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The Business Case for On-Demand Color Label Printing

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Reduce Costs. Increase Flexibility. Strengthen Your Brand.

Across manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, food & beverage, and regulated industries, companies are rethinking how labels are produced. Instead of outsourcing pre-printed labels and managing excess inventory, many are bringing color label printing in-house.

Thanks to advances in industrial color inkjet label printers, on-demand color label printing is now affordable, reliable, and easy to integrate into existing workflows—making it a practical upgrade for organizations looking to reduce costs and improve operational agility.

What Is On-Demand Color Label Printing?

On-demand color label printing allows you to print full-color or spot-color labels in-house, exactly when and where you need them.

Using industrial inkjet color label printers, inkjet-optimized blank label media, and label design software, businesses can produce durable labels for:

  • Product identification and packaging
  • Warehouse and location labeling
  • GHS and compliance labeling
  • Branding and customer-facing applications

You only print the labels you need - no minimum order quantities, no excess inventory and no wasted labels.

Key Benefits of On-Demand Color Label Printing

1. Reduce Overall Labeling Costs

Outsourced, pre-printed labels often require large minimum orders, long lead times, and costly reprints when changes occur. On-demand color label printing eliminates these inefficiencies.

By printing in-house, you can:

  • avoid overordering and label obsolescence
  • reduce waste from outdate or unused labels
  • free up storage space previously used for label inventory

Over time, these savings can significantly lower your total cost of ownership.

2. Gain Flexibility and Control

Label requirements change - whether due to product updates, seasonal promotions, customer-specific labeling or regulatory compliance.

With on-demand color label printing, you can:

  • update label designs instantly
  • print variable data without delays
  • respond quickly to regulatory or branding changes

This flexibility helps eliminate downtime and keeps operations moving. 

3. Improve Identification, Accuracy and Safety

Color isn't just about aesthetics, it's a powerful functional tool.

Strategic use of color can:

  • improve visual identification and organization
  • reduce picking, packing and shipping errors
  • enhance safety and compliance for GHS and hazard labels

Clear, consistent color cues make labels more effective and easier to interpret at a glance.

4. Strengthen Brand Presence

High-quality color labels elevate the look of products and packaging, without the cost or commitment of pre-printed inventory. 

On-demand color printing allows you to:

  • print professional, vibrant labels in short runs
  • customize branding for products, customers or markets
  • maintain consistent brand quality across applications

It's an easy way to enhance brand perception while staying agile.

5. Easy to Use and Integrate

Modern color inkjet label printers are designed for operations environments, not print shops.

Today's systems offer:

  • simple operation with minimal training
  • seamless integration with existing software and workflows
  • reliable performance for daily production needs

For organizations already printing thermal labels, adding color is often a natural next step.

Typical Applications for On-Demand Color Label Printing

  • GHS and compliance labels
  • Product and packaging labels
  • Food, beverage and specialty product labeling
  • Warehouse location and identification labels
  • Customer-specific or short-run labels

Why Work with General Data?

General Data is a single-source provider for on-demand color label printing solutions. We help you select, implement, and support the right system for your application and budget.

We provide:

  • industrial color inkjet label printers
  • inkjet optimized blank label media
  • printer inks and label design software
  • integration assistance, troubleshooting and ongoing support

Our label experts will help ensure your in-house color labels remain durable, legible and resistant to fading, smearing, moisture and abrasion.

Limited-Time Epson Instant Rebate - Save Up to $1,000

Now is an ideal time to invest in on-demand color label printing. Through March 31, 2026, Epson is offering instant rebates of up to $1,000 on select Epson ColorWorks® color inkjet label printers.

If you've been considering replacing your pre-printed labels, upgrading from black-and-white thermal printing or bringing color label printing in-house, this rebate can significantly reduce upfront costs and accelerate ROI.