New processes and business models require solutions that provide greater efficiency and creative ways to engage customers.

The most successful independent software vendors (ISVs) understand their users’ needs down to the last detail and provide solutions that address them, such as integrating with a printing solution that meets the needs of restaurant, retail, grocery, and e-commerce businesses. However, as consumer behaviors force changes in how your users operate, you need to adapt your solutions as well. For example, companies that used thermal printers in the past for labels, receipts and tickets may now benefit from liner-free label printing solutions—and ISVs can benefit from integrating with them.

David Vander Dussen, Product Manager at Epson America, Inc., points out, “It’s an exciting time for liner-free label printing solutions. There’s a tremendous amount of adoption, interest, and implementation.”

When your client has the option of using a liner-free label printer, employees no longer have to peel the liner from a label printed with a traditional thermal printer. Eliminating that step can save seconds each time a restaurant employee packages an order or a takeout or an e-commerce fulfillment worker labels an item for shipment. Liner-free labels also eliminate waste from discarded label backing, saving more time and operating more sustainably.

Additionally, traditional thermal printers typically print consistently sized labels. In today’s dynamic applications, however, your users may find value in being able to print different-sized labels. For example, online restaurant orders can vary for different customers and reflect a range of modifications. With a modern, liner-free label printing solution, a business is free to print as much information on a single label as needed.

Demand for liner-free label printing solutions is growing for several reasons—first is the increase in food online ordering, which rose 10 percent in 2021 year over year to reach $151.5 billion and 1.6 billion users. Restaurants and grocers need efficient ways to manage this higher demand efficiently and control costs.

Vander Dussen says some of the largest players in their markets, especially in the quick service restaurant (QSR) space, have implemented liner-free label printers to streamline processes. “With that proof of concept, we expect wider adoption across smaller branches and chains,” he says.

The channel is also driving demand. “End users are coming back to their point of sale (POS) providers and saying they’re ready to make investments to expand the capabilities of the software they have in place to address their use cases better,” Vander Dussen explains. The channel is suggesting liner-free label printing solutions for processes such as online ordering and buy online pickup in store (BOPIS) as a part of a total solution that delivers the greatest efficiency and the best customer experiences.

When you’re looking for a liner-free label printer to integrate with your software, remember:

He also points out that an increase in online orders isn’t always accompanied by an increase in staff—particularly during a labor shortage. “A solution that’s easy for employees to use and allows them to work efficiently will help them fill orders and increase customer satisfaction,” he says.

Also, remember that your users aren’t only printing from stationary POS terminals. Many employees picking merchandise or managing curbside pickup may be using tablets so they can access information on the go, and fortunately, liner-free printing solutions are available for them. The Epson OmniLink TM-L100 is designed to address this issue, making integration with tablet-based systems easier. “It reduces barriers to development and makes it easier to support Android and iOS as well as Windows and Linux to provide the best solution,” Vander Dussen says.

Vander Dussen recommends that ISVs providing solutions to markets that can benefit from liner-free labels to prepare now for an increase in demand. “Ask what your software supports now and which changes you need to make to best serve your users. Get ahead of the wave of request by laying out your roadmap now.”

“With continued adoption, being able to provide the tools customers need is key to competing,” he concludes.

Jay McCall is an editor and journalist with 20 years of writing experience for B2B IT solution providers. Jay is co-founder of XaaS Journal and DevPro Journal.