Should you buy the Xerox VersaLink C7020?
When searching for your next office printer/copier, you’ve likely found it difficult to definitively answer which model would be best for you.
The answer to this question is crucial because purchasing the wrong printer could lead to issues like increased service costs, which could then lead to a breakdown of the machine altogether.
When you’re talking about multi-thousand-dollar printers, that could end up being a cost that cuts into your bottom line and takes away some of your much-needed working capital.
We aim to use our almost 40 years of industry insight in the printer/copier industry and our intricate experience with Xerox machines to give you an all-encompassing review of their particular printer models.
Just because we sell Xerox machines doesn’t mean we’re going to lie to you, however. The VersaLink C7020 will not be for everybody, and there are many printer brands out there that might better align with your printing requirements.
The goal of this blog is to give you everything you need to know about this machine, and then let you decide for yourself whether it’s right for you.
So, let’s not waste any more time. This review will cover the basic specifications you need to know about the VersaLink C7020, as well as its key features, accessories, pros, cons and cost.
We’ll also provide a broad summary at the end that will conclude the types of workgroups that would and wouldn’t be a fit for the machine.
Note: The Xerox VersaLink C7120 is the newest version of the Xerox VersaLink C7020.
Xerox VersaLink C7020 Basics
Here are some general statistics and information to help you get a feel for the machine’s print speed, volume, resolution and cost:
Print Speed: Up to 20 ppm
Recommended Monthly Print Volume: Up to 5,500 pages
Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 87,000 pages
Maximum Print Resolution: 1200 x 2400 dpi (dots per inch)
Copy Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
First-Page-Out Time Printing: As fast as 9.4 seconds in color, 7.2 seconds in black-and-white
First-Page-Out-Time Copying: As fast as 9.0 seconds color, 6.9 seconds black-and-white
Cost: Starting at around $2,800
For a look at the dimensions of the VersaLink C7020 base model, see the picture below:
Xerox VersaLink C7020 Key Features
Now, let’s look at some of the key features that come with the VersaLink C7020 color multifunction printer:
Touchscreen Interface and App Gallery
The Xerox VersaLink C7020 contains a customizable, seven-inch tablet-like touchscreen that allows you to complete printing tasks simply and effectively.
You can tailor the user interface to your business’s goals by choosing from the numerous applications on Xerox’s App Gallery. A few examples include:
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Amazon WorkDocs, which is a cloud storage and sharing service with administrative controls and feedback capabilities that improve user productivity. The price is per device, and is $100 for one year, $190 for two years and $270 for three years.
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Email Connect, a free application that lets you scan to your email address by choosing your email provider, putting in your email address and then pressing save.
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Connect for DocuSign, which is an application that can aid daily business interactions by eliminating approval bottlenecks and keeping essential agreements moving forward quickly and efficiently. The price of the app is $14 a month, $149 a year or $315 for three years, and there is a 30-day free trial available. You must have a DocuSign account to access the app.
The Connect for DocuSign app, courtesy of Xerox:
The touchscreen interface and app gallery are a part of Xerox’s ConnectKey technology, which, among other things, gives you the ability to convert hard-copy records into accessible cloud-based documents and allows you to control your printer from your smartphone.
The Xerox App Gallery contains several industry-specific and general applications that can help increase overall office productivity. For more information on the different kinds of apps, read the following blogs:
Printer Security
The VersaLink C7020 contains a four-point approach to security that’ll help prevent, detect and protect against cyberattacks at all points of vulnerability.
According to Xerox’s website, these include:
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Network intrusion and data transmission
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Protection from unauthorized access
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Stringent data encryption
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Added security to individual documents
Some of the security measures involve a comprehensive Firmware Verification test upon printer activation, and further security enhancements by Xerox’s external partnerships with McAfee and Cisco, which includes McAfee’s Whitelisting technology and Cisco’s Identity Services Engine (ISE).
In a technological world where cybercrime has become prevalent, it’s helpful to inform yourself of the security measures that companies are taking before making a purchasing decision. To learn more about Xerox’s security measures, read our blog about Xerox’s approach to cybersecurity and why it matters.
Xerox VersaLink C7020 Accessories
Let’s take a look at some of the different configuration and finishing options that will allow you to customize and upgrade your machine in ways that best optimize your business needs:
Standard Accessories
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A 110-sheet Duplex Automatic Document Feeder
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A Card Reader Bay with an embedded USB port.
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An accessible USB port that allows users to print or scan to any standard USB memory device.
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A 100-sheet Bypass Tray
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A 520-sheet paper tray
Optional Accessories
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The Convenience Stapler and Work Surface.
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The Single Tray with Stand Module increases the total paper capacity to 1,140 sheets (includes Bypass Tray) and provides storage for toner cartridges and other supplies.
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The Three Tray Module that increases the total paper capacity to 2,180 sheets (includes Bypass Tray)
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A High-Capacity Feeder that holds 2,000 sheets of letter/A4 paper, increasing the maximum paper capacity to 5,140 sheets.
Finishing Options
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The Dual Catch Trays (optional with the Desktop model) stack up to 250 sheets each.
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The Officer Finisher, which gives you advanced finishing functions and offers optional booklet-making (score, saddle-stitch)
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The Integrated Office Finisher, which provides 500-sheet stacking and 50-sheet, dual-position stapling without increasing the footprint of the printer.
You should consider your printing requirements and consult your print vendor or provider to see whether the optional upgrades and finishing options would be worth the investment.
Depending on the accessories you choose, the weight and dimensions of the printer will vary, but the VersaLink C7020 base model weighs approximately 148 pounds.
Here’s a look at the VersaLink C7020 with the stand and additional accessories (via Absolute Toner):
2 Pros of the Xerox VersaLink C7020
To get a better feel for the advantages of purchasing the VersaLink C7020, let’s look at a couple of the main pros associated with the machine.
1. Large Printing Capacity
With a recommended average monthly print volume of 5,500 pages and a duty cycle of up to 87,000 pages per month, the VersaLink C7020 is built to handle a sizable printing capacity for small-to-medium-sized businesses.
Although the machine can print up to 87,000 pages per month, it’s always advised to follow the monthly print volume rather than the monthly duty cycle to avoid overtaxing the printer. To learn more about print volume and duty cycle, read these blogs:
2. Permanent All-In-One Printing Solution
In addition to its capability of printing at a high volume, the VersaLink C7020 is also built to act as a permanent, multifunction, printing solution for your workplace.
Investing in an advanced multifunction printer is a long-term investment, which means you can expect the machine to last for a significant amount of time if you follow the recommended monthly print volume.
The benefit of investing in a multifunction printer is that you’re getting a machine that not only has print capabilities but also acts as your scanner, fax machine and copier, hence the “all-in-one” moniker.
With a multifunction printer, you get all these functions in one machine without having to invest in or make space for separate machines to execute each function.
For more information about multifunction printers, read these blogs:
2 Cons of the Xerox VersaLink C7020
Now that we’ve covered some of the positives regarding the VersaLink C7020, let’s go over two of the cons that you need to consider before making a purchasing decision:
1. Not a Printer for Large Workgroups
While the VersaLink C7020 is a solid multifunction option for small-to-medium workgroups, it’s not built to endure the workload required to satisfy the printing needs of businesses that print over its 5,500-page recommended monthly print volume.
If you’re a large workgroup and are wanting a more robust color multifunction printer, you would want to look into the AltaLink C8145 or C8155, depending on your monthly usage.
2. Separate Wireless Connectivity Kit
Another thing to keep in mind is you will need to buy a separate Wireless Connectivity Kit to set up WIFI for the VersaLink C7020 model. You can purchase the WIFI accessory for around $50.
Xerox VersaLink C7020 Cost
As listed previously, the base cost of the VersaLink C7020 is around $2,800. This doesn’t include optional upgrades or maintenance plans that you may want to include upon purchase of your machine.
While being a relatively affordable option compared to other color multifunction printers, such as the models in the AltaLink C8100 series, the VersaLink C7020 is not an inexpensive option.
Buying a multifunction printer will almost always be more expensive than buying a single-function (print-only) printer, and it’s a purchase that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Some vendors may offer trade-ins and there’s also the option to lease your printer, rather than purchase it outright. Leasing a printer breaks down the total price into more affordable monthly payments. For more information on this, read these blogs:
Who Is the Xerox VersaLink C7020 a Good Fit for?
The VersaLink C7020 is a good fit for:
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Small-to-medium-sized businesses that need a multifunction printer that can make around 5,500 color and black-and-white prints per month.
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Workgroups looking to purchase an efficient printer with advanced technological features and industry-specific applications.
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Those looking to make a long-term printing investment.
If you fall into one of these categories, then you would be a candidate for the VersaLink C7020. However, you would want to extensively evaluate your specific printing goals with a business consultant before purchasing.
Who Is the Xerox VersaLink C7020 Not a Good Fit for?
The VersaLink C7020 is not a good fit for:
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Large businesses with a monthly print volume of over 5,500 pages per month.
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Those searching for a single-function printer (print-only) for personal use.
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Businesses that don’t need to print or copy documents in color.
If you fall into one of these categories, then this is not the model for you. Read our blog about how to choose a printer for your budget and business needs to help with choosing the right model for you.
What Are the Other Models in the Xerox VersaLink C7000 Series?
The VersaLink C7020 model is one of three printers in the Xerox VersaLink C7000 Series, with the others being the C7025 and C7030 models.
They all contain the same basic features, but the more advanced the model gets in the Series, the more efficient it is.
This is displayed by the ascending print speeds in the Series: The VersaLink C7020 has a print speed of up to 20 ppm, the C7025 has a print speed of up to 25 ppm and the C7030 has a print speed of up to 30 ppm.
The same can be said for the monthly print volume. The C7020 model has a recommended monthly print volume of up to 5,500 pages, the C7025 has a monthly print volume of up to 6,250 pages and the C7030 has a monthly print volume of 7,000 pages.
To learn more about the other models in the C7000 Series, read our reviews of the C7025 and C7030.
For the newest models of the C7100 series, which replaces the C700 Series, check out our reviews for the C7125 and C7130 models.
Think the Xerox VersaLink C7020 Is Right for You?
The VersaLink C7020 is a solid printer for small-to-medium-sized businesses that need a color multifunction printer that can print at a high capacity and is equipped with advanced technology, like a touchscreen interface and customer-facing App Gallery.
However, the VersaLink C7020 is not for everyone. If you’re a business that consistently prints over 5,500 pages or doesn’t require color printing or a multifunction printer, then you would want to look at another printer model.
We have a long history of providing printing solutions to businesses of all kinds in an honest and transparent way. Our goal is to make your office printing equipment the least of your worries.
If you’re interested in the VersaLink C7020 or want to discuss another print solution, reach out to us and one of our team of experts will get back to you shortly.
