-enabled label printing platform adapts to multiple workflows—from weighing and packing to order fulfillment and self-service operations.

Weighing + Labeling

Fruits & Vegetables

High-volume packing operations at sourcing centers and fulfillment centers. Weight validation prevents wastage from over/under-packing.

Customer: BigBasket (650 locations)

Meat & Seafood

Compliance labels with weight, price, batch info, traceability codes. Temperature-resistant vinyl labels for cold storage.

Industries: FreshToHome, Licious

Snacks & Dry Groceries

Automated labeling for packaged goods with weight verification. Detect short-weight products before they reach customers.

Use case: E-commerce fulfillment centers

Pharmaceuticals

GMP-compliant labeling with batch tracking and expiry management. Audit trail for regulatory compliance.

Requirement: 21 CFR Part 11 compliance

Order Label Printing

Shipping Label Automation

Integrate with order management systems to auto-print shipping labels as orders arrive. Scan order barcode, system prints courier label with correct address, tracking number, and shipping method.

Use case: Warehouse dispatch stations

Order Fulfillment Labels

Print pick lists, packing slips, and delivery labels automatically. Operators scan totes/bins, system prints labels with order details and routing information.

Use case: Dark stores, fulfillment centers

Invoice & Documentation Printing

Auto-print invoices, delivery challans, and customs documentation. Centralized management ensures all printers have latest document templates.

Use case: Distribution centers, cross-border logistics

Return Label Generation

Print return authorization labels with RMA codes and routing instructions. Linked to reverse logistics workflows for tracking returns.

Use case: Customer service centers, returns processing

Self-Service Kiosks

Retail Self-Weighing Stations

Customers place produce on scale, select item from touchscreen, system prints price label. Prevents checkout delays and improves customer experience.

Use case: Supermarkets, farmers markets

Deli Counter Automation

Customer orders via touchscreen, staff weighs item, label auto-prints with weight, price, and queue number. Reduces wait times and labeling errors.

Use case: Deli counters, bakery sections

Warehouse Self-Service

Operators use kiosk to print labels on demand—pallet labels, location labels, equipment tags. Reduces dependency on central label printing stations.

Use case: Large warehouses, distribution centers

Manufacturing Floor Kiosks

Workers print job labels, WIP tags, and quality control labels at workstations. Integrated with MES for real-time production tracking.

Use case: Manufacturing plants, assembly lines

Business Impact

650

Locations Deployed

Across BigBasket distribution centers and dark stores

1000+

Active Devices

IoT-enabled scales and printers in production

100%

Label Accuracy

Eliminate wrong price and SKU errors

90%

Wastage Reduction

Detect and eliminate over-packing

Technical Specifications

Weighing Scale Compatibility

  • Compatible with Essae, Clonet, and any brand with RS232 interface
  • Weight range: 10g to 100kg (dependent on scale)
  • USB/RS232 connectivity

Label Printer Compatibility

  • Zebra, Argox, TSC (other brands on demand)
  • Print speed: 25-30 labels/minute
  • Label size: 1" to 5" (larger on request)

Label Types Supported

  • Paper labels (standard)
  • Vinyl labels (cold storage)
  • Transparent labels
  • Custom sizes and materials

Connectivity

  • WiFi and Ethernet
  • BLE for IT configuration
  • Cloud-hosted software
  • API integration with ERP/WMS

Real-World Results

BigBasket: 650 Locations, 1000+ Devices

India's Largest Automated Labeling Deployment

Deployed across all BigBasket distribution centers and dark stores—650 locations with 1000+ IoT-enabled weighing scales and label printers. Farmers deliver produce at sourcing centers, workers place in QR-coded crates on scales, system auto-prints weight labels. Eliminated labeling errors and improved traceability from farm-gate to customer.

Read full story →

E-Commerce Fulfillment

High-Volume Packing Operations

Multiple fulfillment centers processing thousands of SKUs daily. Centralized pricing management ensures all printers have correct prices. Real-time weight monitoring detects over-packing before dispatch.

Food Manufacturing

FSSAI-Compliant Labeling

Automated compliance labels with batch codes, manufacturing dates, expiry dates, nutritional info. Complete traceability for recalls and quality investigations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to deploy automated labeling?
For the first location: 1-2 weeks to align data sync, configure label templates, integrate with WMS/ERP, and train operators. For additional sites: ~15 minutes per machine using the proven configuration. BigBasket scaled to 650 locations—the first site takes time to get everything right, then subsequent deployments are rapid.
Does this work with our existing weighing scales?
Yes. Our IoT device connects to any weighing scale with RS232/USB interface—Essae, Clonet, Avery, and other brands. Weight data captured automatically. If you're buying new scales, we can recommend compatible models. Works with scales from 10g to 100kg capacity.
What label printers do you support?
We support Zebra, TVS, Honeywell, Sato, Argox, TSC, and any thermal printer with an RS232 or USB port. Print speed: 25-30 labels/minute. Label sizes: 1" to 5" (larger on request). Supports paper, vinyl, and transparent labels. We can provide printers or integrate with your existing hardware.
How do you manage label templates across locations?
Centralized cloud-based label management. Update pricing, add SKUs, or modify label designs from central dashboard—all printers sync automatically. Role and location-based permissions control who can update what. No more wrong prices because one printer wasn't updated.
Can we detect over-packing and wastage?
Yes. System validates actual weight against expected weight range for each SKU. Over-packing triggers alerts instantly—prevents giving away extra product. Under-packing alerts prevent customer complaints. BigBasket: 90% wastage reduction from weight validation at packing stations.
What's the throughput per operator?
25-30 packs per minute per operator with zero labeling errors. Under 3 seconds from placing packet on scale to label printed. Watch our video demonstration showing the complete workflow. Significantly faster than manual label lookup and application.
How does WMS/ERP integration work?
Data flows automatically to SAP, Zoho, ERPNext, custom WMS via APIs. Every label linked to actual packed weight, timestamp, operator, and station. No manual data entry. Supports order fulfillment workflows—scan order, print shipping label, update WMS automatically. See our ERP integration pages for technical details.
Can we use this for order fulfillment labels?
Absolutely. Supports shipping labels, packing slips, delivery labels, and return labels. Integrate with order management systems to auto-print labels as orders arrive. Operators scan order barcode, system prints courier label with correct address, tracking number, and shipping method. Perfect for warehouse dispatch stations and fulfillment centers.
What about self-service kiosks?
Yes. Deploy retail self-weighing stations where customers place produce on scale, select item from touchscreen, and system prints price label. Reduces checkout delays. Also supports warehouse self-service—operators print labels on demand (pallet labels, location labels, equipment tags) without central print stations.
How scalable is the platform?
Handles 1000s of devices across multiple locations. BigBasket: 650 locations with 1000+ IoT-enabled scales and printers. Centralized management ensures all sites have correct pricing and label templates. Works for small operations (5-10 packs/day) or high-volume fulfillment (1000s of packs/day). Real-time dashboards monitor all stations.

Ready to Automate Your Labeling?

See results on Day 1. ROI in weeks. Eliminate labeling errors and save hours of manual effort.