Hydroscand standardizes global supplier labeling with Cloudlabel

From local label printing to global standard for global supplier labeling

Hydroscand is an international supplier of hydraulics and industrial components with operations in several countries in Europe and Asia. To ensure a uniform and controlled labeling of products – regardless of where they are produced – Hydroscand chose to standardize its global supplier labeling with Cloudlabel from Grafokett.

– The result is a scalable solution where suppliers around the world print Hydroscand’s labels with correct data and barcodes – directly from a web-based platform, says Olof Hultberg, CTO at Grafokett.

The challenge – global control of supplier labeling

Hydroscands needed to ensure that all goods are correctly labeled already at the supplier.

It involved requirements:

• Correct Hydroscand part number
• Correct batch information
• Packaging information (BoxQty)
• Date management
• Standardized barcodes
• A uniform global label layout

At the same time, suppliers work with their own part numbers and their own local printers – in different parts of the world.

The challenge was therefore clear:

The solution – central control via Cloudlabel

Hydroscand chose to use Cloudlabel Business to create a global platform for supplier labeling. It works in the following way:

• Hydroscand’s ERP contains both Hydroscand’s and the supplier’s part numbers.
• Item data is exported from ERP and imported into Cloudlabel.
• The supplier logs into a web-based application.
• The supplier searches on his own article number.
• Cloudlabel correctly retrieves Hydroscand data.
• The supplier indicates the batch number and quantity.
• Dates are generated automatically.
• The label is printed directly on the supplier’s own printer.

No installation required.
No integration required at the vendor.
No training needed at start-up.

A fully locked and standardized label

Hydroscand owns and controls the entire label standard.

This means that:

• The layout is locked
• Barcodes and QR codes are predefined
• Brand name and logo are fixed
• Format and structure are identical globally

The supplier cannot change the design or barcode structure – ensuring consistent labeling regardless of country.

The label contains, among other things:

• Hydroscand article number
• Description/specification
• Internal product code
• Box Size / Qty
• batch number
• date
• QR code
• Barcodes
• Hydroscand logo

Global scalability without an IT threshold

Today, the solution is used by:

• 24 suppliers
• Approximately 40 users
• Over 10,000 labels per month

Most of the labels relate to supplier labeling. All suppliers use the same Business account and the same structure – regardless of geographical location. Onboarding a new supplier takes only a couple of minutes, no local installation is required and all use is via web browser.

The result – control, efficiency and flexibility

By moving label generation to a centralized, cloud-based platform, Hydroscand has achieved:

• A globally standardized label layout
• Central control of trade item data
• Reduced risk of mislabelling
• More efficient submission process
• Ability to quickly connect new suppliers

The solution gives Hydroscand full control over the way their brand and item information is presented – while allowing suppliers to work in a simple and user-friendly environment.

A model for the future of global supplier labeling

This is more than a labeling project. It is a model for how businesses can:

• Standardize supplier labeling globally
• Ensuring correct item data
• Maintaining central control
• Minimizing IT complexity
• Scale up quickly

Hydroscand’s solution demonstrates how a web-based labeling platform can serve as a central component of a modern, digitized supply chain.

Services delivered in the project

In this case Grafokett delivers:

• Cloudlabel Business
• Consultation
• Support
• Label printer

The solution is operated as a standardized Cloudlabel implementation with central article import from Hydroscand’s ERP.

Do you also want to control your labels? Contact Olof Hultberg to get started with Cloudlabel quickly and easily. Grafokett has everything you need when it comes to labeling.