Niceware International
200 S. Executive Dr., Suite 200, Brookfield
Innovation: NiceLabel Portal, a web-based barcode labeling platform
Employees: 15
Brookfield-based Niceware International specializes in providing barcode labeling and RFID coding software for its clients. In order to adapt and more efficiently serve its clients with locations across the country and around the world, the company recently launched the NiceLabel Portal, a browser based barcode labeling and printing platform.
“Our company legacy lies in the development of software applications that can be installed on a server in a warehouse or a hospital where barcode labeling is handled,” said Lee Patty, vice president of marketing at Niceware. “For years, we’ve been developing software that powers the barcode identification process. For the past few years, though, we’ve been internally developing this system that will allow some of that functionality to be delivered over the web because that model is attractive to our customers.”
According to Patty, the online web-based printing portal means that individual clients don’t need to install the software to do the printing.
“NiceLabel Portal removes the need to install software at every client and allows administrators to centrally manage all aspects of a barcode printing solution,” Patty said. “The end result is a solution that can be used on a global level for internal and vendor label compliance standards.”
The NiceLabel Portal can be accessed from anywhere there is an internet connection, Patty said. Users simply click a browser link and print a label.
“We tried to make it as simple as opening up a Microsoft Word document,” Patty said. “The ability to centrally control label design and user access minimizes the support requirements associated with client installations and duplicate label designs.”
Niceware clients have the ability to design customized and compliant internal labels using a tool set inside the platform, Patty said.
“They can really develop anything they want at any time,” he said. “If a change needs to be made in the label it can be done on the server side, which provides a change to the label on the entire system, which can then be printed.”
Print users have the ability to select customized client labels or hundreds of vendor compliant labels already pre-built into the system, Patty said.
“Many multi-national companies or shipping companies like UPS require compliance labels on the packages they receive,” Patty said. “So if you are shipping product to Walmart or a Ford warehouse it has to have a particular label on it so the barcode can be scanned and the package can be moved through the supply chain system without being opened. They have very specific compliance standards, many of which are already pre-built into the NiceLabel platform.”
Currently, Niceware provides it’s labeling and barcode printing software on a subscription basis, Patty said. The NiceLabel web platform will be sold through a combination of subscription and licensing techniques, he said.
“Clients can either host the platform on an internal server or have someone else host it,” he said. “A licensing fee will be issued depending on how many systems require access to the platform.”
Niceware International has begun offering the web based label printing system as another option for its customers, Patty said. Its traditional software products are still readily available, however.
“It really comes down to centralized management and offering our customers more options,” Patty said. “It might not work for everyone just yet, but I really think we are following a market trend and we may eventually find this is a replacement for our traditional services. As more and more companies grow to multiple locations, particularly international locations they will seek ways to simplify the deployment of the shipping process. This is a great way to centralize the home-based project and provides different options to bolt on to existing deployment techniques.”
