PRINT.IT
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We asked our panel of print experts
to rank six qualities of modern print
devices in order of their importance
to buyers; to explain their choice of
Number One (reproduced under the
headings below); and to suggest any
other feature they thought should be
on our list.
Total cost of ownership (TCO)
came out as the most important
feature overall. The cost of printing
has always been a priority for buyers,
but whereas in the past decisions
were based on the ticket price, today
buyers are more likely to look at the
total cost of ownership – no doubt
due to the rise in managed print
services and new sales models like
Epson EcoTank printers and HP’s
Instant Ink subscription service.
After a year of security breaches,
it is not surprising to see such a
high ranking for security, which has
pushed mobility – such a big topic in
2015 – into third place. In addition
to the risk of printed documents and
electronic data falling into the wrong
hands, modern networked devices,
many with built-in hard disks, are a
potential point of weakness in an
organisation’s network defences.
Sustainability has been falling
down the agenda since 2008/2009
as organisations have made cost-
cutting their priority. Its position
at the foot of the table might also
reflect awareness that tackling
TCO will ipso facto benefit the
environment through reduced waste
and fewer pages printed.
In the future,
PrintIT
expects
to see a higher position for
‘Expandability through printer apps’.
Modern, internet-connected devices
with large touchscreen displays are
ideal platforms for highly focused
apps. Choice is limited today, but
2016 should see a noticeable rise in
the number and variety of printer/
document apps offered by suppliers.
n
TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP
Total: 37
Average ranking: 2.5
Range of rankings: 1-6
Median: 3.5
Mode (most selected ranking): 3
Summary
All contributors bar one ranked
TCO in the Top Three of buying
considerations.
“Total cost reduction through
managed print services and output
management solutions for cost control
is a perennial priority. While there is
on-going price erosion of hard costs,
customers are looking to reduce
the associated TCO even further by
connecting MFP technologies, such
as imaging, to improve business
processes, thereby reducing process
costs and/or shortening cycle times
to benefit cash flow and customer
service. Incorporating MFPs with
video conferencing and document
management and turning them into
collaboration solutions is another
example of how enhancing employee
productivity delivers ROI.”
Jason Cort,
Director of Product
Planning and Marketing,
Sharp UK
“Cost is always going to be the main
priority for businesses when it comes
to print. There’s constant pressure
to drive down the costs associated
with suppliers and IT. Increasingly,
businesses want print services to be
fully integrated with their IT estates.”
Joe Doyle,
Marketing Director,
Annodata
“Although essential, print is not
a business priority. However, it
does put a hidden and significant
burden on businesses. Printers and
consumables represent only 10% of
the total cost of print. The remaining
90% is hidden, caused by device and
consumables management (15%);
The future of
office print
PrintIT asked leading vendors and resellers for their thoughts on
office printing and the print industry in 2016. Over the next four
pages we consider their answers to the questions ‘What printer
features/qualities do you think will be most important to printer
buyers in 2016?’ and ‘What factors do you think will have the biggest
impact on printer and consumables sales in 2016?’.
Continued...
PRINT 2016
Jason Cort,
Director
of Product Planning
and Marketing,
Sharp UK
PART 1: WHAT BUYERS WANT
What printer features/qualities do you think will be most important to
printer buyers in 2016?
TCO
Security
Mobility
Easy Operation
Apps
Sustainability
Least Important
Most Important
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Francis Thornhill,
Product Marketing
Manager,
Canon
