Companies small and large are underinvesting in their printers. 53% of people own printers that break at least once a month. The problem? Many small and medium businesses (especially) are buying consumer-grade printers. Meanwhile, certain businesses (like law firms and healthcare practices) print hundreds of pages a day. Consumer-grade printers aren’t designed to handle that level of demand. A small business printer would be better suited to handling daily business operations.
Print is Far From Dead
It is an illusion to say printing is dead. Despite massive shifts to digitization in the 21st century, half of all businesses still say they cannot operate without a working printer. 8 in 10 small businesses worldwide need printers for daily operations. When a small business’s printer fails, the owners rush to buy a new one. More often than not, they buy the same type of printer that broke on them in the first place.
Most businesses don’t rely on printing purely out of tradition. Printed paper encourages longer attention spans and stronger working memory. 29 out of 33 lab studies found that readers learn more from paper than from screens. In fields like law, accounting, and finance, attention to detail is critical. Printing out important documents can make them easier to perfect and proofread. This is another reason why a broken printer can be harmful to a company’s operations.
Not only are printers important to a business, but they’re also expensive. Quality business printers that don’t break every month cost significantly more than regular consumer ones. And that’s just the printer itself. Black printer ink is more expensive per gallon than insulin and CoverGirl nail polish combined. Even more frustrating? Printers will say an ink cartridge is out long before it is. Most printers use between 20% and 50% of each ink cartridge for cleaning and maintenance. Even if a document is black and white, many printers will not print in black ink if a color cartridge is low.
Not all Business Printers are Created Equal
Given these issues with printer ink, some business owners would rather use laser toner. Laser toner is slightly cheaper than printer ink. It prints 2 to 3 times faster than traditional ink without smudging. Laser toner also doesn’t dry up or expire, helping businesses save money if the printer ever goes idle for a time. Businesses that need to print long documents often may be better served by a laser printer.
All these details focus just on a printer’s printing abilities. Many small business owners use their printers for more than just that. Faxing, scanning, and copying are all important business functions a printer can perform. For 49% of small business owners, printers aren’t just printers. They’re all-in-one technology partners. Replacing a legacy printer with a modern one can give the business a major upgrade.
Convenient as modern printers can be, they come with a downside. Outside simple jams and malfunctions, printers can also be a liability to businesses in the realm of cybersecurity. More than half of all internet-connected printers are unsecured. In 2021, attacks on “Internet of Things” (IoT) more than doubled. One unsecured printer can leave your entire network vulnerable. A single cyberattack can drive small or medium businesses into bankruptcy. Beyond the initial ransom a lot of cyber criminals demand, fixing the damages and replacing compromised devices can cost millions.
How to Choose the Best Business Printer
How can companies buy the best printer for their needs? For the best warranty, shipping, and support, business owners should shop directly from the manufacturer’s website. Manufacturers are also likely to have more options and customization available than retailers are. As discussed above, laser printers also offer more benefits to businesses than traditional ink ones do.
Another way to deal with cartridge issues is to enroll in a cartridge recycling program. Not only does this keep waste out of landfills, but it can also save a business money on new cartridges. Additionally, confirm the printer can still print in black even when the color toner is empty (and vice versa).
In Conclusion
For better cybersecurity, give your printer a password. Ensure the printer reboots automatically whenever a security issue is detected. These measures may seem inconvenient, but they’re also likely to protect the business from a cyber attack. Don’t let an unsecured printer send the business into bankruptcy.
