Multi-function devices for SMBs

It wasn't long ago when a printer was just another printer - it did what it was supposed to do - Print! Fastforward to today, there has been a near 180-degree shift. As business demands increase, the printer is morphing beyond its core functions, offering customers more value for money and is rapidly evolving. While printers have added copying functionality, copiers have added print controllers. As a result, the printer and copier markets are converging. Printer-based MFPs typically offer the lowest acquisition price while copier-based MFPs provide a low cost per page. However, under-utilised copiers represent another type of additional cost. While they offer a low cost-per-page, the actual cost of the hardware in conjunction with low utilisation is dramatically higher. For volumes below 20,000 pages-per-month, printer-based MFPs are typically more economical. In addition, you have the option to buy several MFPs and reduce the number of users per device without significantly increasing your total cost. "Multi-function devices are increasingly redefining office life, helping organisations to consolidate investment, maximise space and simplify workflow processes. MFDs also simplify supply ordering and minimise maintenance calls, saving time, money, and critical resources for SMBs," says Samir Shah, director, commercial and enterprise printing business, Imaging and Printing Group, HP India. An increasing number of customers are considering color MFDs that not only combine printing and copying but also produce black-and-white output at the same cost and performance as black-and-white devices. "The new generation color MFDs are designed to remove one of the key barriers to color adoption by reducing the cost of printing black and white documents to the same level as that on monochrome printers, while simultaneously delivering on the quality and experience of color in the office," explains Shah. Capabilities such as HP Edgeline technology illustrate one of the most important milestones in the evolution of MFP technology. "The Edgeline offerings will transform the industry, providing customers a multifunction printing solution with unprecedented ease of use that can improve productivity and lower color operating costs by up to 30 per cent," says Shah. "SMEs today operate in an extremely competitive business environment. They want to cope by opting for business infrastructure that makes them do more for less, i.e. makes them more cost competitive. Samsung has recently introduced its 'Printelligense' range of laser printers with intelligent technology that helps customer save up to 50 per cent on their printing costs, lowers their printing downtime and makes printing less fussy. Some of these new technologies have been developed especially for the cost-conscious Indian customers. We hope our new range of 'Printelligense ' laser printers will help our SME customers become more efficient, competitive and successful,” says Hari Pandey, senior marketing manager, Samsung India.