PRINT.IT
19
Last year, HP reinvented its
LaserJet line-up with the
introduction of low melt
JetIntelligence toner that has
enabled HP to reduce the size
of its printers, lower energy
consumption, increase printing
speeds and reduce costs.
Now, in ‘its biggest launch for 10
years’, HP has turned its attention
to its business inkjet range.
In the last two or three years,
HP, along with Epson, Canon and
Brother, has had great success in
changing the perception of inkjet
printing in the workplace, making
much of the technology’s key
benefits, including:
n
low running costs – up to 50%
lower than comparable laser
devices;
n
quiet, cool and odourless
operation;
n
low energy consumption for a
smaller carbon footprint – 20 watts
per hour in standby compared to
600-700 watts per hour in standby
with an HP LaserJet 6060/6070
MFP, according to HP customer
Datapac;
n
minimal packaging and waste;
and
n
affordable hardware.
Enterprise appeal
IDC estimates that inkjet
penetration of the printer market
now stands at 25%. With its new
announcements, HP will be hoping
to make even greater inroads,
especially in the enterprise market.
Highlights include
1
The launch of HP PageWide as
a printer brand in its own right, and
the end of HP Officejet Pro X as a
distinct line;
2
New high-speed enterprise-class
HP PageWide devices, including
high capacity MPS-only models with
three-year printhead warranties and
integration with HP JetAdvantage
Management and third party tools;
3
New ink formulations that offer
faster print speeds, a wider colour
gamut and increased durability;
4
A new HP Print Forward Design
for the HP OfficeJet Pro devices
(the 8000 series) – a name that HP
is keeping for its small business
inkjet printers; and
5
HP Secure Managed Print
Services.
With these announcements, and
the prospect of an A3 PageWide
device in 2017, HP says it is
reinventing business printing for
businesses of all sizes.
Breadth of range
The importance of business
inkjets to HP was highlighted in an
introductory address given by Mick
Heys, Vice President, Printing &
Document Solutions, IDC.
Drawing on IDC research,
Heys identified access to a wide
selection of devices, services and
solutions as a key driver for printer
buyers, with 51% saying they would
prefer a single point of contact for
print solutions and services.
Breadth of range is important
for printer resellers, too, especially
when it comes to solutions. Not
only can they help customers
achieve their number one priority –
to reduce print costs, cited as a key
driver by 76% of SMBs surveyed –
but they also lead to repeat sales
as organisations tend to address
problems or workflows sequentially.
Heys said that 80% of MPS
engagements renew with the
incumbent supplier and, of these,
20% take the opportunity to extend
the MPS by adding another service,
site or country.
Ignoring the strategic benefits
for HP in transitioning people from
laser technology, which it licences,
to inkjet technology, which it owns,
there are clear commercial benefits
in expanding its product portfolio
with other technologies and
solutions, especially as customers
are increasingly looking for a single
provider for print hardware and
software.
Gary Tierney, HP UK & Ireland
Printing Category Director, told
PrintIT
that HP’s breadth of range has
enabled it to increase sales overall
rather than just replace low end
colour lasers with business inkjets.
He said: “We place the OfficeJet
Pro X in the small work team colour
segment. In the UK and Ireland,
the Pro X platform now accounts
for about 20% of this category.
Together with laser products, we
now have a higher share than when
Continued...
BUSINESS INKJETS
HP extends its PageWide business inkjets to enterprises
ahead of the 2017 launch of PageWide A3 printers and MFPs
Reinventing
office printing
Access to a
wide selection
of devices,
services and
solutions is a
key driver for
printer buyers,
with 51%
saying they
would prefer
a single point
of contact for
print solutions
and services
