ePS drives innovation of advanced ERP software

As the label and package printing industry becomes far more streamlined and efficient, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software plays a key role. ERP software helps automate the label printing process, which includes the elimination of manual data entry. Overall, label converters benefit with improved accuracy and enhanced speed to market.

ERP technology has evolved significantly in recent years. Advancements have been driven by cloud computing, AI, improved connectivity, and changing business expectations. And converters of all sizes can benefit from this technology.

According to ePS (eProductivity Software), ERP systems historically often required significant upfront investment in hardware, lengthy implementations, and dedicated IT resources. Today, cloud-based ERP platforms have changed that equation by reducing infrastructure requirements, enabling remote access, and providing automatic updates and security enhancements. 

“Modern ERP systems are also becoming more connected,” explains Dave Currin, product owner, ePS. “Open APIs allow businesses to integrate ERP with other software platforms more easily, while improved reporting and data visibility give users access to both operational and financial insights in real time. The result is that ERP is becoming more accessible to smaller and growing businesses that previously viewed it as a technology reserved for larger enterprises.”

Identifying the right system

Modern ERP platforms provide access to real-time operational data, helping converters improve quoting accuracy, monitor inventory levels, optimize production planning, and strengthen financial forecasting. Better reporting capabilities also enable businesses to make more informed decisions based on live information rather than historical snapshots.

“When evaluating a new ERP system, converters should look beyond feature lists and consider how quickly the platform can deliver value,” notes Currin. “Ease of use, implementation requirements, scalability, integration capabilities, and access to training resources are all critical considerations.  The most successful ERP projects are often those that minimize complexity while giving teams better information and more efficient workflows.”

To meet customer demand, ePS has developed Paxis. As a cloud-native platform, Paxis removes the need for significant hardware investment and reduces reliance on internal IT resources. The platform also includes SmartHelp, which provides guided workflows, onboarding assistance, and online training resources that support self-implementation and self-training.

“One of the key design principles behind Paxis was reducing many of the traditional barriers associated with ERP adoption,” says Currin. “This approach helps businesses deploy the system more quickly while enabling users to become productive faster. By simplifying both implementation and day-to-day use, Paxis is designed to make ERP more accessible for independent and growing converters.”

Solving challenges

In designing new software, ePS recognized the holes in the marketplace and worked with customers to solve their greatest pain points. Paxis was developed in response to a challenge ePS saw across the label converting market.

For example, many independent and growing converters had reached a point where spreadsheets, disconnected systems, and manual processes were beginning to limit efficiency and growth.

“At the same time, many viewed ERP as something designed primarily for larger organizations with significant budgets, dedicated IT teams, and lengthy implementation timelines,” remarks Currin. “Our goal was to bridge that gap. We wanted to create a cloud-native ERP platform that delivers the operational visibility, control, and business insights converters need, without the complexity traditionally associated with enterprise-scale ERP systems. That meant focusing on ease of use, rapid deployment, guided workflows, and a lower barrier to entry, while still providing capabilities such as estimating, inventory management, production planning, customer management, reporting, and financial visibility.”

ePS also sought to make the platform accessible to businesses without extensive internal IT resources. Features such as SmartHelp support self-implementation and self-training, helping users get up and running more quickly.

Meanwhile, label converters have delivered strong feedback to ePS’ initiatives. “Feedback so far has reinforced many of the goals we set at the outset,” comments Currin. “Customers frequently highlight the platform’s ease of use, reduced infrastructure requirements, and the visibility it provides across different areas of the business. We’ve also built an enhancement portal that enables users to contribute ideas and feedback directly, ensuring future development continues to reflect the evolving needs of label converters.”

The future of ERP

According to ePS, the future of ERP will be shaped by greater automation, improved connectivity, and easier access to actionable operational insights. As customer expectations continue to increase, converters will need faster access to information and greater visibility across estimating, production, inventory, and customer service.

“The challenge for software providers will be delivering those capabilities without increasing complexity for users,” says Currin. “We also expect to see continued growth in cloud-based platforms, deeper integration between business systems, and greater use of intelligent tools that help users identify issues, opportunities, and trends more quickly.

“At ePS, our focus remains on making operational technology more accessible for label and packaging businesses,” adds Currin. “As Paxis continues to evolve, customer feedback will play a central role in shaping future development, ensuring the platform continues to address the practical challenges facing independent and growing converters.”