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The Benefits of Leasing an Office Printer

Has your office needed a new printer for a while, but the cost and dizzying number of options on the market are holding you back? Leasing an office printer could be the secret to a much-needed equipment upgrade.

Limited overhead costs

What would you do with a budget surplus? Small and medium-sized business owners and managers probably have a long list of answers. Sadly, many organizations don’t have extra funds that are not already allocated for the fiscal year. Multifunction printers, or MFPs, can cost a few thousand dollars, and prices change with the market. Leasing allows you to obtain new office equipment today and gather funds as you use it, not scrape for the full amount or max out credit limits to buy a printer. Budgeting also becomes easier: businesses can plan on the same monthly payments for a year or two instead of guessing as to what their budget should be for a new printer paid in full.    

Updated technology

Technology develops at a breakneck pace, and your office needs equipment that matches your businesses’ advancements. Companies that have a high volume of specialized print jobs have the flexibility to upgrade their equipment for the most effective and efficient tools when their contract is up.

And while some organizations may not be looking for the most tricked-out new printer to enter the market, your office will be better off with a system that runs and uses ink as efficiently as the newer models do. Additionally, new MFPs have increased security measures. Manufacturers are making printers that protect sensitive information by requiring users to sign in before gathering their documents.

Smooth transition

When you lease a new MFP, providers typically take care of set up, connecting it to Wi-Fi and other devices in your office. Infomax also performs test runs and on-site training to ensure employees are able to use the equipment to its full capacity.

Easy upkeep

Most equipment providers offer maintenance plans that make fixing printer jams or other production snags a breeze. This means your business can avoid the hassle of searching for service technicians and exorbitant bills each time your MFP needs servicing. Regular ink cartridge and toner changes also are typically included in a leasing package.

Painless disposal

When you lease a printer from a third-party provider, you can avoid the hassle of selling or disposing of your old model when you want to upgrade. Gone are the days when old technology could be sent out with the trash. Today, companies must ensure their data is secured and need to comply with safe, environmentally friendly regulations regarding disposal. When you lease, disposal issues are the responsibility of the lessor, not yours.

To learn more about Infomax’s leasing options, message us online or call 1-800-727-4629.

What to Look For in a New Office Printer

Your business is as unique as the market and clients you serve. When it comes to office equipment, you need a printer individualized for your exact needs. There are many printers on the market, so determining which one is the right fit for your office can be difficult. We’re here to help you clear through the clutter.

It’s important to understand the role your printer needs to play and the frequency at which your business will use it. Businesses that print thousands of documents per month may value a machine with high printing speed and durability. A printer with high image quality and four ink wells may be more important for companies printing more colorful documents and images. 

Consider these factors before purchasing your next office printer.

Functionality

Most businesses opt for multifunction printers, or systems that can print, copy, scan and fax. Why? Small and medium-sized businesses need a printing solution that reflects themselves: efficient, versatile and reliable.

Budget

Size, imaging, speed and additional features affecting the price of a printer. When determining your budget for a new printer, it’s important to understand that the upfront costs could be compounded by the price of replacing ink. It’s common for inexpensive printers to have costly ink replacement fees. The reason: manufacturers make their money that way.

Leasing printers has become a popular option for businesses. Monthly leasing costs are easier to factor into a budget than the one-time cost of purchasing a multifunction printer. Leasing also allows companies to update their equipment as printer technology advances.

Quality

Your office printer will likely use an inkjet or laser printer. Inkjet printers use ink and are best for low-volume printing, while laser printers use toner and are suited for high-volume printing. Whichever you use, you want professional print quality. Both are measured in dots per inch — or DPI. Laser printers usually have between 600 to 1,200 DPI, while inkjet printer resolutions usually begin at 1,200 DPI.

It’s also worth checking if you can use third-party ink cartridges for your printer and if refilling cartridges is an option. Be aware that using unapproved ink cartridges might void your warranty.

Speed

If your office frequently prints reports or documents with multiple pages, you’ll want to pay attention to the printing speed on your new machine, measured in pages per minute — or PPM. Though printers will have slight variance in PPM for images and text, the measurement will allow you to determine what best fits your business’ needs.

Wireless Access

Most offices have on-the-go employees who want to print from laptops or cellphones. Printers with wireless or Bluetooth access provide more functionality. The feature also allows the machine to access a document management system. Users can use the printer to access electronically stored files without having to send the files through a computer.

 To learn more about print and technology solutions that best fit your organization’s needs, contact us here.

Going Green Starts with Your Office Equipment

There are plenty of ways to “go green” in your office. Many of these eco-friendly practices are intuitive, such as turning off your computer at the end of the day, and using the appropriate waste bins to separate trash from recyclables.

That said, more and more eco-conscious companies are making smarter hardware decisions to meet their green initiatives. Investing in efficient office equipment—such as printers, copiers, scanners, and MFPs—saves energy without sacrificing quality.

Here are some tips for choosing greener hardware for your office:

  • Invest in efficiency. Typically, office equipment usage accounts for up to 40 percent of a company’s energy bill. Highly efficient machines are simply better for your business in the long run—and also provide immediate cost savings. Be sure to select high-efficiency equipment, usually indicated by the ENERGY STAR symbol. This tells you that you’re purchasing an eco-friendly product, and can potentially reduce the energy used by your business’s hardware by up to 60 percent.
  • Consider the features. Does the MFP you are considering offer duplex printing, advanced sleep mode, and other eco-features? If not, you may want to keep looking. These features are essential for reducing energy consumption and chopping that electricity bill.
  • Buy local. In addition to supporting your local economy, buying or leasing your equipment from a local vendor ensures less gas is used for transportation. Big box office retailers use huge amounts of energy in the shipping of equipment from centralized warehouses to your office. Local inventory also means our machines are available for expedited delivery and installation, with on-site training for your staff.
  • Remember to consolidate. Do you really need separate devices for your printer, scanner, and fax machine? Instead of multiple devices that take up too much energy and office space, consider an MFP, or multi-function printer. Multi-functions systems ensure all of your document imaging needs are met, and consume about 40 percent less energy than offices with standalone devices.

These are just a few of the ways smart hardware decisions can help save the planet and your pocketbook. To learn more, contact Infomax today.

Big Benefits to Upgrading Your Office Equipment

Your business is always growing, so shouldn’t your technology be growing with it? All too often, businesses stick with their outdated equipment, thinking that a new investment simply is not worth it. However, whether your equipment consists of one lone printer or a fleet of multi-function devices, there are several reasons upgrading is vital for business success.

Here are some reasons why evaluating your equipment every few years is so important:

  • Quality. First and foremost, as technology in printing advances, the quality of output and operations increases, as well. Also, due to normal wear and tear, it might be time for you to consider investing in new equipment. Printing has come so far in recent years that in-house options actually rival those of print shops.
  • Cost. Don’t be intimidated by the sticker price of a shiny new MFP. In fact, that newer machine will likely lower your cost per copy. This means that over time, your printing costs will go down as a result of this new investment. You’ll also be able to produce professional materials in-house, rather than outsourcing them. Leasing is also a great way to keep you costs low.
  • Maintenance. Repairs are expensive. Decrease the odds of needing to repair your copiers and printers by investing in new equipment. New machines last longer, work faster, and produce better materials than those dusty, old devices that are waiting to malfunction.
  • Options. Your trusty printer might get the job done, but how many jobs can it actually do? With today’s multifunction printers, you no longer need separate printers, scanners, copiers, and fax machines. An MFP provides all of these services (and more) using less space and less money.
  • Security. Upgraded equipment utilizes a myriad of security options. Certain pieces of equipment can even help you track which users are overprinting. This information can help you establish printing limits. Even encryption services are available in many newer devices.

Contact Infomax today to learn about how upgrading your equipment can specifically help your business.