It’s not often people stop to think about their printers—until something goes wrong, that is. If your printing devices are continually breaking or malfunctioning, you may be wondering whether it’s time for an upgrade. Here are four clear signs that it’s time for an upgrade:
Functionality and Print Quality Frustrations
The printer’s primary job is to print, and a printer or MFD in its prime should be able to complete that task without you having to fidget with the machine every step of the way.
If you find you’re often having to unplug the printer, wait for small print jobs to complete, or resend a document to the machine multiple times, it’s likely a sign that your printer or copier is on its way out.
Faded text, print streaks, and missing pages can also all be attributed to a failing printer. While the prints may still be readable, they can come across as unprofessional. If you’ve tried changing the cartridge and you’re still getting poor quality results, it’s probably a sign that your printer needs upgrading.
Your Business Printing Needs Have Evolved
If your company has grown or changed, chances are your printing needs have also changed. What worked for you five years ago might not work for you now, you may find yourself printing large volumes or needing additional features such as scanning, copying, and receiving faxes. As your business needs evolve, it’s important to monitor your printer usage. You can tell that your printer doesn’t meet your needs if it:
- No longer provides the page output you need (whether in volume, speed, or both)
- Can’t hold the paper capacity you need
- Doesn’t have the technological capabilities to fit seamlessly into your workflow
- Doesn’t offer the user interface your employees need to be efficient
You’ve had Your Printer for longer than 5 Years
The average lifespan of a printer is around 3-5 years. With proper upkeep and maintenance, some printers can last longer, but eventually your machine will need an upgrade.
If you’ve been using your printer for more than five years, it probably isn’t performing as well as it should be by now due to outdated hardware. Printers are getting more efficient day-by-day with modern copiers offering wireless connectivity capabilities, quicker printing speeds, energy efficient and advanced security features.
Keeping that old printer alive through constant repairing may cost you more money than it’s worth. In addition to repair costs, copy charges on machines that are older than five years are generally also about 4 times more expensive than newer technology. By switching to the latest technology, your company can benefit from massive cost savings on recurring charges.
Ask yourself: is your old printer still serving you, or requiring you to service it?
The Technology is Becoming Obsolete
For the last decade, printing technology has developed significantly and today’s technologically advanced printers are packed with super-efficient options. The fact is, if you’re working with outdated print technology, you could be missing out on the cost-cutting, productivity-boosting power new printers offer.
If your office copier has become outdated, you need to replace it to keep up with the advancing technology. Your competitors are upgrading their equipment–why shouldn’t you?
You don’t have to hold onto an old printer – Instead of holding onto obsolete technology, select the latest MFP with higher print quality and speed. Gravity Office Solutions offers copiers, printers and scanners to streamline productivity in your office. For more information, reach out to us at [email protected] or call 011 467 6647.