Printing Advice for Businesses

Printing is something that happens every day in most businesses. Whether you need to get hard copies of documents off to clients or distribute flyers, the printer is an office centrepiece. But many companies could be optimising their printing process for even better results. Here are some things you should consider:

Costs

Printing can get expensive, but there are ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Even the cheapest printer inks online will deliver the results you need, leaving your documents looking crisp and professional. You can probably cut your paper quality down a level or two as well, especially if you aren’t selling art or design prints.

It’s also important to consider whether you really need to print in colour every time. Often, greyscale will work just as well, especially if the document is for training purposes. Font also impacts the amount of ink your printer uses, so choosing Times New Roman over Arial could save you cash in the long run.

Consider a New Printer

If your printer is consistently making a mess of contracts and letters, it may be time to invest in a new one. You’re wasting both time and resources if you have to run the same document through your printer more than once, making a new machine a smart investment. When choosing an updated model, look at its energy usage and efficiency ratings to make sure you’re getting the most out of your money.

Multifunction office printers are the best choice in such cases as they can be used not only as a copier but also as a scanner and fax machine so you will be able to perform more functions at your office with a single printer. These printers reduce office costs, they require less space than having separate devices. You will not need extra space in your office since they are smaller and more effective than the traditional ones. Therefore multifunction printers are a better choice for businesses that want to consolidate assets, reduce costs and improve workflow.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

While your current printing set-up might work for one thing, you won’t be able to print everything in the same way. For example, internal communications might be set to print as drafts, but this wouldn’t be appropriate for a client contract. Equally, posters and business cards require extra attention, especially if they include photographs. You might need two types of paper or maybe even two printers to suit different printing needs.

Stop Waste

With more and more people becoming environmentally aware, you’d be surprised at how many customers feel annoyed when receiving too many marketing letters through the post. Make sure you’re offering paperless communication options and sending only the most important letters through the post.

Cutting down on waste within the office is important too. Many employees might be printing unnecessarily, or even using printers for personal use. Implementing rules surrounding printer usage can help staff to be more sensible.

Outsource

If you have a special printing project coming up, then it could be a good idea to outsource. Whether that’s because your prints are going to be larger than normal or you’ll be needing thousands, there are lots of companies that can meet your needs on a one-off basis.

There are even dropshipping companies that will print your products on demand if you’re starting to sell cards or posters. This saves you from printing out hundreds of copies and being unable to sell them. With a print-on-demand service, you’ll only have expenses for the products customers have actually purchased.