While most businesses are anticipating the arrival of the paperless office, sadly, it’s not coming anytime soon. While a rise has been observed in digital connectivity and documentation over the past couple of years, businesses are still expected if not required to print copies of certain documents. A 2016 survey by Two Sides—an independent, nonprofit organization created to promote the responsible production, use, and sustainability of print and paper—found that 79 percent of Americans prefer reading from paper than reading off a screen, while 76 percent believe print on paper is more pleasant to handle and touch.
So, while we continue to await the paperless office, businesses continue to print. However, if printing costs are not carefully regulated, they can become a hefty investment. One good way to help companies bridge the gap—while keeping costs down and productivity high—is through the use of network printers.
Here are a few reasons why utilizing a network printer is a more suitable option for businesses than multiple local printers:
Lower Costs
The cost of a network printer can be quite hefty, but it remains the most fiscally responsible option. A handful of local printers will not prove to be a cheaper alternative. Consider that providing individual printers for each employee or department will be more expensive in the long run when the costs of consumables is taken into account. In terms of maintenance, networked devices are the often best choice. Employing them means your IT professionals are only required to maintain a single network printer, rather than a handful of devices—all of which require separate maintenance. Being responsible for a fleet of local printers can exhaust your IT resources, specifically their time. Consider the additional time it takes to manage varying machine models and brands, including the need to keep up with each device’s individual consumables needs.
Improved Productivity
For a single printer to be used by the entire office, the device must have the ability to connect with your company’s various workstations. Local printers do not have this functionality; they can only be used at the workstation where the printer is connected to a distinct computer. As a result, whenever an employee needs to print a particular document, the person at the workstation where the printer is positioned must stop their work to facilitate printing. This can hamper employee productivity and cause unnecessary disturbances.
Conversely, a network printer does not have this issue, as it can be connected to workstations across your company allowing all employees to make use of the printer when needed. Furthermore, due to network connectivity, multiple employees can send a print request to the shared device at the same time. The documents will be queued and printed.
Enhanced Quality
Perhaps the primary reason why organizations should invest in a network printer is because of the output quality. Local printers tend to wear out with heavy usage, resulting in diminishing quality in your printed documents. On the other hand, network printers are manufactured to withstand heavy duty cycles, ensuring optimal performance even when handling large workloads.
If your office is like most other offices in the United States, you’re still printing documents on a regular basis. A network printer can help you do so affordably while maximizing productivity and the quality of your printed materials. Contact Monster Technology today to find the right network printer for your organization.