Depending on your age, you might remember sitting in your office or at a computer lab in Uni listening to the hum of the dot matrix printer spitting out documents. In the late 80s and early 90s, these printers were considered the next best thing in office equipment. While the only functionality they had was to print documents, having these printers at your disposal was seen as game-changer. However, printer technology has come along way in the last number of years and these simple printers have essentially become obsolete.

With modern technology, printers have evolved to the point that the thought of a printer only printing is laughable. Printers now offer users incredible functionality, being printers, copiers, fax machines and more. You can print from remote locations, send documents from anywhere in the office building and with the right printer choice, you can even save money and lower the carbon footprint of your office. Printing technology has improved dramatically in the last number of years and it’s always a good idea to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements.

Let’s take a look at how printing technology has evolved and why it is important to pay attention to the most recent changes.

Eco-friendly Options

One of the best innovations in recent years for both businesses and individuals is eco-friendly printing. These printers can save you quite a bit of money on printer supplies. In business, there are printers available that can print thousands of documents on just one cartridge a year, and while these industrial strength printers can be expensive, they can reduce your business costs significantly over time. There is also a range of eco-friendly home office printers available that use less ink per document and print more efficiently which will save you money on ink over time.  

Multi-Functionality

The range of tasks that newer models can handle is quite staggering, changing the role printers play both at home and in the office. Printers can scan and copy, they can print double-sided documents, special printers can print in 3D, and, of course, you can print in a choice of both colour and black and white. Printers can email documents to people and some models come with faxing functionality, even though this is also becoming out-dated with all of the new technologies available. As our business and personal needs have grown over time printing technology has continued to meet the demand.

Wireless Printing

Newer printers allow for wireless printing that gives users the opportunity to print from any location as long as they have are connected to the network, either remotely or locally. This is great for a number of reasons, as you can easily pull up a document from your phone, laptop or tablet and print from virtually anywhere. University students who need copies of assignments and professionals who need documents in a hurry no longer have to wait to go to school or to the office to print, as they can send the printing job from wherever they are.

The Importance Of The Printing Evolution

With all of the functionality that modern printers provide, along with the ease of use and convenience they offer, they can help to make our lives easier in many regards. For offices, the convenience of wireless printing, being able to easily share documents and being sure of quality prints is crucial. The cost-savings that both home and office users can expect from modern and efficient printing technology is welcomed, making printing more accessible to everyone. Finally, having the ability to use one device for multiple tasks allows administrative tasks both at home and in the office to be completed with ease. Keeping up with these advancements in printing technology will allow you to choose the right printer for your needs.