We’re here to announce our numbering service! But wait, what does that even mean? If you’ve always wanted to know about sequential numbering, what it is and how it works, read on to find out more! We’ll explain exactly what the printing lingo ‘sequentially numbered’ means, and help you discover if it’s something you are looking for in your own business. Here’s everything you need to know about NCR numbering!
Sequential numbering in print refers to the printing of numbers in sequential order. As an example 001, 002, 003, 004, 005 is a pattern of numbers going up by 1 every time in an ascending order. Printing numbers in sequential order can include counting up or counting down. Pretty simple right? It helps make counting and keeping track effortless.
There are lots of situation in the world that involves using a numbering system but to stay on point, we’re going to discuss how sequential numbering printing refers to our printed NCR order forms! Don’t worry, we won’t go into any of the many interesting number patterns that exist – including the Fibonacci sequence!
When it comes to carbonless forms, the numbers must be in numerical order without skipping any. Numbers can also be in ascending or descending order. Numbering is widely used amongst a variety of multi-part NCR forms including our own NCR products, whether it be
NCR Books,
NCR Pads, or
NCR Sets or Forms.
Numbering sequentially is a great way to ensure each item receives a unique number. With each document having a different number, you have accounting control and can apply referencing to purchase orders, receipts, and more.
Other products that involve printing with numbering include raffle tickets and event tickets. Think about it, even packaging has numbers as do booklets and brochures on their page counts! You won’t find numbering however on branded flyers, letterheads, hang tags or business cards. They can, of course, be used on carbonless forms.
Why would items need numbering, when using a printing service?
The main reason you might require numbering on your printed product is to provide a method for easy reference to improve your accounting records and numbering accuracy. Technically, this process can be used for any product or service that needs a unique identification.
Let us think of a real-world example…
A common example is when you take your car into a garage and you get given a receipt for the work done. On the form, you’ll notice the work that is done is often itemised and listed along with the cost. There is often a number at the top to reference that particular job so in the future, should you ever want to question something about the work carried out, you can give them the reference number and they can locate the details on their end. Typically garages use 2 part forms with a bespoke number. These types of forms are more efficient than using repair tags, and more cost-effective too!
As an owner of a garage, you’d find it exceedingly helpful to keep track of the number of MOT’s or services you have done over a certain time frame. Many garages and similar businesses use quote forms or other products printed with sequential numbering or special numbering to help in this way. Numeral printing offers an easy way for customers and employees to make sure they locate the same information.
Legal reasons to use Sequential Numbering! Not just for invoices.
There can also be legal requirements involved too. Tax-based forms in the UK, as with most countries, legally require a unique and sequential numbering system.
HMRC recently published a list of the most common questions and answers about numbering for UK VAT which covers many different commercial scenarios.
If your business has multiple business locations, you can also design forms or other printed products with unique identification numbers for each business address location. This can help optimise your internal processes and help customers or employees and of course, help you keep track of documents.
Design your NCR Products with numbering in mind
Ok, so now you’ve realised you have a business that could benefit greatly from using custom printing number sequencing, let us teach you about our fantastic sequential number printing services including our NCR sets.
When you’re designing your NCR Set or NCR Book, they are often printed with numbering. You can often spot the individual reference number in a special a box or placement area within the design. Typically this is near the top with your contact information (as we read top to bottom) making it easier for you and your customer to glance and locate the unique reference when you need it.
Most reference numbers are printed in 16pt in Arial and require a space large enough to handle up to six digits or less. These unique numbers can be placed just once or multiple times on the design, just so long as they match. For example, you could have the reference number 1001 printed in the top right of the design and also at the bottom right-hand side for easy spotting. Numbers can be printed horizontally and can also be printed vertically.
When you order, you can start your sequence at any number you like enabling you to carry on from your last order.
How is the numbering applied to the printed material?
Companies use many types of machines and methods for number form printing. No matter what method they use, all reputable NCR businesses – us included – will have quality control procedures in place to ensure that the numbering is done correctly. We also ensure our machinery adheres to strict standards to ensure accuracy.
Specialised numbering machines and systems, either digital or mechanical, can generate these numbers. One method for printing numbers is a letterpress. This method has been around since the mid-15th century, so you know it’s a long-standing method that works! It involves printing using a numbering stamp.
A more recent method is the use of a pneumatic numbering head. Typically, these are printed in black or red ink. It uses air pressure to drive a numbering head onto the paper and crash imprint the number onto the top sheet of the printed material, transferring the number to the other sheets in the set. This still ensures every individual sheet receives its own unique number.
For example, if you were numbering a full colour, 3 part form, you would have a black or red number on the top sheet and a crash number on the second and third sheet. The numbers on the second and third sheets would appear black as the carbonless paper transfers the image in black. This method is also sometimes referred to as Crash Numbering. It is similar to the letterpress method, just a little more advanced and modern.
Today with the advancements in printer design software, there are ways to achieve continuous NCR forms without using traditional methods. Whilst we love history and traditional methods, if it can help us and help our clients save them money, then we are all for it! We offer our numbering in multiple positions at any point you like.
At NCR Invoice Pads, we print a range of business forms for our clients including NCR pads and sets. We offer numbering for free across our short-run range of NCR products. For our larger run NCR orders, we use the method mentioned above-called crash numbering for a small surcharge! No matter whether you are ordering a short-run NCR or long-run NCR, they are printed using a variety of paper types and state-of-the-art machinery!
So if you have a NCR order and want to add reference numbers for yourself,
contact us! We would be more than happy to help with your printing needs. Should you need a template for your NCR printing solutions, you can download templates on the relevant product page.
