Alliance to Develop ERP-Driven Bar Codes

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 1/1/1998

Right now, bar-code printers can not take data directly from the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software many companies use to manage their supply chains and convert the information into labels. That's because ERP software uses different data formats from those found in more common platforms such as Windows. But that could soon change. Two companies have teamed up to develop a way to plug bar-code printers into the supply chain. Zebra Technologies Corp. of Vernon Hills, Ill., and Canadian company JetForm Corp. of Ottawa, Ontario, have formed an alliance to develop and market products that can print bar-code labels from ERP software.

Under the agreement, JetForm will develop a special version of its multi-platform JetForm Central output-management software for use with Zebra's label printers. In turn, Zebra's own label-design software will create labels formatted for the JetForm output-management software.

The combined JetForm Central/Zebra BAR-ONE software will allow users to integrate the systems seamlessly with existing ERP programs and other applications such as inventory control, warehouse logistics, and manufacturing control without the need to modify databases or develop custom programs.

The hybrid software also will allow users to print on Zebra printers from multiple computing platforms in addition to the popular Windows operating system. Zebra printers then will be able to take data from non-Windows systems and convert the information into bar-code labels.

Zebra Technologies makes both thermal-transfer and direct thermal on-demand label printers, while JetForm Technologies provides software for electronic forms automation.