The most important decision when considering how to integrate supply chain label printing with Workday is what system architecture works best for your organization. The labeling software app you choose will drive the architecture options available to you.
Step #1 – Decide what Workday integration option you prefer. Two popular integration options available to you from Workday include:
- Drop file using SFTP – better suited for Cloud-to-LAN Integration
- REST API – ideal for Cloud-to-Cloud Integrations
Drop File Using SFTP – Workday can send a text file with label data into the client’s local area network using Secure FTP. Label software on a Label Server within the LAN then can create the print job and route it to correct printer.
Figure 1 – Cloud-to-LAN Integration – SFTP
REST API – Workday can use REST to send label data to the software company’s cloud. That can support two different popular Cloud-to-Cloud Integrations:
- Cloud-to-Cloud to On-Premises Printer Server (Using the Software Company’s App)
- Cloud-to-Cloud to Cloud Print Server
Figure 2 – Popular Cloud-to-Cloud Options (On-Premises Printer Server vs. Cloud Print Server)
Step #2 – Decide on the supply chain label software brand. Workday recommends two well-known brands of industrial supply chain software for labeling integrations:
- Loftware Cloud – NiceLabel (Loftware Inc.)
- BarTender (Seagull Scientific Inc,)
Loftware Cloud / NiceLabel – Loftware/NiceLabel brands support all the options above: Cloud-to-LAN, Cloud-to-Cloud (on-premises printer server), and Cloud-to-Cloud (cloud print server). They offer on-premises (i.e. label server) subscriptions and cloud subscriptions.
BarTender – BarTender and BarTender Cloud brands support Cloud-to-LAN and Cloud-to-Cloud (on-premises only). They offer on-premises perpetual and subscription licenses as well as cloud subscriptions.
Step #3 – Select Hardware (Scanners and Printers) – Most major brands of scanners and thermal printers will work with Workday. The adoption of the Android OS means almost all scanners will support the Workday mobile app. The labeling software apps above mean just about any printer will print Workday labels.
Android Mobile Scanning Terminals – Supply chain workers move around. Many will want to print labels from a mobile device. To print from the mobile device, it must run a supported version of Android. Brands we recommend that make ruggedized devices with industrial scanners and Android include Datalogic and Zebra.
Figure 3 – Datalogic and Zebra Mobile Android Devices
Thermal Label Printers – Thermal printers print the best labels. Printing from rolls, they can print one label as easily as 10,000 labels. Industrial thermal printers can use a variety of label materials. This allows printing on polyester labels for greater durability (ideal for shelf labels). Thermal label printer brands we recommend include Zebra and Sato.
Figure 4 – Zebra and Sato Desktop Thermal Printers
Step #4 – Consider if Supply Chain Documents (PDFs) Need to be Routed to Specific Printers – Goods Delivery Tickets, Packing Slips, and Put Away Plans may need routing to specific document printers. In those cases, Sigo PDF Print Monitor can make sure the correct document prints to the right printer at the optimal time.
Figure 5 – If Workday documents require routing, Sigo Print Monitor can forward to correct printer
Step #5 – Create an Implementation Plan – Implementation involves connecting Workday to the supply chain labeling software. Then configuring the supply chain labaeling software to take label templates, insert data from Workday, and translate the image to printer code sending it to the correct printer.
Figure 6 – Data Flow from Workday, the Label App, to Printer
EBI Capabilities – EBI’s 20+ year history in labeling system integration provides us with a strong background and wide span of knowledge. We are approved integration partners with all the major brands of supply chain labeling software, scanning and imaging equipment, and thermal printers. We can assist on any or all elements of the implementation. Let us know how we can help!
