Guide
Multi-Printer Routing Explained
Don't let one printer bottleneck your fulfillment. SPConnector routes every packing slip to the right printer automatically — split the load, fail over when a printer jams, and send special orders where they belong.
By the SPConnector team at JonesLabs LLC · Last updated: July 2026
The problem
Why one printer stops being enough
A single printer works fine at 30-50 orders a day. Past that, three problems show up.
It's a bottleneck
One printer only goes so fast. On busy days your team ends up standing around waiting for slips.
It's a single point of failure
A paper jam or empty cartridge stops every shipment until someone notices.
Every order lands in one pile
High-value, express, and marketplace orders all print to the same spot, no matter who packs them or where.
Strategies
Four routing strategies
Pick the one that matches your problem. You can combine them with custom rules.
Round-robin
Orders alternate evenly across your printers. Two printers, double the throughput.
Pick this if: "My printer can't keep up."
Failover
Orders go to your primary printer. If it goes offline, they switch to the backup automatically.
Pick this if: "I can't afford printing downtime."
Rule-based
Match orders to printers by order value, shipping speed, destination, or marketplace. First matching rule wins.
Pick this if: "Different orders need to go to different places."
Print-to-all
Every order prints on every printer you choose — one copy at the packing station, another at the shipping desk.
Pick this if: "I need copies at multiple spots."
Use cases
What sellers route on
Rules can match order value, shipping method, destination, or marketplace — and combine.
Geography
East coast orders print at the east coast warehouse, west coast orders at the west.
Marketplace
Amazon orders to a dedicated station, Etsy to another — each team grabs its own stack.
Order value
Orders over $500 print in the secure packing area, where they get extra care.
Department
Electronics, clothing, bulky items — each category prints nearest to where it's packed.
Setup
Set it up in minutes
If your printers are already on PrintNode, you're most of the way there.
- 1
Add your PrintNode API key
Every printer on your PrintNode account shows up in SPConnector automatically.
- 2
Pick printers, strategy, and rules
Select which printers to use, choose a strategy, and add any routing rules you need.
- 3
Verify in test mode, then go live
Confirm orders route where you expect before a single slip prints for real.
Multi-printer routing is included in the Business plan (2 printers) and Enterprise plan (unlimited printers).
Ready to add more printers?
Start with one printer on the free plan. Upgrade when you need more.
Free plan · No credit card