One mistake is all it takes — A slight error in your packaging label can lead you to an enormous setback.  

Whether you’re a fast-growing business or an established one, maintaining the brand impression throughout is crucial. Sometimes you have to keep up with new labeling regulations, customer demands, expansion of the line, or revert to a specific local language on your label. The cycle can be tedious, and this is where the label management software solution comes in.

Also read: Everything You Need to Know About Canada’s New Front of the Package Labeling Regulations

What is label management software?

In simple terms, labeling management software is designed to centralize and automate the management of labels. It includes designing, proofing, customizing, complying, and more.

Incorporating label management software into your organizational workflow can help you avoid printing errors, comply with industry standards, and stay on-brand.

Whether you’re in manufacturing, Food & Beverages, healthcare, retail, or logistics, labeling software solutions can cater to your specific needs. Let’s learn how the best labeling management systems in the business do that.

11 best label management software

It is important to include a label management solution in your toolkit. Here are the best-picked label management software that you should look at. 

1. Artwork Flow

In the age of AI, Artwork Flow has proved to be a step ahead with its terrific and updated AI features and flexibility to meet the recurring demands of the clients. The AI-powered creative management platform offers a powerful label management solution for a seamless artwork lifecycle process. 

With top brands like HomeChef, LesserEvil, and VitaCoco using — and loving — the platform, Artwork Flow meets the labeling and packaging checklist of any business and provides AI-led solutions like flexible label compliance, proofing, automated workflows, smart tags, and more. 

Top features

• ComplyAI:  This unique feature lets you create your own rule book to check spelling, language preference, images, and more for each project communicating the same message to other collaborators. Additionally, it provides a robust barcode verification solution to ensure the barcode in your creatives is foolproof for the market, saving you time and money.
• Label management: Streamline the label management process with label checklists, workflows, a powerful library to store multiple artworks, and AI-powered proofing.
• Smart proofing: Send out your packages error-free with online proofing which has features like annotation tools, spell check, version comparison, and more to give a hygiene check to your artwork. 
• Custom workflows: Manage product labels and collaborate flawlessly while tracking projects like a pro with autocomplete workflows, Gantt charts, real-time notifications, and more.
• Brand compliance: Adhere to brand guidelines and check your brand hygiene using the brand score tool before launching any labels.
• Asset management: Artwork Flow’s robust digital asset management software lets you store, manage, retrieve, and generate artwork of any size and format.
• AI-background generator: Transform your boring product pack shots into attractive ones with AI. Upload the product photo and add a prompt for your preferred background to get a picture-perfect result!

Pricing

• Free plan available
• Professional: $39/month
• Enterprise: Custom

Why you should choose this tool

With the enterprise labeling software market size set to grow to 60.05 billion by 2031, it is essential to choose the right label management system for enterprises. What makes Artwork Flow an ideal choice for packaging label design software is that it can make your label management process a breeze with a revolutionary feature like ComplyAI. Whether it's setting project rules, checking the spelling or copy on your labels, or ensuring your barcodes meet FDA or FSSAI guidelines, roll out your artwork with confidence.

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2. BLUE Software

BLUE Software stands out as a comprehensive solution for Label and Artwork Management. Designed specifically for sectors like marketing, retail, consumer brands, and life sciences, it ensures that the artwork creation, review, and approval processes are seamless and efficient.

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Top features:

• Comprehensive label and artwork management: Manage the entire lifecycle of your artwork, from creation to approval.
• Collaboration tools: Facilitate real-time collaboration between designers, reviewers, and stakeholders.
• Regulatory compliance checks: Ensure all artworks meet industry-specific regulations and standards.
• Centralized asset repository: Store and organize all your assets, including images, logos, and guidelines, in one place.
• Reporting and analytics: Gain insights into the artwork process, identify bottlenecks, and optimize workflows.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

Blue Software offers robust label management solutions that streamline the entire design-to-print process. With features like real-time collaboration and digital proofing, it ensures that your artwork is compliant and market-ready.

3. Filestage

Filestage is a cloud-based review and approval platform tailored for marketing and design teams. It streamlines the feedback process, ensuring that artworks meet the desired standards before finalization.

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Top Features:

• Customizable workflows: Design workflows that mirror your team's processes.
• Real-time feedback: Collaborators can annotate directly on files, ensuring clear communication.
• Version control: Track changes and revisions, ensuring you always have access to previous versions.
• Integration with design tools: Seamlessly integrate with tools like Adobe Creative Suite for a smooth design process.
• Automated approval processes: Set up automatic notifications and reminders to expedite approvals.

Pricing 

• Free plan available
• Premium: $10.99/month 
• Business: $24.99/month

Why you should choose this tool

Filestage is an intuitive design approval software that simplifies the review and feedback process for labels and artwork. Its easy-to-use interface allows for quick annotations, making it a go-to tool for teams looking for efficient project turnover.

4. Asana

Asana, while primarily known as a project management tool, offers robust features that can be customized for label and graphic design management. It ensures that design projects are organized, on track, and completed on time.

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Top Features:

• Task and project tracking: Organize tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress.
• Collaboration tools: Comment on tasks, attach files, and communicate with team members in real-time.
• Customizable workflows: Design workflows that align with your design and approval processes.
• Integration with design software: Connect with tools like Adobe Creative Suite for a seamless design experience.
• Timeline and calendar views: Visualize project timelines and ensure deadlines are met.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

While not a specialized label and artwork management tool, Asana's project management capabilities can be tailored to manage artwork projects effectively. Its timeline views and task assignments make it easier to track the progress of design elements.

Also read: How Artwork Flow Helps in Label Approval and Compliance Management Process

5. Canva

Canva is a user-friendly online design platform. With its vast library of templates and assets, creating professional-quality labels, graphics, and other visual content becomes accessible to everyone, regardless of their design expertise.

Top Features:

• Extensive template library: Choose from thousands of professionally designed templates.
• Drag-and-drop design interface: Easily add elements, text, and images with a simple drag-and-drop mechanism.
• Collaboration and sharing tools: Share designs with team members, get feedback, and collaborate in real-time.
• Print-ready designs: Create designs with custom dimensions, ready for printing.
• Asset library: Access a vast library of images, fonts, icons, and other design elements

Pricing 

Starts at $24.99

Why you should choose this tool

Canva for Teams offers a collaborative platform that is ideal for creating and managing labels and artwork. With a plethora of design templates and real-time collaboration features, it's a cost-effective solution for small to medium-sized businesses.

Also read: A Definitive Guide To Canva Pro and Canva Enterprise for 2024

6. BarTender By Seagull Scientific

The BarTender Enterprise Business Selector is a label management system designed to be secure, proven, and reliable. It aims to automate and integrate completely with existing systems and workflows, making it a trusted choice for businesses for over 30 years. The tool focuses on providing a robust solution for mission-critical labeling requirements.

Top features:

• Intelligent Templates™: Allows for global change management instantly.
• Secure internet printing: Enables printing anywhere, at any time, on any operating system.
• Back-end system integration: Seamlessly connects your labeling to various data sources like ERP, financial systems, data warehouses, WMS, HR, TMS, and weighing scales.
• Graphical label design and approval workflows: Helps control label quality and compliance while increasing team productivity.
• High availability and fail over capabilities: Ensures continuous printing operations.
• Technical support: Offers legendary technical support to assist you in your operations.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

BarTender by Seagull Scientific is a comprehensive solution for creating and automating labels, barcodes, and more. Its enterprise-level features make it suitable for companies needing to integrate label design with their existing business systems.

7. GreatFour (Harmony) labeling systems

Harmony's Labeling & Artwork Management tool is an online solution specifically designed for the pharmaceutical sector. Recognizing the unique challenges and regulatory requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, this tool offers a comprehensive suite to manage artwork processes efficiently.

Top Features:

• Pharma-specific artwork management: Tailored features to cater to the specific needs of the pharmaceutical industry.
• Streamlined review and approval processes: Efficient workflows to expedite the review and approval of artworks, ensuring faster time-to-market.
• Collaboration tools for teams: Real-time collaboration capabilities allowing multiple stakeholders to work together seamlessly.
• Regulatory compliance checks: Automated checks to ensure all artworks adhere to industry-specific regulations and standards.
• Reporting and analytics: Advanced reporting tools to gain insights into the artwork process, identify bottlenecks, and optimize workflows.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

GreatFour specializes in label management, offering a range of features from design to compliance checks. Its cloud-based platform ensures teams can collaborate in real-time, making it a scalable solution for businesses of all sizes.

Also read: Your 2024 Guide To Reducing Drug Labeling Errors In The Pharma Industry

8. Artwork PLM 

ArtWork PLM is a comprehensive Product Lifecycle Management tool that caters to various organizations. It offers a robust platform for label management, ensuring that artworks are created, reviewed, and approved efficiently.

Top Features:

• End-to-end artwork lifecycle management: Manages the entire lifecycle of an artwork, from concept to completion.
• Collaboration tools: Facilitates real-time collaboration between designers, reviewers, and other stakeholders.
• Version control: Tracks changes and revisions, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Integration with design software: Connects with leading design tools for a seamless design and review process.
• Reporting tools: Provides detailed insights into the artwork management process, helping organizations optimize their workflows.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

Artwork PLM is specifically designed for artwork management. It provides end-to-end solutions from design to market release, ensuring compliance and reducing time-to-market.

9. Aptean’s PLM

Aptean’s PLM Lascom Edition is designed for the food and beverage industry. It includes an interactive tool for reviewing and annotating artworks, ensuring that all stakeholders have a shared vision and understanding of the artwork.

Top Features:

• Interactive artwork review: A digital platform where stakeholders can review, annotate, and provide feedback on artworks in real-time.
• Real-time collaboration: Enables multiple team members to collaborate on the same artwork simultaneously.
• Customizable workflows: Design workflows that align with the organization's specific design and approval processes.
• Integration with design software: Seamless integration with popular design tools, ensuring a smooth transition from design to review.
• Centralized asset storage: A cloud-based repository to store all artwork-related assets, ensuring easy access and consistency.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

If you’re in the Food and Beverage industry, Aptean’s PLM simplifies new product developments and accelerates R&D processes to ensure compliance and quality control in product lifecycle management.

10. GoProof

GoProof is a collaborative platform that integrates directly with Adobe Creative Cloud, offering a seamless environment for designers and clients to review, annotate, and approve artworks. 

Top Features:

• Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud: Directly send your designs from Adobe software like Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to GoProof for review, without leaving the Adobe environment.
• Real-time feedback and annotations: Stakeholders can provide pinpoint feedback directly on the artwork, ensuring clarity in revisions.
• Version control: Every change, feedback, and approval is tracked, allowing designers to revert to previous versions if needed.
• Collaboration tools: Invite team members, clients, and other stakeholders to review and provide feedback in a centralized platform.
• Automated approval processes: Reduce delays with automated reminders for pending approvals, ensuring projects stay on track.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

GoProof offers online proofing software that streamlines creative collaboration. With features like automated proofing workflows and insights reporting, it's designed to simplify your proofing, editing, and creative collaboration workflows.

11. DELTEK

Deltek's solution is tailored for creative professionals, offering a unified platform to manage artwork projects from conception to completion. With tools designed for collaboration and efficiency, Deltek ensures artworks are delivered on time and meet the desired standards.

Top Features:

• Digital artwork management: Create, review, and store artworks in a digital environment, ensuring easy access and version control.
• Collaboration and feedback tools: Engage in real-time discussions, share feedback, and ensure that all stakeholders are aligned.
• Version control: Track every change, compare different versions, and ensure that the final artwork is error-free.
• Integration with design tools: Seamlessly connect with popular design software, ensuring a smooth transition from design to review.
• Automated approval processes: Set up workflows that automate the approval process, reducing manual interventions and speeding up project timelines.

Pricing 

Available on request. 

Why you should choose this tool

Deltek ConceptShare provides online proofing software that speeds up the review and approval of marketing and creative work, including labels and artwork. Its cloud delivery offers increased security, privacy, and flexibility, making it a strong choice for today's business environment.

Conclusion

The label management software options mentioned here offer businesses handy tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their product development processes. The above label management software solutions offer a wide set of features, including intuitive label design tools, powerful database integration, barcode generation capabilities, and automation features. These tools not only streamline the review and approval of labels but also help in compliance with industry standards and regulations.

As businesses continue to prioritize accuracy, efficiency, and compliance in their operations, integrating top label management software becomes an invaluable asset in optimizing labeling workflows. 

And we couldn’t help but suggest you the best artwork management software in the market — yes, it is Artwork Flow. 

HomeChef, VitaCoco, and other global brands using Artwork Flow for label management have seen the benefits, including:

- 400% increase in approval rates

- 76% decrease in time to market

- 1000+ staff hours saved

- 600K saved annually

And there’s more…

If you’re still conflicted, book a chat with us and we’ll thoroughly study your artwork requirements before suggesting the right fit for you.

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