Label printing automation for new specimens

Purpose

1.1. Automate end-to-end label printing for new plant specimens added to garden collections.
1.2. Eliminate manual record entry and label creation when registering botanical specimens.
1.3. Ensure consistent label formatting and immediate ready-to-print labels for accurate, automatable garden tagging.
1.4. Enable rapid onboarding of new species data with real-time syncing to the label printer, automating inventory accuracy.
1.5. Reduce errors in Latin naming, accession numbers, and QR/genus codes with fully automated data transfer.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. New record created or updated in plant accession database.
2.2. Scanned specimen barcode registered in mobile field app.
2.3. Batch import/upload of Especies/collections CSV or Excel files.
2.4. Curator form submission of newly acquired plant specimens.
2.5. Approved specimen entry in garden accession system.

Platform Variants

3.1. Microsoft Power Automate
• Feature: Automated cloud flows, trigger: “When a new row is added” in Excel/SharePoint; action: Printer API send.
• Sample: Connect Excel—>Custom Print API—>Send label job.

3.2. Google Apps Script
• Feature: ScriptTrigger, event: onEdit for Google Sheet; function: fetch row & POST to print service.
• Sample: Use UrlFetchApp to automate sending plant data to print endpoint.

3.3. Zapier
• Feature: Zap trigger, “New Spreadsheet Row”; action: “Webhooks by Zapier”.
• Sample: Automate webhook trigger to a label printer’s REST API.

3.4. Integromat (Make)
• Feature: Scenario, event: item added, CSV watch; action: HTTP (Print label API).
• Sample: Data bundle—>HTTP module—>Print job.

3.5. Tray.io
• Feature: Workflow builder, trigger: database watch (Airtable/SQL); action: Brother/Brady printer API.
• Sample: New record—>API call to printer service.

3.6. UiPath
• Feature: Automation, trigger: file system watcher; action: desktop automation for print dialog.
• Sample: Automate printing from accession PDFs.

3.7. Brother iPrint&Label
• Feature: API integration, function: printLabel(); sample: automate print job with JSON payload.

3.8. Zebra PrintConnect
• Feature: REST API, endpoint: /labels/print; automates plant data to Zebra printer.

3.9. Dymo Connect API
• Feature: DLS SDK, method: PrintLabel XML; automates data from garden management DB.

3.10. AirPrint (Apple Shortcuts)
• Feature: Trigger, “Share to Printer”; automates push labels from iOS Devices.

3.11. Google Cloud Print (deprecated, but replace with Mobility Print)
• Feature: Mobility Print HTTP endpoint; automates cloud-to-local print jobs.

3.12. PrintNode
• Feature: REST API, function: create print job; automates print from any platform.

3.13. RESTHeart (MongoDB REST API)
• Feature: automates fetch of new accessions; action: post to print.

3.14. Formstack Documents
• Feature: Auto-generate label PDF; function: deliver to print API.

3.15. Notion API
• Feature: Database entry created; action: webhook to label print service.

3.16. Airtable Automations
• Feature: “When record created”; action: run script & call printer HTTP endpoint.

3.17. Salesforce Flow
• Feature: New Object Created, action: HTTP Callout; automates print of specimen details.

3.18. Smartsheet Automation
• Feature: New row, workflow: HTTP Request = automate print job.

3.19. ServiceNow Flow Designer
• Feature: Table Inserted Event, action: REST Message to label printer.

3.20. Google Forms Script
• Feature: OnSubmit trigger; function: URLFetch to printer microservice.

3.21. Bamboo Rose PLM
• Feature: Trigger on collection registration; automates API push-to-print.

3.22. Freshservice Orchestration
• Feature: Automated workflow - catalog update triggers print API.

Benefits

4.1. Accelerates plant labelling workflow, automating physical label output instantly after accession.
4.2. Minimizes human error in botanical documentation through automated data integration.
4.3. Ensures label consistency and readability with automation-enforced print templates.
4.4. Frees staff time for collection curation by reducing automatable repetitive print tasks.
4.5. Supports scale-up for arboretums & botanical gardens by automating large-batch label generation.
4.6. Increases security and traceability—each label produced automatedly on verified input data.
4.7. Easy to audit label history and trace automator process for compliance and records management.