PRINT.IT
21
ANALYSIS
The emergence of professional-
class business inkjet printers and
MFPs with lower running costs,
high-capacity ink cartridges
and professional print quality
is challenging the traditional
dominance of laser devices in the
office print environment.
Quocirca research reveals
that the shift to inkjet is already
underway, especially in the SME
sector. One third of SMEs say they
have already started the transition
to inkjet printers, compared to 19%
of large enterprises, with a further
27% planning to do so in the next 12
months.
IDC expects the business inkjet
market to grow at a compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%
from 2015 to 2020. According to
our analysis, the main factors driving
this growth are:
n
Lower cost of printing.
Inkjet
printers are claimed to offer up
to 50% lower running costs than
comparable laser devices.
n
Energy saving.
Inkjets use no
heat in the printing process, so
consume less power. Epson claims
its WorkForce Pro printers use up to
96% less energy than lasers.
n
Diverse media compatibility.
Inkjet
printers can print on a diverse range
of papers and specialist media.
n
Minimal service interventions.
With fewer components to replace
than laser and high capacity
cartridges, business inkjets are likely
to experience less downtime and
require fewer user/service provider
interventions.
n
Less waste.
Compared to the
laser printing process, which uses
drums, transfer assemblies and
fusers, a business inkjet printer
A viable alternative to toner
with a permanent printhead has far
fewer components. According to
independent tests, Epson WorkForce
Pro models produce up to 94% less
waste than equivalent lasers.
These qualities ensure business
inkjets score highly in the main
criteria for print selection – reliability,
price and running costs – as well as
secondary considerations, such as
sustainability.
For all business inkjet’s strengths,
laser technology is still best for
some applications. Rather than
shifting entirely from one technology
to another, organisations should
deploy both technologies depending
on their business need. Quocirca
research suggests that organisations
that operate a balanced deployment
model, with a mix of technologies
and distributed and centralised
printers and MFPs, are more likely to
report reduced environmental impact
and lower energy usage.
Louella Fernandes, Quocirca Associate Director for Print Services and Solutions,
outlines how business inkjet can form part of a sustainable strategy for print
Louella
Fernandes
