For cloud solutions we work exclusively with our partner Loftware and their NiceLabel Cloud products. This belongs to the various cloud subscriptions and also the local Label Management Software products.

LMS vs. Cloud

When comparing LMS vs. Cloud the performance characteristics are so similar that other reasons are more important for a decision. The advantage of the LMS not to manage data in an external cloud means that the IT infrastructure is much more expensive. While a basic installation can be carried out within a few minutes with the cloud solution, with the LMS more time is clearly to be planned and good preparation is also important.

Our designation private cloud for an LMS installation is appropriate in that the administration in the LMS Control Center is carried out via the browser and the printout is also carried out via web printing. The Internet Information Services IIS are therefore required to make the websites available to users. The data is saved via a Microsoft SQL server, which must also be made available. As in many other areas, e.g. telephony and communication, a secure, high-performance internet connection is a prerequisite for the cloud solution.

LMS architecture

In addition to the required IIS and SQL Server components, an additional connection to existing systems is usually required. The integration system can be used here, which can provide data from a wide variety of sources in compliance with your specifications. Larger companies can set up load balancing and failover clusters.

An LMS installation offers slight advantages in terms of integration options and printing as the data does not have to be obtained or printed out externally. This reduces the configuration effort in the area of the encryption of the data during the transfer and the integration of local printers. When it comes to the availability of an internal LMS installation compared to the cloud solution, the LMS system does not offer any real advantages since ensuring use is associated with effort.

Configuring instead of programming

The LMS systems are available in the Pro and Enterprise version with which a validation of the system is possible. For validation in particular, it is important whether it is a configurable standard software or a customer-specific special solution. If the LMS is used in the minimum level, all important things can be configured and a simple category 3 validation can be carried out.

But even with customer-specific installations with integration and PowerForms, the concept is structured in such a way that as much as possible can be set through configuration. In the simplest case by setting in menus or setting up actions. Special requirements can then be implemented via internal scripts or more extensively via API. In rare cases special requirements can of course also be programmed.