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COMMENT
Continued...
Is this how the channel views the
status quo?
PrintIT Reseller
invited
a number of resellers to voice their
thoughts.
Colin Griffin,
Managing Director,
Blackbox Solutions
said that Blackbox
has seen a trend towards multifunctional
devices that print, copy and scan and
he believes that standalone copiers
are probably on their way out as they
are simply less convenient and lack the
features of modern MFDs.
Stuart Bowmer,
HP MPS Director
,
ZenOffice
agrees: “The traditional
photocopier has been superseded by newer
multifunctional technologies offering the
end user additional functionality to just
copy.
“The trend we have seen is the
transition from single function devices to
multifunctional technologies, developed
for single users to workgroups of over 30
individuals with standardised operating
systems, supporting a plethora of custom
designed apps (not too dissimilar to what
we have seen in the mobile phone market
over the past nine years),” he added.
“However, I’d argue that the ability for
businesses to copy and print documents
is anything but outdated. We still see
huge appetite among businesses to print
and copy documents and our business
continues to grow as a result,” Griffin said.
Griffin pointed to the fact that at work
we may be surrounded by screens, laptops,
tablets and smartphones – but people still
like to hold a printed document in their
hands. “Print is a vital component of most
office environments,” he said, adding that
a recent survey by Epson found that 64
per cent of respondents preferred to read
documents on paper, in part because it
offers the advantages of sharability (53
per cent) and the ability to easily edit and
annotate documents (41 per cent).
Griffin contends that the copier
industry has seen much innovation
recently, from the incorporation of
mobile, wireless and cloud print features,
to touchscreen interfaces, internet
connectivity, print management software
and email distribution. “Leading printer
manufacturers have integrated new
technology which has improved the
flexibility and usability of MFDs to fit in
with modern working practices. Further
technological innovation in the print sector
is certainly to be encouraged, but I think
this will reinforce the role of print in offices,
despite overtures in favour of the paperless
office,” he noted.
Copiers are absolutely not outdated,
complicated machines according to
Julian
Stafford,
Director,
Midshire Northern
.
“They have changed beyond all recognition
to become the heartbeat of the modern
office and workplace,” he said, adding
that whilst they undoubtedly have more
functions than ever before they are now
easier to use, as they have become highly
intuitive.
“The industry is changing with a move
to more A4 machines,” he said, predicting
placements will increase, giving people
access to a personal multifunction device,
reversing the trend of rationalisation
witnessed over the last ten years.
Speed of change continues to
increase
“This is being driven by smaller footprint
devices with significantly reduced running
costs, matching the standard A3 devices,”
Stafford added. “A more sophisticated
and IT savvy user also demands more than
just a copier/printer. The new generation
of MFPs deliver more functionality than
ever before. The speed of change and
development is continuing to increase. It’s
a really exciting time for the industry.”
“Copiers allow a high quality output
at a very competitive price and much of
this is achieved by allowing individual
parts rather than whole assemblies to be
replaced, keeping costs affordable,” said
Following its acquisition of Samsung’s printing business, HP said it aims to reinvent
and replace service-intensive copiers with superior multifunction printing. It argues
that copiers are outdated, complicated machines with dozens of replaceable parts
requiring inefficient service and maintenance agreements and that customers are
frustrated with the number of visits needed to keep machines functioning.
Are copiers outdated,
complicated machines?
Matt Goodall,
Service Director,
Office
Evolution
. “Many printer style solutions
offer attractive prices but these rarely
materialise and end users end up paying
vastly more for their prints and copies.
Photocopiers have a proven track record of
affordable costs,” he added.
Joe Doyle,
Marketing Director,
Annodata
also wholeheartedly disagrees
with the assertion that copiers are
outdated. “People have spoken about the
paperless office for over 20 years now but
we’re yet to see it in practice. Aside from
their copier functionality, MFDs today can
perform an incredible array of services,
from simple things like scanning to email
or folders, through to redacting certain key
words in documents containing thousands
of pages. Manufacturers invest millions
each year on R&D to make them faster,
smaller and easier to use,” he said.
According to
Kevin Tunley,
Sales
Director,
Midshire Group
, the latest
range of MFPs bear little relation to the old
photocopiers. “They are an intrinsic part
of any modern office, working as a central
hub for inputting information, transmitting
data, printing and storing information in
the cloud. They also produce copies,” he
said.
He added: “Currently the HP product
fills a position in the market place, but the
company will have to improve its supply
chain in order to compete effectively with
other established manufacturers who have
solid experience in supporting dealers in
The speed of
change and
development
is continuing
to increase.
It’s a really
exciting
time for the
industry
Julian Stafford,
Director,
Midshire Northern
Joe Doyle,
Marketing
Director,
Annodata
