Accessibility, Environmental & Other Considerations
Few businesses today ignore environmental issues, and because of that, most manufacturers of copiers, printers and MFPs have taken steps to ensure that their products are “greener” than ever before. To help judge how devices can be used to lessen their environmental impact (and energy costs), BLI Environmental Test Reports review each tested device’s energy-saving features (such as energy consumption, productivity in duplex modes, warm-up time, certifications, etc.) and provide an analysis of how they compare to the competition.
You also might want to ask your dealer or OEM what happens to your old equipment after it’s been removed from your office. You can choose to recycle, remanufacture and recondition devices instead of simply throwing them into landfills.
Another consideration is the physical area where the printer, copier or MFP will be installed. In very humid climates, it might be necessary to keep a dehumidifier nearby to prevent moisture buildup in the paper and possibly the device itself. Excessive heat might also require extra air conditioning or ventilation.
Energy Star Compliance
You may want to consider products that are Energy Star-compliant to keep your electric usage low, and manufactured according to environmentally responsible processes (for example, RoHS compliance, or “Restriction of Hazardous Substances,” keeps numerous toxic chemicals out of the MFP).
Automatic sleep modes, toner-save modes and duplex printing, copying and fax reception reduce the amount of paper and toner you’ll use, and many manufacturers also offer toner cartridge recycling programs that make it simple (and often cheaper) to return spent cartridges instead of throwing them away. Noise might also be a factor to consider if the device is going to be installed within earshot of many workers. Read about more factors to consider when it comes to environmentally-friendly products.
Users with Disabilities
The phrase “environmental friendliness” takes on a different connotation to workers with physical disabilities. Manufacturers of copiers, printers and MFPs offer a varying range of options designed to make their devices easier to use by workers in wheelchairs, or those who are sight-impaired. These include tiltable control panels, accessibility handles for copier platens, Braille label kits, voice-guided remote operation software, and enlarged displays that are easier to read.
It might also be worth considering using a facilities management (FM) service, which can handle printing, copying, mailroom and other business support functions, leaving your employees free to concentrate on your core business. When you hire an FM provider, they can take complete ownership and responsibility for services, most often copy and mailroom services, and your responsibility ends at cutting a check every month. An FM agreement may include technology (for example, the FM agreement might include 100 walk-up copiers as well as several large workhorse devices) as well as supplies, servicing and support staff, and generally runs for several years. Learn more about outsourcing.
An increasingly common alternative is managed print services. Under this type of arrangement, the customer’s employees still do the copying and printing, but the service provider provides the service and supplies for the customer’s entire fleet and may also provide the hardware.