Printing industry trends to look out for this year

Despite the digitisation of the workplace, printing is just as important to businesses as it ever was. However, the printers that today’s companies use are entirely different from those a decade ago. Printing manufacturers are in a constant race to add new and improved features to their products, and if 2020’s printing trends are any indication, it is that the upgrades this technology is receiving will not slow down anytime soon. What does this mean for your business? It means it will be able to stay at the forefront of innovation. These trends will help you choose a printer that can keep up with the demands of a modern office and ensure productivity stays at the maximum. 

The Internet of Things (IoT)

This year, the Internet of Things continues to be the talk of the town in every industry, and the printing niche is no exception. Considering the many challenges that businesses still face in their print environment, the IoT brings the promise of connecting, monitoring, and managing their print operations more efficiently. The benefits that the IoT can bring to business printing include smart sensors that automatically schedule routine maintenance, and better control over ink, toner and paper consumption. 

Cloud printing

The adoption of cloud computing is accelerating as more and more businesses look to store and access their files faster, easier, and more effectively. And no one can say that the printing niche has not been keeping up with the demand. The market has already given us printers that connect to the internet and can access whatever files you need on any device, which is what the Nashua SP C842DN is capable of. With the potential of cloud printers to reduce print costs and eliminate the need to buy and manage hardware and software, it is one of the must-have features the industry will focus on this year. 

Printing on-the-go

With the mobile workforce becoming a normal part of the workplace, manufacturers are catering to the needs of workers who are out of office. Printers now enable connectivity across multiple locations and devices such as smartphones and tablets, allowing workers to conveniently print via the cloud. Vendors such as HP are even rolling out solutions that support printing via email. 

Bigger focus on network security

In the past, few people would have thought that a simple printing job would open up an opportunity for criminals to steal sensitive company data. Fortunately, the situation is improving with vendors becoming more vigilant about security. Some of the measures that are being deployed to prevent network hacking include continuous memory inspections, self-healing basic input/output system (BIOS), automatic firmware updates, and whitelisting. 

Better sustainability

Yes, there is an environmental risk lurking behind printers due to the modern office’s excessive demand for paper and the resulting waste, as well as the energy consumption that can account for up to 7% of an organisation’s total electricity consumption. More businesses are paying attention to a printer’s environmental impact. Luckily for the planet, printing manufacturers have already started to go green and, in 2020, sustainability will drive the formation of new features that will aid in the reduction of paper waste and electricity usage. 

Managed print services 

Managed print services can help streamline a business’ printer management, provide better security, and lower their printing costs. Traditionally, these benefits were only available to larger enterprises, however, MPS will move into the small and mid-sized business domain. Many businesses don’t have the time and resources to devote to mundane processes, so taking the opportunity to outsource will help them stay focused and productive in today’s fast paced environment. 

Technology is developing at a fast pace, and as you plan for 2020 and beyond, keep a close eye on these printing trends so you can make purchasing decisions that will benefit your business in the long run.