PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1816567
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1816567
Smart labels are specialized labels incorporating advanced technology to provide additional information beyond traditional labeling. They serve various purposes, including providing usage or preparation instructions, offering recycling tips for packaging, conveying safety and handling warnings, and showcasing enticing recipes.
The key components of smart labels encompass batteries, transceivers, microprocessors, memories, and other electronic elements. Batteries serve as the power source for operating electronic components within the label, including sensors, microprocessors, and wireless communication modules. Smart labels leverage various labeling technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), NFC tags, Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS), sensing labels, and electronic shelf labels. These technologies are implemented using diverse printing methods such as flexographic smart labels, digital smart labels, gravure smart labels, and screen smart labels. Smart labels find applications across various sectors, including retail inventory and perishable goods, and are utilized in retail, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, consumer electronics, supply chain and logistics, transportation, and other industries.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sharp rise in U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are having a notable impact on the services sector, particularly in business services, IT, and professional consulting. The increased costs of imported technology, office equipment, and critical digital infrastructure are driving up operating expenses for service providers, compelling them to either pass these costs on to clients or absorb the financial strain themselves. Outsourcing firms and IT service providers are grappling with higher hardware costs and supply chain delays, which are disrupting project timelines and squeezing profitability. Furthermore, retaliatory tariffs have weakened demand for U.S.-based professional services in key global markets, slowing export-driven revenues. To navigate these challenges, the sector must focus on accelerating digital transformation, optimizing costs, and strengthening domestic client relationships to sustain growth and remain competitive in an increasingly uncertain trade environment.
The smart label market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides smart label market statistics, including smart label industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a smart label market share, detailed smart label market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the smart label industry. This smart label market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The smart label market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $10.82 billion in 2024 to $12.45 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to retailer demand for efficiency, supply chain optimization, cost reduction strategies, increased counterfeit concerns, data analytics integration.
The smart label market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $21.68 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to brand authentication, consumer demand for sustainability, e-commerce growth, personalized consumer experiences, health and safety concerns, connected packaging ecosystem. Major trends in the forecast period include iot integration, qr code proliferation, anti-counterfeiting measures, product innovations, mobile app integration.
The forecast of 14.9% growth over the next five years reflects a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. The U.S. could experience increased implementation costs as printed electronics, NFC-enabled tags, and cloud-based tracking interfaces sourced from Germany and China grow more expensive for retail and logistics applications. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.
The anticipated growth in the smart label market is expected to be driven by the rising demand from key end users, particularly the food and beverage industry. This industry encompasses all enterprises involved in the processing, packaging, and distribution of raw food products. The integration of smart labels in this sector enhances product traceability, a crucial factor in preventing counterfeit products. The surge in demand from end users such as the food and beverage industry is underscored by notable developments, such as the 31% increase in food and drink exports in 2022 compared to 2021, as reported by the Food & Drink Federation in February 2023. With a turnover of US$3.52 billion (£10.3 billion) in 2022, constituting 33% of total Scottish manufacturing, the food and beverage industry's demand is a significant driver for the growth of the smart labels market.
The expanding reach of retail is poised to contribute significantly to the smart labels market's growth. Retail, involving the direct sale of goods or services to consumers through various channels, is adopting smart labels for real-time tracking, improved inventory management, and dynamic pricing facilitated by technologies such as RFID or electronic data capture. Notable data from the House of Commons in March 2023 indicates that retail sales in Great Britain reached $9.6 billion (£9.0 billion) per week in October 2023, surpassing the recorded sales of $9.04 billion (£8.4 billion) in September 2023. This increased penetration of smart labels in the retail sector is identified as a key driver propelling the growth of the smart labels market.
The smart label market is witnessing a prominent trend driven by technological advancements, with major companies in the sector actively embracing new technologies to solidify their market presence. A noteworthy example occurred in January 2023 when Pod Group, a UK-based connectivity solutions provider, collaborated with Sodaq, a Netherlands-based IoT specialist, and Lufthansa Industry Solutions, a Germany-based software company, to launch a commercial smart label tracking device. This innovative device, designed for tracking small and lightweight items in the logistics industry, leverages low-power cellular 5G connectivity standards. The device efficiently transmits data, including location and temperature, to a centralized dashboard, ensuring a lightweight label battery with optimized battery life lasting up to six months.
Major companies in the smart label market are actively engaged in developing advanced solutions, such as intelligence-driven labeling solutions, to navigate global label management complexities and enhance market profitability. An intelligence-driven labeling solution involves the use of advanced technologies to optimize product or information labeling processes. For example, in June 2023, IQVIA, a US-based provider of advanced analytics, introduced RIM Smart Labeling, an intelligence-driven labeling solution tailored for the life sciences industry. This platform streamlines global label management by consolidating regulatory label planning, tracking, and execution into a unified system. RIM Smart Labeling utilizes regulatory intelligence for both global and country-specific labels, facilitates structured content management, and integrates reporting for comprehensive end-to-end visibility. This solution empowers life sciences companies to reduce costs, simplify workflows, and minimize manual efforts.
In March 2022, Italy-based paper and packaging company Fedrigoni acquired France-based Tageos S.A. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition enables Fedrigoni to expand its offerings in the label and packaging sectors by integrating Tageos's advanced technology and expertise in self-adhesive materials, broadening its market reach and reinforcing its industry position. Tageos S.A. specializes in developing and producing innovative RFID tags and smart labels, offering cutting-edge solutions for inventory management, supply chain tracking, and asset visibility across multiple industries.
Major companies operating in the smart label market include Avery Denison Corporation, CCL Industries Inc., Checkpoint Systems Inc., Thin Film Electronics ASA, Alien Technology Inc., Zebra Technologies Corporation, SATO Holdings Corporation, Invengo Technology Pte. Ltd., Advantech Pvt. Ltd., Muehlbauer Holding AG & Co. KGaA, Smartrac N.V., Multi-Color Corporation, SML Group Limited, Centre for Process Innovation, PRAGMATIC SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED, Smart Planet Technologies Inc., Adrich, Uwitechnology Ltd., Cypak AB, General Mills Inc., William Frick & Company, Honeywell International Inc., Scanbuy Inc.
North America was the largest region in the smart labels market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global smart label market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the smart label market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa
The countries covered in the smart label market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain
The smart label market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing Dynamic Display Labeling, and electronic article surveillance labeling. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The smart label market also includes sales of quick response codes, data-embedded barcodes, radio-frequency identification, and time temperature indicators which are used for providing smart label services. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Smart Label Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on smart label market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for smart label ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The smart label market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.