If you're in the market for a copier or printer for your business, you've likely heard the term all-in-one printer, or multifunction printer, before. If you've found yourself wondering what exactly an all-in-one printer is, and how it differs from a standard printer or copier, this is the article for you.
What Is an All-in-One Printer?
An all-in-one printer, also known as a multifunction printer (MFP), is a product that is capable of copying, printing, scanning, and faxing, all in one machine.
It’s kind of like taking every office productivity machine you might have and combining it into a single unit. Instead of having to make space for a printer, a copier, and a separate scanner, and paying the electric bill for all the devices, you can invest in an all-in-one printer to do it all.
Who Would Be a Good Fit for an All-in-One Printer?
These machines would be a good fit for any business or organization that needs to produce printed materials, whether it's invoices, marketing collaterals, classroom material, forms that require signatures, and much more.
Now that the trend is driving less physical printing, the demand for scanning is on the rise, and instead of having two different devices for each of these functions, an all-in-one printer can do it all. If your office has limited space, it’s even an extra bonus. Depending on your printing volume and how many users utilize the all-in-one printer, there are a range of sizes and durability to fit in any environment.
When Is a Good Time to Buy an All-in-One Printer?
Most manufacturers offer promotions throughout the year, so there’s no bad time to buy. It depends on the circumstances surrounding your business climate. For example, schools typically tend to install during the summer, when school is out of session. Businesses tend to purchase towards the end of their fiscal year.
If you’re gearing up for a seasonal increase in printing materials, making sure your equipment is prepared can mean investing in a new device, and, if your current machine isn’t performing properly, it’s important to replace it before the impact on your businesses processes becomes negative.
Why Do I Need an All-in-One Printer?
People typically spend 30% of their workday handling documents. This includes printing, scanning, copying, filing, retrieving, and more. If your business relies so heavily on these processes, it’s important to make sure that you have adequate equipment in place to handle your needs, because, without the proper equipment, you can expect to spend more money in labor costs just to perform the same tasks.
All-in-one printers bring in a whole new approach to efficiency, via the utilization of apps designed specifically to increase productivity while decreasing costs. These apps are modeled after routine business practices, like scanning to common cloud services, sorting organizing, and converting documents, grading tests, checking for plagiarism, and even translating printed material to more than 40 languages of your choice.
How Much Does an All-in-One Printer Cost?
The costs vary widely depending on your specific business structure, and how large your demand is for the different basic functions of your MFP.
If your business prints a significant number of pages monthly, and you choose to invest in a larger machine that’s capable of handling a higher capacity, then you can expect a higher initial investment for the all-in-one printer, but a lower total cost of ownership.
On the other hand, if your usage is low, then a smaller all-in-one device is a better financial choice.
How Do I Buy an All-in-One Printer?
Selecting a vendor that you can trust, and that has a deep understanding of your needs, is the first step in moving forward with a decision to invest in an all-in-one printer.
If you want no help in deciding what is best for your business or organization, then buying from the web works. However, most businesses want to collaborate with someone that has knowledge and experience to help them maximize their investment. Specialized vendors are a valuable resource that provides you with training and support to complement your recent purchase.
Related Reading: 5 Signs You’re an Ideal Customer for STPT
After reading this article, you should have a better understanding of the value that an all-in-one printer can have for your organization, and whether or not it’s something you’d like to move forward with.
If a all-in-one printer sounds like the right fit for your business needs, you can complete our Request a Quote form or you can sign up for your free copy of our Complete Buyer’s Guide, which is full of resources to aid you throughout the entire journey of your upcoming investment. As always, we’re here to answer any questions that may arise, and help in any way that we can.
