Intelligent labeling is gaining ground, but implementation takes time
Digitization promises stronger traceability, better patient safety and tighter supply chain control. RFID and smart packaging are especially valuable as therapies become more personalized.
But in pharma, adopting these solutions is slow. Strict regulations and long validation cycles mean many companies run manual and digital systems in parallel for years to ensure absolute reliability.
Adoption is growing though. I’m seeing more clinical trials use RFID for accurate dosing and patient engagement, and more demand for labels that can monitor temperature, detect movement or confirm authenticity. Our role is making sure the physical label keeps pace — adhesives that hold under harsh conditions, inlays that survive sterilization and constructions that perform reliably across all container types.
Patient-centered packaging is a necesity
One of the biggest shifts I’m witnessing is how many treatments are moving out of hospitals and toward patient self-administration in their own homes. That completely changes what packaging and labels need to do.
Auto-injectors, wearables and smart delivery systems aim to make treatment easier but introduce new labeling demands. Print has to stay clear through everyday handling, and labels can’t interfere with device mechanics. Friction, curves and temperature shifts all become important.
At the end of the day, drug administration should be safe, intuitive and stress-free. For pharma companies, that means sweating every detail from the choice of container to the durability of the label to how a patient physically engages with the packaging.
On-demand printing is helpig improve flexibility and reduce waste
More companies are turning to on-demand printing as a way to be more agile, especially for clinical trials or smaller production runs. It helps avoid overproduction, cuts waste and lets them react quickly to shifting schedules or packaging changes.
The challenge is consistency. Labels have to perform across different printing setups (thermal transfer in one site, inkjet or laser in another) and still meet strict requirements.
That’s where our role expands. We work closely with customers to pick constructions that handle multiple print methods, stay compliant and keep quality steady under pressure. It’s less about flashy labels and more about making sure they’re dependable, adaptable and ready for any production curveball.
