KYOCERA Document Solutions
Many organisations are seeing the benefits of mixing in-person (but socially distant) teamwork with the flexibility of remote work. This hybrid work environment allows for the employees to work from home (or anywhere) routinely, or to come into the office as required for co-located work.
Due to the acceleration of remote working and the shift towards a hybrid office model, businesses are assessing how their print needs are evolving. As your organisation changes and your new hybrid workspace evolves, there are certain printer features to look out for when you consider your next purchase. Let's explore:
Concerns about remote print security are not new, and they remain high on the agenda for the hybrid office. Unsurprisingly there are particular concerns about the security of information being printed on home devices. With remote work here for the long run, it's vital to set employees up with secure at home printing…Look out for security features such as:
It is not only home devices that require particular security features. Ensure you properly secure your in-office print environment as well with features like:
The demand for solutions that can effectively and efficiently scale to meet the needs of a hybrid office and provide the levels of availability expected for such a workforce are clear. Cloud capability is a must-have feature of any printer within the hybrid workspace so employees are able to print or scan from wherever they may be working, this feature also enables works at home to print directly to the office printer too.
With more remote working, it is expected that office space footprints will reduce. Possibly one of the best advantages of a multifunctional printer is the space savings granted by the device. Rather than needing space for a printer, photocopier, fax machine and scanner, the hybrid office can have the same functionality in just a single machine.
Companies require the freedom to print and scan using mobile devices like tablets and smartphones and to do so without the need to touch a shared device. Not only is this a convenient and time-saving feature, but touchless technology is also mitigating virus transmission risk. Features like pull-printing through smart-card authentication or even facial or voice recognition will assist the hybrid office remain and a safe and healthy place to work.
In the same vein, a device with an automatic document feeder (ADF) will reduce the amount of touching required. An ADF will allow a ream of paper to be put into the machine and which is then automatically fed through the device, allowing the user to print, scan or copy without manually placing in each page.
A hybrid work environment is based on productivity and efficiency, so it stands to reason that a printer with a high workload capacity is a necessity. Also, consider choosing a printing device with large print volume capability to avoid unnecessary touching and the follow-up sanitisation required.
The price tag on your printer isn't the only cost worth noting; the total cost of ownership (TCO) includes:
Low running costs will keep the hybrid office budget in check to ensure maximum profitability in uncertain times.