ePS details benefits of software designed for labels and packaging

While software systems might seem similar, there are considerable advantages to utilizing products that have been engineered specifically for labels and packaging. Label converters face unique variables such as version control, short runs, complex estimating, substrates, and more. The right software takes this into account.

To learn more about the latest MIS, ERP, and MES software development, L&NW sits down with Dave Currin, product owner, ePS. Currin boasts more than 20 years of experience in software development and product management. At ePS, he works closely with customers and industry teams to deliver practical software solutions that help print businesses improve and grow.

L&NW: What are the benefits to installing the newest MIS, ERP, and MES software for label converters?

DC: The biggest benefit is visibility. Margins are under pressure, order volumes shift week to week, and customers want faster turnaround with more transparency into where their job stands. Older systems, or a patchwork of disconnected tools, force teams to spend their time hunting for information instead of using it.

The latest MIS, ERP and MES technology brings estimating, scheduling, production, inventory, costing and reporting under one roof. Converters get a clear line of sight from the initial quote to the finished pallet.

For label converters, that means protecting margin on short runs, scheduling with confidence, cutting waste, and catching problems while they’re still small. That’s the real payoff: a connected operation where people make better decisions every day.

L&NW: Why is it important for converters to utilize ERP software dedicated to labels and packaging?

DC: Packaging is a different kind of manufacturing environment. Generic ERP systems are built for general manufacturing. Label converters deal with version control, short runs, complex estimating, substrates, finishing processes and constant change.

A packaging-focused ERP starts from that reality. Converters don’t have to bend their processes to fit software built for someone else’s industry.

For growing label companies, that industry knowledge matters because the software has to hold up against real market conditions. Beyond managing transactions, it has to help converters quote accurately, schedule efficiently, control costs, and deliver consistently for their customers.

L&NW: What are some of the biggest converter pain points ePS sees when working with customers?

DC: One of the most common challenges is disconnected information. Many converters have sharp, experienced people who understand the business, but they’re often working from spreadsheets, manual processes, or systems that don’t talk to each other.

That creates hidden costs. Teams reconcile numbers, check inventory by hand, update schedules manually, or try to figure out why a job came in differently than the estimate said it would.

Profitability gets harder to hold onto as jobs get more complex. Short runs, tight deadlines, and shifting customer expectations all demand accurate data, fast. Without that visibility, it’s hard to know where margin is being made or lost.

The converters who come out ahead are the ones who stop reacting to problems and start managing their operations proactively.

L&NW: What were the goals for ePS when engineering Paxis?

DC: Paxis was built to give label converters an ERP solution designed specifically around how they work, accessible to businesses of different sizes.

We wanted deep industry knowledge on a modern, cloud-based platform that fit the way label businesses actually operate today. That meant focusing on usability and flexibility, and giving converters the tools they need without piling on complexity they don’t.

Many label companies have grown through experience, expertise, and strong customer relationships. Paxis was built to support that growth with better visibility, stronger control, and the information converters need for their next stage.

L&NW: How can Paxis help leverage the playing field for smaller, independent converters?

DC: Technology has historically favored larger organizations, since they have more resources for implementation and support. Paxis changes that math. It gives smaller and mid-sized converters access to enterprise-level capability without enterprise-level complexity.

A small converter can now run on the same principles as a much larger one: accurate estimating, real-time visibility, sharper scheduling, and better cost control.

That matters most in a label market where independent converters compete on speed, service and flexibility. The right technology protects those advantages out front while tightening up the efficiency behind the scenes.

L&NW: What should label converters know about getting started with new technology, and how does ePS support them on this journey?

DC: The most successful implementations start with the business goals, not the software. Technology should solve real operational problems; swapping one system for another isn’t the point on its own.

Converters should look for a partner who understands their industry and can walk them through the process. Implementation means more than installing software. It means understanding workflows, supporting people through change, and helping the business get real value out of the investment.

At ePS, we pair packaging industry expertise with support that stays in place throughout that journey. Our team works closely with customers to understand their processes, configure the solution around what they actually need, and help them build confidence as they use it.

L&NW: How can the right software serve as a sustainability solution?

DC: Sustainability starts with accurate information. Without visibility into materials, production performance, waste and energy use, converters can’t really know their environmental impact or where the next improvement is hiding.

The right software builds that visibility by connecting operational data to sustainability goals. Understanding waste, material use, production efficiency and job-level performance lets converters make decisions that help the business and the planet at the same time.

For label converters, sustainability is turning into a requirement from brand owners and customers, not a nice-to-have. Technology can turn it from a reporting exercise into something built into everyday decisions.