Ten Things To Consider When Buying A Multifunction Printer: Article 1

You need to ask yourself the right questions to make an informed decision about what multifunction printer is right for your company.  Here is the first of  ten considerations you should make before putting a new machine in your office. 

1. Know your requirements.  
You need to really understand what you will need the device to do before you buy it.  Many times, requirements aren’t well understood or, worse, are dictated by the device salesperson.  Here are some questions you could ask yourself before diving in and buying.

A) Will you need color?  Not just today but perhaps in the coming months or years that you will use the device.  Thinking about this question before you buy will make a big difference in how your office functions and the way you will use the device in months and years that follow.

B) What size prints or copies will you need to make?  Many devices can print/copy up to tabloid but this feature adds acquisition cost.  If you can do without printing or copying 11×17 size, you’ll save money.

C) How fast does it need to print/copy?  Don’t be fooled into thinking that the device’s manufacturer rated speed is the speed it will print/copy.  Most manufacturers overstate this speed significantly.  Test it yourself or ask your device’s sales rep how many pages per minute the device is typically capable of outputting.  If you take the published speed for granted, you’ll pay a premium for equipment that won’t live up to your expectations.

D) How many people will use the device?  Try to understand who will be using the device, how often they’ll need to use it and how far you will want them to walk.  In most corporations, having to walk more than 50 feet will create complaints from users.  

Next topic.  Know the total cost of ownership
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Upcoming articles: 
 2. Know the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Cost/Value benefits
 3. Know what third parties have to say
 4. Know how easy it is to connect to an existing network
 5. Know how easy it is to use
 6. Know its multitasking abilities
 7. Know its bi-directional communication capabilities
 8. Know the available device management, remote intelligence, and support
 9. Know whether it provides the level of security and confidentiality you need
10. Know what software and solutions are available

Multifunction printers can help you streamline duplicate and cumbersome document processes and electronically organize, edit and archive your paper documents. With an MFP and a simple software application you can turn paper documents into electronic format and send to multiple destinations – email, document repositories, network folders, even remote printers – with a single scan.

Once you’re armed with the knowledge you’ve gathered by asking these questions, you’ll be prepared to make the right decision for your business.

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