| Printer Functionality | | | | designed to withstand the constant, often |
| The first obvious advantage of the multifunction printer | | | | heavy-handed and varied usage that will be typically |
| or multifunctional device (MFD) as it's often known, is | | | | thrown in the direction of an MFP/MFD. Depending on |
| functionality - the impressive range of capabilities that | | | | the size and price of the machine you're choosing, |
| most MFP's/ MFD's will be able to offer. Typically, an | | | | MFP duty cycles will usually beat or at least equal |
| MFP will provide you with photocopying, network | | | | those of most office printers and will certainly put the |
| printing, scanning, faxing, and all usually colour printing | | | | average desktop printer to shame. As robust as they |
| and copying capability too. And today, most MFP's are | | | | are, MFP's/MFD's will need less attention and your |
| usually internet and network ready, so they can be | | | | company downtime could be cut considerably, even |
| quickly, simply and seamlessly integrated into your | | | | when compared with your existing single function |
| existing office systems and workflows. | | | | office devices. And unlike a range of various single |
| | | | function office devices, running just one multifunction |
| Most offices that install an Multifunction Printer (MFP) | | | | printer at any one time, means your chances of seeing |
| will find they save on a lot of space. Often smaller | | | | an engineer and the associated bills are on average |
| businesses would simply have done without the high | | | | much lower, replacing the three potential fault risks with |
| level of functionality a multifunctional device affords, | | | | just one. |
| thinking they had to choose between whichever single | | | | Reduce Page Cost |
| function machines were available to them, based on | | | | By replacing your usual desktop/office printer with a |
| their business priorities and the limited amount of space. | | | | multifunction printer, you can usually make significant |
| Thankfully, today's MFP's, along with offering ever | | | | savings. The lower initial outlay for most office, |
| increasing levels of functionality are becoming more | | | | desktop printers can make them very much more |
| and more compact. While a multifunctional device | | | | attractive when compared with a multifunction printer. |
| printer is still typically larger than a standard office | | | | However, the day-by-day running costs of a desktop |
| printer, in terms of what an MFD/MFP offers for its | | | | printer could be considerably more. Toner/ink |
| size, that's the performance to size ratio, it obviously | | | | cartridges can be very expensive, sometimes as |
| compares very favourably with a standard office | | | | much as £50, and often require disappointingly |
| desktop printer. For larger office set-ups, many will find | | | | regular replacement. If you buy or lease an |
| a new MFP will out-perform their separate single | | | | multifunction printer, you can make a significant |
| function devices on those individual functions. The new, | | | | reduction on your printing costs. Firstly you can usually |
| Canon ImageRunner Advance multifunction printer, for | | | | opt for a service/support agreement where the MFD |
| instance, will copy and print at a staggering rate of up | | | | will be completely maintained and repaired fro a fixed |
| to 70 PPM. Considering a lot of offices will be | | | | cost per print copy. And all parts, toner and labour can |
| under-utilising their existing devices, combining functions, | | | | be included. Printing this way, the total cost to print will |
| with an MFP that performs well across the range of | | | | normally be around 25% of what the cost to print to a |
| capabilities, could be an ideal, space-saving solution. | | | | workgroup would be, so savings on your consumables |
| Reliability | | | | could be substantial. Many organisations are now |
| Multifunction printers are heavy-duty machines that are | | | | making significant savings by printing to an MFP rather |
| built to last. A standard office/desktop printer is not | | | | than a workgroup printer. |
