The Datamax Thinking Blog

In a world where attention spans shrink and visual expectations skyrocket, color printing has a new job: it has to compete with the screen. That’s exactly what Canon’s D² Exposure OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) print technology sets out to do.

Have you ever paused mid-scroll, not because of the message, but because of the colors? Maybe it was an advertisement that practically jumped off your screen or a high-end catalog that looked more like a gallery piece than a marketing asset. Color, when done right, doesn’t just catch your eye. It compels you to stay.

So how do you know when it’s time to move on? And how can you upgrade your copier without slowing everything down? Start by watching for these seven signs.

Replacing a copier can feel a lot like replacing a refrigerator.

It still works, for the most part. It hums along in the background. But maybe the ice maker stopped months ago. The temperature is inconsistent. You’ve had to reorganize the shelves just to make things fit. It’s not completely broken, but it’s no longer making life easier. It’s just not inconvenient enough to force the issue.

Leasing allows your organization to fully leverage the latest in business technology. But what kind of leverage do you have with a lease partner?

Replacing an aging fleet? Setting up a new office? Leasing can be a positive option. The value of technology lies in the ability to leverage it to its fullest – not simply by owning it. The decision to lease a copier can have a major impact on your day-to-day workflow, your team’s productivity, and even your bottom line.  But not all copier leases — or providers — are created equal.

These issues not only impact your day-to-day operations but also strain your working relationship with your vendor. 

It’s pretty simple. If it ain’t right, it ain’t right.

How can something standard and central to an ongoing copier partner relationship go terribly awry?Do you find sorting through invoices, with more questions than answers? Is your account manager fielding more issues with mystery charges than your actual fleet performance?  Inaccurate copier invoices are more than just a minor inconvenience: They cause headaches, waste time (YOUR time), and can disrupt budgets.

There likely won’t be an obvious indicator that it’s time to replace your trusted copier or printer. However, there will be signs.

If your office had one essential worker, it would be your Multifunction Printer/copier.

It works diligently and consistently, without much of a break. It also multi-tasks in unique ways, printing, copying, scanning, faxing, and finishing to help you complete workflows and custom print jobs every single day. Of course, from its initial unboxing to its final resting place in the boneyard (the area of a copier dealer's warehouse where it is eventually stripped for parts), your copier has a  certain life span.

The numbers detailed below will say a lot about the level of service you can expect (and subsequent downtime), capabilities in applying technology to your business needs, and frankly just how well they take care of their clients. 

It's always good to know your numbers.

When you lease or purchase your next copier or printer, you're likely entering into a long-term relationship with a provider; and not all copier companies are created equal.  Beneath conversations about speeds and feeds, lease details, onboarding logistics, and in some cases, gimmicks and slick advertising pitches, there are some hard numbers that cut through the fat and help you make the right decision.

How capable are you in controlling both users and devices, i.e. how well do you curb wasteful printing habits?

Printability is a common term in the realm of business. It’s simply the capability of a document to be printed to whatever desired format, style, or quality.

Print Ability? That calls for a deeper discussion. Print Ability is a term we’ve coined here to ask, simply, how smart and capable are you with handling your organization’s print behavior? Call it Print Management 101.