Mobile printing is a core part of warehousing and logistics operations today, but what customers want from their solutions is changing – including greater software integration – and resellers need to be alive to this.
The warehousing and logistics sectors are under pressure like never before, with customer expectations of ever-shortening delivery times, as well as greater tracking and traceability of items throughout the delivery journey.
This means that the printers they use – which are now often mobile devices – are increasingly crucial. “Mobile printing has firmly established itself as a core part of modern warehouse and logistics operations,” says Deyon Antoine, product marketing manager at Toshiba Tec UK Imaging Systems Ltd. “What we’re seeing is a clear move away from centralised printing toward point of activity execution, where labels and documentation are produced exactly where tasks are carried out.
“The main drivers are productivity and flow. Businesses want to reduce unnecessary movement, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure work can be completed in a single pass wherever possible. Mobile printers are no longer viewed as a convenience; they are seen as tools that actively support throughput and operational consistency.
“Durability and reliability are also front and centre. These devices are expected to perform across long shifts in busy, sometimes harsh environments, without becoming a maintenance headache. Battery life and predictable uptime are now just as important as print quality.”
Peter Holland from Jarltech UK agrees that warehousing and logistics customers increasingly view mobile print devices as integral to end-to-end workflow optimisation rather than standalone hardware. “The strongest trend we are seeing is the shift towards real-time, on-demand printing at the point of application – whether that is picking, packing or dispatch,” he says. “This is being driven by the need to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce labelling errors and support faster fulfilment cycles in highly dynamic environments.
“Customers are demanding devices that are not only rugged and reliable, but also fully connected and easy to deploy within existing infrastructures. Seamless integration with WMS and ERP systems is now expected, alongside strong wireless performance and long battery life. Importantly, there is a clear move towards evaluating solutions based on total cost of ownership, with uptime, serviceability and lifecycle management becoming key decision factors.”
Software integration
As Peter mentions, there is an increase in demand for greater software integration among customers. Peter says that Jarltech is seeing a noticeable increase in demand for tailored software integrations. “Many end users require mobile print solutions that align precisely with their operational workflows, which often necessitates bespoke applications or middleware,” he says.
“For resellers, this presents a challenge and an opportunity. At Jarltech UK, we see success coming from building strong ISV partnerships, offering validated solution bundles and supporting resellers in delivering managed services that simplify deployment and ongoing support.”
Deyon agrees that customers are demanding greater software integration, but adds that the emphasis is on seamless integration rather than complexity. “Customers want printing to feel like a natural extension of their existing warehouse systems, not an additional process that operators need to manage manually,” he explains.
“Often, the goal is for printing to happen automatically as part of a workflow — triggered by events in the warehouse management system rather than individual actions. That means compatibility, standards based integration and reliability are valued far more than heavy customisation.
“This is where solutions that support open connectivity and common software environments make a real difference. Toshiba’s approach enables resellers to deploy mobile printing in a way that fits cleanly into existing infrastructures, reducing risk and speeding up implementation.
“For resellers, the key is setting clear expectations and focusing on scalable, repeatable integration models. Customers want confidence that what works today will continue to work as systems evolve.”
Reseller conversations
But there is much more that resellers should be mentioning in conversations with customers in these sectors about mobile print solutions. For instance, the focus should not just be on technical specifications alone, but measurable business outcomes, according to Peter. “Demonstrating how mobile printing can drive efficiency, accuracy and workforce productivity is far more compelling than discussing hardware features in isolation,” he says. “Positioning these solutions within broader digital transformation strategies is key.”
Deyon agrees the most effective conversations are centred on operational outcomes, not device specifications. “Customers want to understand how mobile printing will tangibly improve how their warehouse runs, while remaining manageable and secure as deployments scale,” he says.
Deyon adds that key discussion points include:
📣 Improving productivity by removing wasted movement and idle time through point of activity printing
📣 Reducing errors by producing labels exactly where they’re needed, improving accuracy across workflows
📣 Maintaining control through mobile device management, enabling central monitoring, configuration and support across devices, shifts and sites
📣 Addressing security requirements, ensuring mobile print devices align with existing IT policies, secure connectivity standards and data governance
📣 Supporting resilience during seasonal peaks and high pressure operational periods.
“In these discussions, Toshiba’s strengths around long-term reliability, consistency and manageability resonate strongly,” Deyon adds. “Customers increasingly recognise the difference between technology that performs well in theory and solutions that operate reliably, securely and predictably day in, day out in demanding environments.
“Scalability is also a key theme; mobile print solutions need to grow with the business, supporting new processes, locations and fulfilment models without creating additional management or security overhead.”
Sustainability
Resellers should also take into consideration sustainability issues when talking to buyers in the warehousing and logistics sectors about mobile print solutions.
“Sustainability is becoming more influential, particularly for larger organisations with formal environmental commitments,” says Deyon. “While it is rarely the sole deciding factor, it increasingly plays a role in shortlisting and final selection.
“Customers are looking for solutions that align with responsible operation: energy efficient devices, longer lifecycle equipment and technologies that help reduce waste through improved accuracy and on demand printing.
“Toshiba’s broader sustainability philosophy supports this conversation well, especially the idea that durability and longevity are inherently sustainable. For many buyers, sustainability now acts as a differentiator when performance and cost are broadly equal.”
Peter agrees that sustainability is becoming increasingly influential. “Customers are asking for energy-efficient devices, reduced consumable waste and longer product lifecycles,” he says. “Solutions such as linerless printing and device lifecycle services are gaining traction.”
Future
This market is expected to continue to grow in the future, but solutions will also continue to evolve. “We expect AI to play a growing role, particularly in predictive maintenance, device analytics and workflow automation,” says Peter. “Over the next 12–18 months, mobile print devices will evolve further into intelligent, connected endpoints within the warehouse ecosystem.”
Deyon adds that over the next 12–18 months, the most significant changes won’t be in the physical design of mobile printers, but in how they’re managed and orchestrated within increasingly intelligent warehouse environments.
“We’re moving toward systems where printing decisions are triggered automatically by operational data rather than manual intervention,” he says. “Analytics will play a growing role in optimising printer usage, managing fleets more effectively and identifying issues before they impact productivity.
“AI is far more likely to sit within warehouse platforms than within the printers themselves. In that context, mobile printers act as reliable execution tools, responding efficiently and consistently within smarter, data-driven workflows.”
