In today's highly competitive and regulated business landscape, staying compliant with labeling regulations is paramount, especially in industries like cosmetics, chemicals, medical devices and food and beverage, where adherence to strict guidelines is crucial. With the increasing complexity of artwork design and ever-evolving regulations, it's vital for companies to find efficient and cost-effective solutions to maintain compliance while reducing errors. This is where label templates and artwork management systems come in.
 

In this blog post, we will explore how using a labeling and artwork management system that provides packaging label templates can benefit highly regulated industries by ensuring compliance with regulations, minimizing errors and time to market, and saving time and money.
 

Label Templates Simplify Compliance

In industries with stringent regulations, compliance with labeling requirements is not optional—it's mandatory. The consequences of non-compliance are severe, leading to fines, product recalls, damage to a company's reputation as well as serious health and safety risks. The integration of label templates within a labeling and artwork management system is a game-changer in this regard.

1. Meeting Requirements:

Take, for instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food labeling guide that details specific requirements for food labels that must be adhered to strictly. Label templates with pre-designed formats automate these crucial processes, such as adding an allergen statement based on the ingredient list and formatting font sizes of statutory text based on the PDP size. This ensures that your labels include all necessary information and are formatted correctly, helping you meet FDA labeling regulations with ease.

2. Uniformity and Consistency:

Label templates ensure that your packaging artworks are consistent across all product variations and markets. This uniformity not only helps with compliance but also greatly reduces the risk of errors and enhances brand identity and fosters consumer trust.
 

Efficiency and Cost Savings

1. Time Savings:

Designing packaging labels from scratch can be a time-consuming process. Label templates based on the right dieline, on the other hand, offer pre-designed layouts, making it faster and simpler to create new artworks or update existing ones. This results in significant time savings, allowing your team to focus on other creatives and critical tasks.

2. Bulk Artwork Changes:

In many industries it is possible that bulk artwork changes will need to be made. For example, in cosmetics where a product such as a concealer may come in various formulations and sizes and may change often to fit with current marketing campaigns, the ability to make bulk changes to artworks is invaluable. Another example is the case of an address change or the addition of new allergens across numerous artworks - in these cases, manual artwork revisions across SKUs is a tedious process. Label templates help take the drudgery out of artwork creation, enabling quick and efficient updates across a range of products, reducing the risk of errors, ensuring consistency and considerably minimizing the time to market.

3. Cost Reduction:

Using label templates can significantly reduce design and production costs. Custom artwork designs often involve hiring graphic designers and manual proofreading, which can be expensive. With label templates, you can handle artwork updates and adaptations in-house, saving both time and money.

4. Error Reduction:

In industries with strict compliance requirements, such as the medical device industry, even a minor labeling error can have significant consequences for both medical professionals and patients too. Label templates ensure that essential elements are consistently included in the correct locations.

5. Consistency:

By using label templates, you can achieve a level of consistency that is often challenging to maintain with manual packaging artwork design processes. Moreover, consistent labels across the physical and digital shelves enhance brand recognition, making your products stand out on the shelves and creating a sense of trust among consumers.

Label templates are a powerful tool for highly regulated industries. They simplify compliance with FDA labeling requirements, streamline the label design process, result in substantial time and cost savings, reduce errors, and enhance marketing efforts. By investing in a labeling and artwork management system that offers label templates, companies can stay ahead of evolving regulatory requirements, maintain their commitment to product quality and safety, and boost their marketing endeavors for a faster time-to-market and improved market positioning.

How Kallik can help

Are you ready to take your labeling and artwork compliance efforts to the next level? Consider exploring Kallik's cutting-edge software as a service (SaaS), Veraciti, which not only provides label templates but also offers a game-changing solution to streamline your label management process. With Veraciti, you can make bulk changes for up to thousands of labels within a day—a process that would typically take months without the use of templates!

Want to see the power of cloud-based labeling and artwork management software for yourself? Whether you’re in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical, or even the cosmetic industry, our experts are ready to help you transform your labeling and artwork management with the help of our innovative software, leading the way in the labeling and artwork software space. Get in touch today to see what we can do for you at enquiries@kallik.com or call +44 (0) 1827 318100.

The recent Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) webinar, featuring labeling and artwork experts John Blake, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner and Gurdip Singh, CEO of Kallik, discussed in depth the intricate world of labeling and artwork management and what process maturity looks like in 2024. With a focus on regulatory compliance, the webinar explored evolving industry trends, challenges faced by organizations, and transformative strategies for digital maturity.
 

John Blake, representing Gartner, a global technological research and consulting firm, began the discussion by underlining the pivotal role of labeling and artwork management in ensuring regulatory compliance. Providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape, John emphasized the shift from traditional label and artwork management to the digital, online management of labeling and artwork and how this digitalization is seeing artwork and labeling merge as the two become more difficult to separate. 
 

The stages of maturity

The topic of maturity then came up as John went on to discuss the maturity levels within organizations, highlighting the common challenges faced in the early stages. Focusing on companies stuck in what is described as the second stage of maturity, John said: “I would say, regardless of industry, regardless of size of company, the vast majority of organizations and functions within those organizations are just at that stage of identifying that they have a problem. You know, delays, cost overruns, recalls, they’re at that firefighting stage.”
 

Then discussing the third stage of maturity, where organizations tend to introduce tools and technology but in a very siloed fashion, it then becomes about how to communicate and collaborate better across the organization. “We see the vast majority of companies in these earlier stages, regardless of industry or size of the company.”
 

Moving up the maturity stages

John goes on to look at the opportunities being missed within the label and artwork management process and how removing traditional processes can benefit businesses. “I think about what we have in our homes, our pictures are stored on the cloud, we have cameras in our doorbells, we are streaming music online. But then we go into work, back into our business operations and there are still a tremendous amount of manual processes, from spreadsheets to back and forth over emails and even printed copies for approvals. There’s a real opportunity in the label and artwork management space to bring those digital tools into those processes.”
 

The importance of composability

Introducing the concept of composability, John illustrated the importance of discoverable data and autonomy in updates. Using the analogy of music, he highlighted the power of composability in business processes. “I would have to go find the music I want to put on a CD, I’d have to find a blank CD and I’d have to find a CD burner. I’d then have to mail a physical copy out too. So quite honestly, that would probably take about two weeks to do. But with the introduction of streaming services, which is also digital music, it's composable. I could give you the name of a song or an artist, I wouldn't even have to spell it correctly, and you could find it and be listening to it in seconds.”
 

With the emergence of cloud-based, collaborative, automated systems that offer composability, the way that organizations manage their label and artwork processes is transforming. Eliminating mistakes, saving time and money and offering complete regulatory confidence, the future of label and artwork management is clearly in these digital solutions.
 

John summarized: “The legacy systems can just no longer keep up. It's costing organizations too much time, too many resources, and certainly the inability for systems to break down those silos, it’s just causing businesses too many problems.”
 

Gurdip Singh, Kallik’s CEO, then took over to offer his expertise on the benefits of cloud-based, digital platforms. Gurdip stressed the global significance of labeling, extending beyond physical labels to encompass critical information impacting billions of lives daily. 
 

How labels and artwork keep the world spinning

Recalling a recent conversation with a customer, Gurdip emphasized the importance of ensuring your label and artwork process is up to scratch. “He said to me that if all of the labeling companies around the world just decided to stop one at any point in time, it wouldn't be very long before the world came to a standstill. And I thought, actually, that's a really, really important point. Every product that is out there has labeling around it.
 

“It's not just about the physical label on the product itself, it's the information on that product. The information for you, the packaging that goes around it - if you didn't know how to use that product, let's say, in a medical situation, a clinician using a piece of apparatus without the right instructions, then it could cause serious harm.” Although there are significant time and cost savings to be made when properly utilizing digital platforms for the process, it could ultimately save lives by preventing dangerous mistakes and helping to ensure compliance.
 

Making mass changes accurate and compliant

Discussing the difficulties of making mass changes across tens of thousands of labels and artwork while maintaining that accuracy and compliance, Gurdip went on to reiterate that composability is the answer. “The enterprises that we work with can have around 80-90, 000 changes taking place. In fact, we had one global medical device company that alone had to make 90, 000 changes in one year just to be compliant with European Union medical device regulations. 
 

And just trying to find those in your ecosystem, let alone change them can be quite a daunting task. As a result, things become slow. You miss out on, you know, really getting value, your product out there, generating further income, generating further revenue and also getting products out there faster.” Gurdip then emphasized the need for proactive investments in labeling and artwork processes, shifting from reactive fixes to a holistic digital maturity approach.
 

Teleflex: A label and artwork success story

Reiterating the significance of the digital maturity model, Gurdip emphasized the shift beyond basic organization towards optimization, integration, and strategic significance in businesses. Recognizing some of the most common challenges, such as informed mindsets, reactive behavior, and the complexity of involving multiple stakeholders, Gurdip talked through a customer success story with a medical device provider, Teleflex. By using Kallik’s platform, Veraciti, Teleflex were able to completely eliminate mistakes, preventing product recalls thanks to the composability provided by a cloud-based, automated solution. This highlighted just how crucial composability is and how the digital transformation of the labeling and artwork process is enabling composability, ultimately providing organizations with complete accuracy, regulatory confidence and reducing the time-to-market.
 

Overall, the RAPS webinar brought together insights from Gartner and Kallik to offer a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the artwork management and labeling space. As organizations navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance, the key takeaways include the importance of composability, the digital transformation and the requirement for proactive investment in advanced solutions to drive efficiency and address regulatory challenges effectively.
 

Looking for advice on how to improve your label and artwork process? Get in touch with a Kallik expert today by emailing enquiries@kallik.com.

In highly regulated industries, ensuring a seamless flow of information is paramount for success. Whether you're in the food and beverage industry managing nutritional panels, allergen statements and complex recipe management, or in the medical device industry managing instructions for use (IFU), lot/serial numbers and expiration dates, integrating and migrating data can be a major challenge. 
 

This is where cloud-based, automated, intelligent digital platforms come in - highly customizable and easy-to-integrate, simplifying migration and integration.
 

Integration Challenges 

1. Product Information Management (PIM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM):

While Product Lifecycle Management and Product Information Management systems are crucial for managing comprehensive product data, they are not typically designed to handle pack copy and assets. While these systems store extensive product details, they often lack complete pack copy, such as the marketing copy which is usually managed separately in tools like Word or Excel. 
 

By choosing a platform like Kallik’s Veraciti, integrating with PLM/PIM systems has never been easier as any relevant information can be seamlessly imported to create accurate pack copy. Additionally, any updates made in Veraciti can be pushed back to the PLM/PIM systems, ensuring a unified source of truth - a game changer for ensuring an efficient, cost-effective and compliant labeling and artwork process. 
 

2. ERP Systems:

ERP systems are invaluable in the pharmaceutical industry, serving as centralized hubs for storing and managing crucial information such as ingredients, dosages, and warnings. Integrating ERP systems with your label and artwork management system enhances data management and allows for the efficient exchange of vital data like item codes, SKU master data, and printed material stock and BOM data. 
 

Such connectivity enables seamless use of master data across systems, aids in making informed decisions regarding inventory based on artwork stock, and assists in assessing the impact of artwork changes on the ERP Product BOM. Additionally, it improves supply chain, procurement, and vendor coordination by linking ERP item codes to approved artwork files, thereby streamlining operations and ensuring consistency across the product lifecycle. With Veraciti, this level of efficiency is easy to achieve.
 

3. Syndicators:

Highly regulated industries, such as the medical device industry, are subject to stringent regulatory requirements (such as FDA's CFR 21 Part 820 or EU Medical Device Regulation) governing labeling and product information. Syndicators ensure that labeling information remains compliant and updated across all platforms according to these regulations.

Integrating your label and artwork management system with syndicators takes this compliance to the next step by significantly streamlining distribution and allowing brands to push product information, pack shots, and marketing collateral to various websites and online retailers in a GS1 compliant format. Ensuring GS1 compliance is crucial for data standardisation and accuracy across e-commerce platforms.

With Veraciti, this integration allows brands to maintain consistent, approved, and up-to-date content across all e-tailers, enhancing brand integrity and reliability in the digital marketplace.
 

Maximizing ROI with Veraciti

Kallik's Veraciti offers more than just labeling and artwork management software. It's transforming the way that enterprises create, manage and print labels and artwork, a truly comprehensive end-to-end cloud-based platform, the first of its kind to utilize artificial intelligence tools to enhance the migration process.
 

Designed to simplify the complexities of highly regulated industries, Veraciti’s role is to ensure you experience a smooth, cost-effective, and hassle-free integration and migration process. 
 

Want to see the power of cloud-based labeling and artwork management software for yourself? Whether you’re in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical, or even the cosmetic industry, our experts are ready to help you transform your labeling and artwork management with the help of our innovative software, leading the way in the labeling and artwork software space. Get in touch today to see what we can do for you at enquiries@kallik.com or call +44 (0) 1827 318100.

In a world where regulations tighten, consumer demands evolve, and sustainability takes precedence, the Labeling and Artwork industry is undergoing a profound digital transformation. Our comprehensive guide (Top Tips: Your Guide to Mastering Enterprise Labeling & Artwork in 2024) delves into this revolution, offering insights from industry experts and real-world success stories that highlight the crucial role of digitalization.
 

Embracing the Digital Revolution

The shift from traditional processes to cloud-based, automated platforms in labeling and artwork management (LAM) has become a strategic imperative for organizations navigating regulatory complexities and adapting to changing market landscapes. Cloud-based solutions have emerged as the cornerstone, enabling global collaboration, instant updates, and enhanced security. According to Gartner, by 2025, an estimated 85% of businesses will have adopted cloud-based technologies into their daily operations—a trend that's reshaping the industry's standards and capabilities.
 

The Power of Artificial Intelligence and Automation

Integrating AI-driven systems has revolutionized accuracy and speed in LAM, significantly reducing errors and facilitating swift adaptations to regulatory changes. Automated artwork creation and modification, often taking just seconds, have replaced weeks of manual revisions. The transformative impact of AI isn't just about efficiency; it's about achieving complete regulatory compliance and instilling confidence in labeling accuracy.
 

Template Technology: A Game-Changer in Efficiency and Compliance

Template technology offers agility, scalability, and compliance, leading to significant cost savings and ensuring precision in label and artwork management. Its impact extends beyond financial implications, playing a vital role in regulatory adherence, particularly in critical industries like healthcare.
 

Prioritizing Personalization and Sustainability

The demand for sustainable packaging and labeling is at an all-time high. Digital platforms are enabling businesses to swiftly adapt to eco-friendly practices through customizable, pre-designed templates, ensuring operational fluidity while meeting sustainability goals.
 

Looking Ahead to 2024

As we move further into 2024, the evolution of LAM continues to be driven by digital innovation. The strategic adoption of cloud-based solutions, AI integration, template technology, and a focus on sustainability is shaping the future of enterprise labeling and artwork management. This digital transformation isn't just an upgrade—it's a fundamental revolution that propels businesses toward operational excellence and unwavering precision in a fast-paced global marketplace.

Your Next Step in Mastering LAM

If you're eager to learn more about the digitalization of labeling and artwork or seek guidance on enhancing your LAM process, our comprehensive guide offers expert insights and success stories to guide your journey. Download the full guide here and take the first step toward mastering enterprise labeling and artwork in 2024.
 

For personalized advice and assistance tailored to your business needs, speak to a Kallik expert today by emailing enquiries@kallik.com. Your journey toward a more efficient, compliant, and sustainable LAM process begins here.
 

Download the full guide for expert insights and success stories in mastering Enterprise Labeling & Artwork in 2024.

In the dynamic landscape of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, regulatory compliance stands as a cornerstone of patient safety and well-being. Yet, ensuring compliance with evolving standards and regulations poses significant challenges for organizations worldwide. Traditional methods of producing Instructions For Use (IFUs) and Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) have often proven inadequate in meeting these demands. 
 

These documents serve as crucial sources of information for patients, providing guidance on the proper use of medical devices and medications. Inaccuracies or errors in these leaflets can have severe consequences. When it comes to pharmaceutical and medical device labeling, the risks can even be life threatening.
 

Therefore, ensuring the accuracy and compliance of patient information and instructions for use leaflets is essential for safeguarding patient health and maintaining regulatory adherence. However, with the introduction of automation in the labeling and artwork industry, a new era of efficiency, compliance and accuracy has arrived in IFU production.
 

Bob Tilling, our label and artwork expert, sheds light on the transformative power of automation in IFU production. Let's discuss some of the insights Bob has shared:
 

Addressing Regulatory Gaps 

Having anything from 100 to over 1,000 IFUs is not uncommon for a mid-sized device manufacturer. Re-writing in a style appropriate for the user, the addition of new symbology and statements, plus translation into 20+ EU languages is making the task of updating these to comply with the new EU Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR) much larger than first anticipated for many device companies.
 

The new EU MDR is significantly longer than the EU Medical Devices Directive (MDD) and will require most medical device manufacturers to update their clinical data, technical documentation and labeling which includes the leaflets.
 

Non-compliance with EU MDR labeling requirements not only puts patients at risk but also exposes organizations to legal repercussions and reputational damage. Therefore, ensuring the accuracy and compliance of patient information and instructions for use leaflets is essential for safeguarding patient health and maintaining regulatory adherence.
 

Many organizations recently have found themselves in a quandary, as traditional systems, including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, often fall short in controlling layout and content. Veraciti emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a comprehensive solution that not only manages content but also controls layout, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
 

Streamlining Processes, Eliminating Errors

The traditional approach to IFU production often involves a laborious process that involves input from several stakeholders across the globe. This decentralized approach not only consumes time but also increases the risk of errors. By using an automated enterprise labeling software, such as Kallik’s Veraciti, you can revolutionize this process by automating the generation of the leaflet from a pre-approved single source of truth with pre-approved, automatic translations available too, eliminating the need for manual intervention when creating and updating the leaflets. 
 

Breaking Language Barriers, Ensuring Consistency

When it comes to IFU leaflets, it’s crucial that the information can be correctly understood by patients and healthcare professionals all over the world. Veraciti revolutionizes this process by enabling organizations to swiftly generate IFUs in multiple languages, all within a matter of seconds. This groundbreaking capability eliminates the necessity for linguistic expertise, a significant obstacle particularly for non-native speakers who may struggle with language nuances.

Unlike competitors who rely on less accurate methods like Google Translate, Veraciti offers pre-approved translations derived from a single source of truth, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all IFUs. This not only streamlines the process but also reduces the workload, as organizations no longer need to create separate IFUs for each language, enhancing accessibility. The ability to swiftly generate accurate translations is a game-changer, empowering non-native speakers to access vital medical information with ease and confidence, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare outcomes on a global scale.
 

Making the Move to eIFUs (Electronic IFU)

In today's fast-paced digital world, the transition from traditional paper-based IFUs to electronic formats marks a significant leap forward in efficiency and accessibility. Electronic IFU leaflets offer a long list of benefits, including streamlined access, enhanced user experience, the ability to deliver multilingual content seamlessly and not to mention the sustainability benefits. Furthermore, when regulations are updated and the information required on IFUs changes with them, this then can mean that organizations need to change thousands of labels to stay compliant. With electronic IFUs, the process is far less time consuming and involves far less waste. As Peter Muller explains in Med-Tech Intelligence: “Paper-based IFUs/PILs are printed in bulk leading to waste when product/manufacturing information or safety advice needs to be updated. There may also be a level of risk to patients if they are accessing information that has been superseded.”
 

With this rising demand for electronic IFUs, organizations are increasingly turning to automation. Unlike traditional methods that rely on manual processes and paper-based documentation, Veraciti empowers organizations to generate IFUs in electronic formats, including XML files. This capability not only ensures compliance with regulatory standards but also opens up a world of possibilities in terms of accessibility and integration. With Veraciti, organizations can create IFUs that can be downloaded as XML files, enabling seamless integration into websites and digital platforms. By harnessing the power of automation and electronic IFUs, organizations can navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance with ease while delivering an unparalleled user experience to their customers.
 

Case Study: Empowering Össur With Greater Control

Our collaboration with Össur, a leading provider of Class II medical devices, exemplifies the transformative impact of automation in IFU production. Össur faced numerous challenges, including disparate legacy systems, delays in product launches, and limited control over IFU assets. With the implementation of Veraciti, Össur achieved remarkable results, consolidating IFU phrases into a centralized system, enhancing visibility, and streamlining the approval process. The ability to pre-approve phrases and standardize IFUs has not only improved efficiency but also ensured compliance with regulatory requirements. You can read more about how we helped Össur here.
 

Success Story: Keeping People Safe with Cardinal Health

In our collaboration with Cardinal Health, a global leader in healthcare services, we have witnessed firsthand the critical importance of accuracy and compliance in IFU production. By providing solutions that streamline the compliance process and eliminate errors, we have helped Cardinal Health navigate the complexities of regulatory standards, particularly in the context of MDR compliance. 
 

As Bob Tilling aptly puts it, "The ability to pinpoint necessary artwork modifications swiftly and accurately is instrumental in not just compliance but also in ensuring accuracy in crucial elements such as Instructions for Use (IFUs)."
 

Safeguarding Lives, Ensuring Compliance

Through adopting our approach, creation of multiple language EU MDR compliant 30 page IFUs is down from 3-5 hours to just 30-40 minutes with the time taken to generate individual labels reducing from 1 hour to around 10 minutes. With 350 IFUs and 10,000 labels, 5 person years of lost time has been recovered just for Class III devices alone.
 

In conclusion, automation in IFU production is a game-changer for compliance, accuracy and efficiency. By leveraging the power of technology, organizations can streamline processes, eliminate errors, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Our partnerships with Össur and Cardinal Health underscore our commitment to empowering organizations with complete regulatory confidence. 
 

Want to see the power of cloud-based labeling and artwork management software for yourself? Whether you’re in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical, or even the cosmetic industry, our experts are ready to help you transform your labeling and artwork management with the help of our innovative software, leading the way in the labeling and artwork software space. Get in touch today to see what we can do for you at enquiries@kallik.com or call +44 (0) 1827 318100.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of years, you’ll have noticed the words artificial intelligence (AI) in the media almost constantly. AI stands as a beacon of innovation, reshaping the way we approach tasks across various industries. From healthcare to finance, manufacturing to retail, AI is making waves, revolutionizing processes and driving efficiency like never before. 
 

But what exactly is AI, and how does it work? 
 

Essentially, AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines, allowing them to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. Through techniques like machine learning and deep learning, AI systems analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and make informed decisions—all in a fraction of the time it would take a human.
 

You’ve probably heard of, or may have even used, ChatGPT. It’s a form of “Generative Artificial Intelligence” (GenAI) which utilizes state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) techniques to generate human-like text responses based on input prompts. Whether it's answering questions, generating creative content, or assisting with language translation, ChatGPT allows users to engage in meaningful conversations, automate customer support, or even generate marketing content.
 

This technology can be found transforming processes and ways of working in a wide range of industries. For example, in healthcare, AI is revolutionizing diagnostics and treatment planning, while in manufacturing, it's optimizing production processes and predictive maintenance. With each day, AI algorithms are constantly being refined and enhanced, paving the way for even greater advancements. With ongoing research and innovation, AI is poised to become even more beneficial, offering solutions to problems we may not have even imagined yet.
 

So how is AI making its mark in the world of labeling and artwork? 

Traditionally, the labeling and artwork migration process has been costly, time consuming and has involved errors and physical waste. Naturally, this often deters businesses from making the move from traditional methods to a digital management platform or moving from their existing platform to a new one. However, with the emergence of AI-powered tools like Kallik’s AToM (Assisted Tool of Migration), we are seeing a number of these issues being resolved.
 

AToM, the first of its kind in the labeling and artwork industry, leverages the power of AI to streamline the entire label and data migration process, from a variety of content sources, reducing manual effort and potential for errors. It works by extracting content labels or artworks in any format and generating intelligent templates with regulatory and brand logic included as standard. Further to this, AToM is also incredibly intelligent when it comes to identifying aspects of your content that may lead to errors and issues further down the line. For example, AToM can spot duplicate phrases and symbols when scanning families of labels or artwork and can remove them, ensuring you have an accurate, compliant, single source of truth available at all times. Aside from providing complete accuracy and regulatory confidence this also eliminates the need for manual intervention, saving time and reducing errors throughout the entire product lifecycle. 
 

It’s important to note that AToM is learning as it goes, constantly developing and growing and becoming more and more intelligent as it gets a better understanding of what it needs to do. For example, AToM will read a four line address as four separate phrase assets and a use intervention fixes this and tells AToM it’s one phrase over four lines. As a result, AToM will learn from this next time, ensuring that mistakes are never made and it becomes more efficient as time goes on.
 

But the impact of AI in labeling and artwork extends beyond just streamlining processes. It's about driving innovation, empowering businesses to stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive landscape. Overall, we have found that time to market has improved by ~70%, operational efficiency is up by ~70% and migration accuracy has been improved by ~80%. While our competition tends to take months and sometimes years on migration, AToM does it in hours, setting a new industry standard that offers significant benefits for the industry.
 

What are the key benefits for businesses using AI for their labeling and artwork process?

One of our most recent customers, a major American consumer health company, that got to experience the benefits of AToM first hand, commented on the benefits of minimizing human touch in the labeling and artwork management process: “I think speed is one of the levers. I think the other critical lever eventually in this ecosystem is going to be that we minimize human touches. We, as a result, see a step change in proven inaccuracy of what gets published to the marketplace in terms of our portfolio of products and packaging labels.”
 

The key benefits of utilizing AI include:
 

• Reduced total cost of ownership
• Enhanced market competitiveness
• Enhanced operational efficiency
• Data insights and analytics
• Increase in innovation index
• Reduced environmental impact

AI is not just a buzzword
 

It’s clear that AI is a transformative force that's reshaping industries and driving progress. By harnessing the power of AI-driven solutions like AToM, companies can unlock new opportunities, streamline processes, and deliver exceptional results. The future of labeling and artwork is here, and it's powered by AI.
 

Want to see the power of cloud-based labeling and artwork management software for yourself? Whether you’re in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical, or even the cosmetic industry, our experts are ready to help you transform your labeling and artwork management with the help of our innovative software, leading the way in the labeling and artwork software space. Get in touch today to see what we can do for you at enquiries@kallik.com or call +44 (0) 1827 318100.

In the dynamic world of cosmetics, where trends shift as swiftly as the seasons, maintaining brand consistency while complying with regulatory requirements can be a daunting task. Often with a large range of products catering to diverse consumer needs, ensuring that each label or artwork reflects the essence of the brand, is up to date with any current promotions, and meets legal standards is crucial. This is where automation in cosmetic labeling emerges as a game-changer, offering a seamless blend of consistency and compliance.
 

Let’s start with the basics and break down what automation actually is...

Introducing automation
 

Automation is the process of utilizing technology and machinery to perform tasks and processes with minimal human intervention. It involves the implementation of systems and software that streamline repetitive or labor-intensive tasks, allowing for increased efficiency, accuracy, and consistency. 
 

Essentially, automation enables the execution of predefined actions or workflows based on predetermined criteria, reducing the need for manual intervention and freeing up human resources. Whether it's automating manufacturing processes, data entry, or customer interactions, automation empowers organizations to improve productivity, reduce errors, save money, and adapt to rapidly changing business environments.
 

Artwork and labeling automation can do a lot more than simply store, track and approve artwork. A single, end-to-end enterprise labeling and artwork management solution controls the entire labeling process, enabling automated artwork or label creation and modification in the same system. These tools can update artwork and labels over thousands of variants and locations and generate new artwork ready for print. All this can be done in as little as 60 seconds, compared to the many weeks and months of revisions and reworks that are often commonplace.
 

So now let’s break down how automation can specifically benefit the cosmetics industry…
 

Ensuring Consistency, Eliminating Errors and Streamlining Global Product Management
 

When it comes to labeling and artwork, it can be a massive headache for marketers looking to achieve brand consistency and get everything looking good while also staying compliant - that’s a lot to juggle on one small label! Fortunately, with the power of tools like Veraciti’s Automated Artwork Generation (AAG) and label templates, your problems have been solved.
 

How Does AAG Work?
 

AAG dynamically assembles the chosen pre-approved content. By using intelligent pre-approved templates to automatically generate the artwork or label, the need for human input is removed, reducing the risk of errors as well as rapidly decreasing project completion times. Labels or artworks are created within seconds rather than days or weeks.
 

The traditional way to do this is to store data in a database and use a template to control the look and location of the imported data. The issue with this is that to update and actually see 100 populated labels the user has to import that data and then compile each label individually, 100 times in this example. With Veraciti, the user can add the 100 labels to a single project and use the AAG automation to change all 100 at once. There is no need to open and compile each of the 100 labels to see them all complete. Veraciti will change all of them consistently and reliably. The labels can be seen at a much earlier stage in the process which helps you to spot errors and consistency issues earlier on.
 

Labeling errors can be incredibly time consuming and costly as well as posing serious safety risks. Before using our Veraciti software, one of our biggest customers typically dealt with around one content or layout error per month and since using Kallik’s solution they have experienced no errors at all. In the case of traditional labeling and artwork, mistakes can result in reprinting, wasted labels, and increased resource consumption. However, label templates and proofreading tools significantly minimize the risk of human errors in label design by having a pre-approved bank of assets that can be simply dropped into templates that meet all the relevant regulations for the product. 
 

How Do Label And Artwork Templates Work?
 

Label or artwork templates are pre-designed formats that are used as a basis for creating labels for various products, packages, or documents. These templates typically include placeholders for variable information such as product names, descriptions, barcodes, pricing, and other relevant details. Label or artwork templates are far more efficient, accurate and compliant than relying on graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign.
 

At the heart of template technology lies its ability to automatically resize text, scale barcodes, and adapt images. "The agility and scalability offered by template technology represent a monumental leap in streamlining label and artwork management," explained Bob Tilling, VP of Global Sales at Kallik.
 

This not only ensures that all products within a brand maintain a uniform look and feel, enhancing brand identity, but with strict regulations on ingredient lists, warnings, and usage instructions, label templates in conjunction with AAG can generate consistent, compliant labels in minutes. With the power of label templates you can rest assured your labels or artwork include all necessary regulatory information, ensuring compliance with local and international standards.
 

How Can Automation Help to Manage These Assets?
 

But what about managing all of these assets that are used to build the templates? Keeping your assets well organized, up to date and easily accessible isn’t always simple. Veraciti’s Asset and Phrase Managers contain the individual building blocks of all labels and artworks in Veraciti, such as icons, phrases, symbols, and translations. Users can organize, pre-approve and reuse these assets in one central location, maintaining complete version control and audit trails. The ability to pre-approve assets and phrases before they are used ensures that every individual part of the artwork is compliant with the regulatory requirements. 
 

What’s more, it’s so simple to search for the asset you’re looking for with the ability to search by color, material used, the brand it belongs to, etc. The ‘Where Used’ function is also incredibly useful here as it has the ability to identify specific components and recognize every artwork or label where they have been used previously. With ever-changing regulations, this makes the process of making bulk changes to icons, images and phrases seamless, both facilitating and accelerating the process of achieving regulatory compliance.
 

And here’s where the automation comes in - these assets can then be automatically pulled into your label template, ready to use! If that’s not enough, once artworks and labels are completed and approved, they are also automatically stored in the Asset Manager with full version control, audit trails and metadata. So you really can’t ever lose track of anything with this level of automation, so no more worrying about lost artwork, duplicate assets, you’re ready to go!
 

Using Automation for Global Product Management
 

It’s all good and well creating consistent, accurate labels and artwork, but what about when it comes to producing these labels and artwork for your products in other countries? You want to maintain that same level of consistency and accuracy - which is where automation comes in again. 
 

Veraciti revolutionizes this process by enabling organizations to swiftly generate labels and artwork in multiple languages, all within a matter of seconds. This groundbreaking capability eliminates the necessity for linguistic expertise, a significant obstacle particularly for non-native speakers who may struggle with language nuances.
 

Unlike competitors who may rely on less accurate methods like Google Translate, Veraciti offers pre-approved translations derived from a single source of truth, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all your labels and artwork. This not only streamlines the process but also reduces the workload, as organizations no longer need to create separate labels and artwork for each language, enhancing accessibility as well as cutting costs and providing faster speed-to-market.
 

John Blake Summarizes the Benefits of Automation
 

Gartner’s John Blake commented on this, "With newer application digitized tools, users we eliminate that reliance on the manual processes. And those manual processes tend to come in the form of email, spreadsheets, again, these data silos. And what we start to enable is flexibility. So users can manage information across multiple functions, in fact, multiple sites, users know, in fact, even do it globally. The applications are scalable, so kind of moving away from a single desktop or a single site, a single server, right? And there's an aspect of composability, so how the user can identify, adapt, and utilize the data.”
 

We’ve seen the benefits firsthand many times here at Kallik. Just recently, ​​we helped one of our customers, an American consumer health company, to become more efficient and achieve higher accuracy rates. By making some strategic changes to the process, our team was able to execute seven projects across four regions simultaneously in January 2024. This resulted in an impressive aggregate right-first-time artwork accuracy quality score of 97.96% for the month, with all projects delivered on time or ahead of schedule. This contrasts with the usual 5-10 iterations required without Veraciti, showcasing the effectiveness of automation in achieving this level of efficiency.
 

Let’s look at some more examples of how Veraciti’s automation has helped customers in the cosmetics industry specifically…
 

Mary Kay Inc.
 

For over 50 years, Mary Kay Inc. has not only revolutionized the beauty industry but also empowered countless women worldwide. With a presence in nearly 40 countries, Mary Kay's commitment to quality and innovation is unparalleled. However, as the brand expanded globally, it faced the challenge of outdated labeling systems and disjointed artwork processes.
 

Kallik's unique ability to automate the entire end-to-end process proved to be the catalyst for Mary Kay's success. Not only did Veraciti reduce labeling artwork creation times, but it also empowered Mary Kay to extend its best practices by automatically generating audit trails. Emma Polman, Manager, Creative Business Packaging, Mary Kay Inc. Addison, Texas explained, “Kallik’s unique selling point was the ability to automate artwork creation and editing. Kallik was the only company that could deliver this functionality.”
 

House of Cheatham
 

House of Cheatham, a market leader in the area of personal and beauty care, was recently faced with the challenge of maintaining the latest versions of artwork files amidst regulatory requirements Therefore, the company embarked on a digital transformation journey with Kallik's Veraciti.
 

“In the first year of implementing the solution, we processed 140 new artworks,” a representative from House of Cheatham, explained. “Prior to Veraciti, the best we could achieve was 24 per annum. In the second year, we increased this figure to over 400, with no additional resources — a 17-fold increase in our artwork production levels compared to our previous solution. Not only this, but we’ve increased accuracy and taken significant costs out of the process.”
 

With Veraciti's Asset Manager and automated reports, House of Cheatham gained newfound, automated efficiency in processing data, tracking asset versioning, and identifying bottlenecks in their processes. Their representative said, “Kallik has also enabled us to identify and resolve bottlenecks in our processes that were previously difficult to detect, while Veraciti’s intuitive dashboards and automated reports allow us to measure the effectiveness of the whole launch process.” The result? Increased throughput, reduced staff time on workflows, and a streamlined launch process that sets the stage for future growth.
 

Embracing the Future of Cosmetic Labeling
 

As the cosmetics industry continues to evolve, the importance of automation in labeling cannot be overstated. Brands like Mary Kay Inc. and House of Cheatham serve as beacons of innovation, leveraging technology to enhance brand consistency, creativity, and compliance.
 

John summarized: “The legacy systems can just no longer keep up. It's costing organizations too much time, too many resources, and certainly the inability for systems to break down those silos, it’s just causing businesses too many problems.” The shift towards cloud-based, automated, AI-driven platforms marks the beginning of a new era—one where the convergence of technology and innovation becomes the foundation of an efficient, compliant labeling and artwork management process.
 

Want to see the power of cloud-based labeling and artwork management software for yourself? Whether you’re in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical, or even the cosmetic industry, our experts are ready to help you transform your labeling and artwork management with the help of our innovative software, leading the way in the labeling and artwork software space. Get in touch today to see what we can do for you at enquiries@kallik.com or call +44 (0) 1827 318100.

When it comes to creating and managing labels and artwork, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline operations, enhance collaboration, and accelerate time-to-market. One technology that has revolutionized the way companies operate is cloud-based software.

Here at Kallik, our label and artwork management software, Veraciti, has been on the cloud for 20 years. So when it comes to the cloud, we’ve got the experience and the expertise.

By leveraging cloud technology, businesses can break down geographical barriers, foster seamless collaboration among both internal and external teams all over the world, and achieve rapid speed-to-market like never before. 
 

But what about the basics? How does the cloud work? How do cloud services work? What does ‘cloud-based software’ mean? Is the cloud secure? In this guide, we'll explore what it means for software to be cloud-based, and how businesses can harness its power to maximize efficiency and drive success.
 

Understanding the Basics About Cloud-Based Software
 

Cloud-based software, simply put, refers to applications and services that are hosted and accessed via the internet. Unlike traditional software that requires installation on individual computers or servers, cloud-based software operates on remote servers maintained by the provider. Users can access these applications through a web browser or dedicated client software, eliminating the need for costly hardware investments and complex setup procedures.
 

Three of the key benefits of using cloud-based software are:
 

Scalability: It’s easy to adjust usage levels and scale resources up or down based on demand, providing unparalleled flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Automatic updates and maintenance: Users always have access to the latest features and enhancements without the hassle and time spent on manual updates.

Future proof: It's not based around an operating system like Windows 10 for example whereby if the operating system is upgraded or retired then the software needs replacing. This is not the case with cloud based software, it only needs a simple browser to access it.
 

So How Does This Help With Global Collaboration Across Businesses?
 

While globalization undoubtedly presents exciting growth opportunities for businesses, it also introduces challenges in terms of collaboration and communication. This is where cloud-based software really shines.
 

1. Real-Time Collaboration: Cloud-based software enables real-time collaboration among geographically dispersed teams. Whether team members are split up across the world or are even external agencies, they can all collaborate on projects simultaneously, share documents, and communicate effortlessly. This promotes faster decision-making and ensures that everyone is on the same page, regardless of their location or whether they’re a part of the company or an external team.
 

2. Centralized Data Storage: With cloud software, data is stored centrally on secure servers, accessible to authorized users from anywhere with an internet connection. This eliminates the need for cumbersome file-sharing methods such as email attachments or USB drives, reducing the risk of version control issues and ensuring that everyone has access to the most up-to-date information. This becomes very important when the use includes large files commonly found in consumer artwork for example. 
 

3. Enhanced Communication: Cloud-based software often includes built-in communication tools such as annotation and markup tools to enable teams across the world to still collaborate and share thoughts on projects. By encouraging open communication and collaboration, cloud software helps break down silos and promotes a culture of teamwork and innovation.
 

Top Tips for Maximizing Efficiency and Achieving Rapid Speed-to-Market with Cloud-Software
 

Now that we've explored the benefits of cloud-based software for global collaboration, let's discuss some top tips for making the most of this powerful technology to drive efficiency and accelerate time-to-market:
 

1. Choose the Right Software: Not all cloud-based software solutions are created equal. Some software solutions have been designed specifically for use within the cloud while others may have been compromised slightly if they were once on premise and rejigged for the cloud. It's essential to choose a platform that aligns with your business goals and requirements. Consider factors such as scalability, security, ease of use, and integration capabilities when evaluating potential options.
 

2. Invest in Training: To fully leverage the capabilities of cloud software, invest in comprehensive training for your team members. Provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the platform effectively, collaborate efficiently, and take advantage of advanced features and functionalities.
 

3. Establish Clear Processes and Workflows: Define clear processes and workflows for using cloud software within your organization. Establish guidelines for document sharing, project management, and communication to ensure consistency and minimize confusion. Encourage team members to adhere to these processes to streamline operations and drive efficiency.
 

4. Embrace Automation: Many cloud-based software solutions offer automation capabilities that can help streamline repetitive tasks and eliminate manual work. Identify areas where automation can add value to your workflows, such as document approval processes, task assignments, or data analysis, and leverage these features to boost productivity and efficiency.
 

5. Promote Collaboration Culture: Foster a culture of collaboration within your organization by promoting open communication, teamwork, and knowledge sharing. Encourage team members to collaborate across departments and geographic locations, leveraging cloud software to facilitate seamless collaboration and drive innovation.
 

6. Monitor Performance and Gather Feedback: Continuously monitor the performance of your cloud software implementation and gather feedback from users to identify areas for improvement. Pay attention to metrics such as user adoption rates, system uptime, and customer satisfaction to ensure that your cloud software is delivering the desired results.

What Kallik Does Differently:
 

At Kallik, we understand the unique challenges that large enterprises face in labeling and artwork management. That's where we come in, our cutting-edge cloud-based software as a service, Veraciti, which has been helping some of the world’s biggest organizations to manage their labeling and artwork process for decades.
 

Kallik's software has earned its reputation as an industry leader, being recognized by Gartner as a top label and artwork management software vendor. Designed from the outset for the cloud and engineered to simplify processes, enhance collaboration and ensure compliance, it is ideal for use in highly regulated industries, providing ultimate data security for enterprises managing extensive product ranges. Hosted on the leading cloud provider, AWS (Amazon Web Services), our software comes with added peace of mind that you’re getting world-class service.
 

The Cloud’s Benefits in Action:
 

At Veraciti, we pride ourselves on our ability to navigate the complexities of enterprise-level operations, as demonstrated by our successful collaboration with a Danish company that develops, produces and markets medical devices. Initially tasked with consolidating 20 companies into 19, our team seamlessly managed this integration process with precision and efficiency. Despite encountering the unexpected addition of three more companies midway through the project, our cloud-based platform, Veraciti, proved to be instrumental in maintaining the project timeline. 
 

The flexibility and scalability afforded by our cloud-based infrastructure enabled us to accommodate these changes without compromising on the project's pace or quality. Our experience in dealing with complex enterprises equipped us with the expertise needed to adapt swiftly to evolving circumstances while ensuring seamless collaboration across teams and stakeholders. This experience underscores the invaluable role that cloud-based solutions like Veraciti play in streamlining operations for enterprises facing intricate challenges in mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations.
 

How We Helped Diversey Get Over 500 Users Up and Running Across 50 Countries:
 

Having built up a successful pan-European business supplying cleaning products to the consumer and manufacturing sector, Diversey’s next step was to consolidate its multiple in-country specific manufacturing processes.
 

Moving to a single global operation presented the challenge of how to manage tens of thousands of artwork changes without risking non-compliance through introducing uncontrolled variations. “Each local Diversey national operating unit had the same item and in many cases, the information and formulation were the same,” points out the company’s Information and Process Development Lead in its UK office at Alfreton, Neil Harvey.
 

“Kallik was the catalyst for us to centralize production, logistics and SKU management. Without Veraciti, this would not have been possible,” says Harvey. “Veraciti’s powerful Phrase Library, Asset Manager and Workflows have also allowed us to double the number of artworks we manage across Eastern Europe using the same number of people. Being cloud-based, the Kallik solution also means we no longer have the hassle of global databases not synchronizing.”
 

With one solution used across over 50 countries and 500-plus users, Veraciti has significantly simplified traceability and compliance for Diversey.
 

In conclusion, cloud-based software offers a powerful platform for global collaboration, efficiency, and rapid speed-to-market. By leveraging the capabilities of cloud technology, businesses can break down geographical barriers, foster seamless collaboration among global teams, and achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and innovation. By following the top tips outlined in this guide, organizations can maximize the benefits of cloud software and drive success in today's competitive business landscape.

Want to see the power of cloud-based labeling and artwork management software for yourself? Whether you’re in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical, or even the cosmetic industry, our experts are ready to help you transform your labeling and artwork management with the help of our innovative software, leading the way in the labeling and artwork software space. Get in touch today to see what we can do for you at enquiries@kallik.com or call +44 (0) 1827 318100.