E-Paper Labels for Warehouse and Logistics

Why paper labels hit their limits in the warehouse

In many warehouses and picking areas, shelf and bin labels have hung unchanged in their spot for years — handwritten, taped on, or slotted into a plastic sleeve. If a storage location, an item number, or the assignment of an SKU to a particular bin changes, someone has to physically walk there, remove the old label, and hand-write or print a new one. In a warehouse with frequently changing stock, seasonal relocations, or a growing assortment, this effort quickly adds up to noticeable, recurring work time that's actually needed for picking or other tasks. E-paper labels shift this effort from the floor back to a single central screen. The real value shows not on day one, but over months in which storage locations and assortment keep changing.

Why battery life matters more in the warehouse than elsewhere

In a shop, a price tag usually hangs at eye level and is naturally in view during the daily round. In a warehouse, by contrast, many labels sit high up on pallet racks, in hard-to-reach shelf bins, or in cold zones that aren't walked regularly. Reaching a label there for a battery change often means a ladder, a forklift, or at least a dedicated detour — effort that simply doesn't arise in a normal sales area. This is exactly why long battery life counts operationally for considerably more in the warehouse than in a shop: the less often a label needs to be handled, the less it disrupts actual warehouse operation. A label that goes a long time without intervention is therefore operationally considerably more valuable in a warehouse than one that needs frequent recharging or attention.

What the labels and displays cost in the warehouse

Several formats are available for warehouse use, depending on location and purpose. A larger room or warehouse display between 2.9 and 13.3 inches, for a zone overview at the end of an aisle, say, costs from CHF 14.90 per month. Small bin or shelf labels for classic stock marking are available from CHF 4.90 per month, dropping to CHF 4.50 from 50 units, with a minimum order of 20 units. For applications such as cold-chain monitoring or asset tracking, where a label additionally delivers sensor data, the price starts at CHF 6.90 per month. In all cases, gateway and mounting materials are included in the monthly price. Anyone who prefers to buy outright rather than rent can also do that — the monthly subscription model is one option among several, not a mandatory requirement.

Centrally updated labels for changing storage locations

If an item is relocated, a new SKU introduced, or a bin reassigned, the corresponding label can be adjusted centrally in the software instead of printing and attaching a new one on site. The change is transmitted to the affected label and appears there within a short time, regardless of whether it's a single bin or several hundred labels at once. For warehouses with frequent layout changes, seasonal assortment shifts, or a growing item count, this substantially reduces maintenance effort compared with a situation where every adjustment means a printout and a walk through the warehouse. Incorrect or outdated labels that accidentally remain because a reprint was forgotten essentially disappear as a source of error.

Repositioning cordlessly — no electrician needed

Because the labels are battery-powered and receive their content wirelessly over a central gateway, they can simply be moved from one bin to another as needed, with no outlet or cable required nearby. If a shelf is rebuilt, a zone reorganized, or a storage area moved entirely, the labels simply move along — without needing an electrician or separate cabling for each new location. That makes warehouses with changing shelf layouts or seasonally used areas considerably more flexible than a hard-wired solution could ever be. Even in a complete move to another building, the labels can be taken along instead of being left behind at the old location and reprocured.

Typical use areas in warehouse and logistics operations

The labels are most commonly used where stock is regularly checked and items picked: on shelf racks for plain stock marking, on bins and small load carriers moving between zones, and in cold-chain or asset-tracking applications with additional sensor data. For larger overviews — a zone label at the end of an aisle or a status display at a loading dock, say — the larger room-display format suits better than a single small label. Which format pays off depends less on overall warehouse size than on the frequency of change at the particular spot: where little changes, a simple paper label is often still enough.

How rollout typically works in a warehouse

Adoption usually starts in a clearly defined area — a single aisle or a product category with particularly frequent stock changes, say — rather than converting the whole warehouse at once. The labels are mounted, connected via the gateway, and linked to existing item data, either manually or through a connection to an existing inventory management system. If the approach proves itself in the chosen area, the solution can be gradually extended to further zones or the rest of the warehouse. A large rollout project with a long lead time isn't generally needed for this.

Where paper labels remain sufficient in the warehouse

Not every warehouse benefits equally: a small warehouse with a stable assortment, fixed storage locations, and rare changes often continues to get by well with simple paper labels, without switching paying off in the short term. The benefit grows with the frequency of change, the number of affected spots, and the difficulty of physically reaching individual labels — the more of these apply, the more switching pays off. For warehouses with frequent relocations, a growing item count, or hard-to-reach shelf zones, the practical benefit is generally quick and clear.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a warehouse label's battery last?

The exact runtime depends on format and update frequency. Because the labels transmit cordlessly, no electrician is needed for a battery change — which is the real advantage especially for hard-to-reach shelf locations.

Do I need a separate gateway for every label?

No. A central gateway covers a defined area and connects several labels at once. The gateway is included in the monthly price.

Can I move labels if storage locations change?

Yes. Because the labels are battery-powered and cordless, they can be moved from one bin to another without an electrician.

From what quantity does getting started pay off?

Small bin labels cost from CHF 4.90 per month, from 50 units CHF 4.50, with a minimum order of 20 units. Starting in a single aisle is therefore realistic even for smaller warehouses.