What are your business printing needs?
To start off, we need to define your business printing needs - every business will use their devices differently, so by determining your needs, you’ll be able to decide which printer works best for your business.
Here are a few of the major things that businesses should be looking at when trying to determine which printer will work best for their needs:
Connectivity options for every office setting
Wired connections are simple, reliable, and effective
With modern printers, it’s easy to get lost in the world of wireless connections - most printers offer a wireless connectivity feature, but that doesn’t mean that your trusty wired connections are redundant. On the contrary, if the printer is likely to remain in one position, connected to the same device each day, a wired connection may be the most reliable option for your business!
When you’re looking for a wired printer, you’ll probably find that you’ll also get wireless connectivity included - you won’t have to use it and can leave it untouched, but you’ll have it there as an option should anyone else need to use the printer at all.
Wired printers will usually offer a range of connection options, but will generally always utilise a USB connection that makes it easy to hook up your laptop or desktop computer with minimum fuss.
Connecting your printer via WiFi
Of course, the wired option isn’t for everyone and that’s where wireless printers really do come into their own. With a wireless printer, you’re given much more freedom and flexibility when it comes to structuring your office layout - there will be no need for printers to be wired up to the computer that’s using them, so the printer can be placed away from the device.
In a busy office space, this makes it much easier to set up a printing station that’s away from the desk spaces. By removing this distraction, you’ll be ensuring that your staff can concentrate on their tasks away from the printing queue.
There are a few options for connecting your device to a printer without wires, but the most popular method is through the existing WiFi connection that your laptop or desktop computer will already be connected to.
WiFi printers will simply connect to the WiFi network and pair with computers that share the same WiFi - there’s no additional setup needed and you’ll be on your way to creating a streamlined wireless printing process for your office in no time!
AirPrint makes wireless printing easier than ever
When you’re looking for a wireless printer, you’ll begin to realise that WiFi printing is just the tip of the iceberg. Within the wireless printing umbrella, you’ll also encounter lots of different types of compatibility for native printing software integrated into the operating system of the device. This can be on either Android or Apple devices, with both platforms having their own different compatibility for wireless printing.
AirPrint is the native feature built into Apple devices and can be used with any printer that is compatible with this. AirPrint automatically connects with compatible printers and requires minimal set-up, helping users to start printing wirelessly in no time. You won’t even have to download any apps to print - it’s already built into your mobile phone or laptop from the moment you start using it!
Alternatively, Android users will be able to use very similar features using the Mopria Alliance application, which is available for all Android device users utilising the latest version of the OS. Mopria allows users to print with ease straight from their phones without the need for a tedious connection process, speeding up the process and eliminating obstacles that might be faced.
If you’re looking for an AirPrint printer, here’s our top brand:
The office printers sector is incredibly competitive, but there are a few brands that have managed to forge a reputation as the leaders in this space. These brands are those that are looking to integrate the freshest features that users are looking for right now, producing devices that are best-in-class.
The AirPrint feature, which is a native feature on Apple OS devices, is one such feature. Whether you're using iOS on your iPhone or Mac OS on a larger computer, you'll be able to seamlessly print from the device without having to go through a fiddly connection process. However, you will need to obtain the right printer in order to accomplish this, with only select printers featuring the AirPrint compatibility that’s required..
For office printers with AirPlay functionality, you should turn to Xerox first. In addition to its comprehensive office supplies lineup, Xerox also offers a wide range of printers that are perfect for all types of users. Xerox offers quality printing options that are both affordable and high-quality laser printers, from a brand that is dedicated to creating professional-quality products.
Xerox provides a number of laser printers with AirPlay compatibility that would be an excellent addition to an office environment, coming in at a variety of price points to suit any business type. There's no better option than a Xerox AirPrint printer when it comes to a quality printing device for your office.
Printing larger pages with an A3 printer
A3 printing is a very particular subject within the printing industry; you’ll be looking to produce prints that are more substantial in size, surpassing the capacity of the standard A4 printer that you may already own. This will mean that you need to invest in the best A3 printer for your needs, if you’re expecting to need to print in this size on a frequent basis. Modern printer manufacturers are always looking to meet customer demands, so you’ll find that most major brands offer A3 printers.
Despite A3 paper's dimensions of 16.5x11.7 inches, or 420x297mm, these printers can still maintain a minimal footprint for small offices where space is at a premium. With many businesses operating from smaller offices, this is a crucial factor that you’ll need to consider when you’re purchasing an A3 printer.
The main use of A3 printers is for photo-based prints, which would mean most users may prefer a colour printer, however, we do provide a wide range of mono A3 printers that can be used for professions such as architecture, construction, and engineering.
When you purchase an A3 printer, your toner use rate will likely increase as well, which is another factor you need to consider when calculating your costs. However, these printers can also be loaded with cartridges with higher toner capacity, allowing you to lower your overall cost over time, so your costs may not rise as high as you might initially think. Overall, we think that A3 printers can be an economical purchase for your office, provided that you have a regular demand for print-outs of this size.
If you are on the hunt for an affordable A3 printer for art prints, posters, and more, then be sure to check out the range on offer here at Printerland!
Here are a few brands to consider when buying an A3 printer:
When it comes to A3 printers for offices, Kyocera is a perfect choice
When you’re choosing an A3 printer, you’ll probably find the first decision you have to make is whether you’d prefer a laser printer or an inkjet printer.
If your chosen printer type is an A3 printer, we’d have to suggest HP as one of our brands of choice. Kyocera A3 laser printers are a fantastic option for the modern office, offering crisp, clear prints every single time. With a long-standing reputation in the technology industry, you can be sure that you’re getting the best level of quality in your devices when investing in a piece of Kyocera equipment.
Printing with A3 Kyocera laser printers provides users with the advantage of printing with colour-accurate toner cartridges to create vivid, realistic prints for posters, charts, graphs, and more. No matter whether you’ll be creating eye-catching prints and posters that you’ll be selling to customers or captivating informational graphics for use internally at your business, we’re sure that a colour A3 printer will help you to achieve your desired goals.
A3 printing with inkjet is made easy with Epson
On the other hand, you may decide that you’d prefer to opt for an inkjet printer for your A3 printing needs - inkjet printers utilise accurately placed dots of ink to recreate your designed pages. Modern inkjet printers are incredibly accurate and you’ll be able to choose between a few different tiers when it comes to dpi quality. Of course, you may need to spend a little more to achieve higher dpi prints, but the extra quality is sure to be a huge benefit that’s massively appreciated both internally and externally.
But which brand is best?
For us, it has to be an Epson when you’re looking for an A3 inkjet printer for the office - the A3 printing options with Epson are simply fantastic and help every business to create magnificent prints at an affordable price.
Epson has been a mainstay in the office supplies and printing industries for a number of years now, bringing new and improved devices that solve more solutions than ever before. By combining great prices, practical build, and high cycle levels, you can be confident that your printing needs are covered in the long term when you invest in an Epson device.
Business printing: What kind of solutions are available?
Cost-effective label printers
If you’re a business that frequently distributes items, it’s important to ensure that you have a tough, durable, and reliable label printer that can keep up with your requirements. You’ll likely be sending out parcels on a daily basis if you’re working in retail and distribution, so investing in a label printer could be one of the smartest moves that you make.
In any environment where a lot of labels need to be printed, from distribution offices and returns floors to warehouses where orders are picked, packed, and sent off to customers, Brother label printers are a no-brainer investment.
You can utilise Brother label printers with their basic, yet surprisingly straightforward plug-in app. You may customise your label with this software, including adding addresses, return addresses, postage stamp spaces, and much more. You won't need to install anything to use this platform; simply connect the printer to your device and you'll be prompted to run the programme right away! You'll be able to design and print your personalised labels in a matter of seconds from here.
Inkjet printers perform exceptionally in an office setting
If you’ve ever used a printer at home previously, you’ll probably have come across inkjet printers already. They’re the most popular type of printer on the market for home use, offering a range of features that are great for heavy-duty users and infrequent users alike. Combining high-quality delivery, accurate colour matching, and a price point that’s sure to fit your office budget, inkjet printers are one of the safest investments that you can make.
However, it must be noted that inkjet printers do have a few drawbacks that you’ll need to consider before making your investment. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t a fantastic addition to your office equipment setup, however - this simply means that there are a few quirks that you may find yourself working around when using an inkjet printer. If you’d like to compare the pros and cons of inkjet printers to see whether they’d make a good fit for your type of usage, read on below!
Inkjet printers: how do they work?
The biggest difference between an inkjet printer and a laser printer is the way that they deliver images onto the paper. The difference between these delivery methods is actually found in their names, too - an inkjet delivers lots of small jets of ink onto the paper, which results in the final image being apparent on the page. On the other hand, a laser printer does not use ink at all, instead, using toner cartridges that are delivered by laser technology - this marks the paper and creates colours on the page. By repeating this process many times in the blink of an eye, the printers recreate your desired printed image.
The small drops of ink are ejected by a nozzle found in the print head - from here, they hit the paper in the specific desired position, forming an image. You may be thinking “that’s a lot of droplets!”, but don’t worry - it doesn’t take long at all and the accuracy level is incredibly high, ensuring that you receive a top-quality print in a matter of seconds each time you use your inkjet printer. As an example, the average inkjet printer operating at 300 dpi will be capable of producing and applying 2,475 dots to the page per second. By doing this, the printer is able to maintain high output that doesn’t hinder your workplace productivity.
You'll get faster printing rates and more detailed images on the page if you utilise a 'drop on demand' technique to transport the ink to the page. Inkjet printers for business use two types of DOD, both of which act in similar ways and yield almost identical results, so there’s very little to choose between the two types of delivery. The two types of DOD delivery are 'piezoelectric DOD' and 'thermal DOD’, but you won’t have to worry about this too much as it shouldn’t have a big impact on your printing output.
The benefits of printing with an inkjet printer
First and foremost, inkjet printer prices are amazing - thanks to the large number of manufacturers making these machines, the cost of ownership has dropped to exceptionally low levels across the board. This means that any company should be able to find an affordable inkjet printer that is both effective and productive. Even the most unique premium inkjet printers can be obtained at reasonable prices, so if there was ever a time to make a significant investment in your workplace printing system, it's now.
However, it's not simply the price that makes inkjet printers so appealing. These printers are the most popular in the world because of their practicality and ease of use. The first setup of an inkjet printer is fairly straightforward; all you have to do is connect it in, load the cartridges, and run the initial calibration tests, and you're ready to print! Setting up an inkjet printer in your business is also not particularly technical, so you'll be able to relieve stress from your already overburdened IT support staff by doing it yourself.
Inkjet printers, unlike many other types of printers, can print on nearly any type of paper. Inkjet printers can generate high-quality prints on a number of paper types, including glossy paper, matte paper, and thick cardboard. This versatility makes them an excellent choice for individuals working in publishing or the arts, where you'll need to print in mono and colour while maintaining a high degree of quality.
Of course, there are drawbacks to inkjet printers that you should think about before making your final decision.
Are there any disadvantages of inkjet printers?
If you don't use your printer as much as you should, your cartridges may dry out faster than you planned. If this does happen, it can cause clogs inside your machine. This has been known to result in other, more serious, issues arising in your printing device - in some cases, this may lead to a full failure, but you should be able to avoid this issue by regularly utilising your printer.
Because inkjet printers use liquid ink, you must be extremely cautious while handling prints once they have been withdrawn from the printer. To avoid smudging the ink, make sure they're entirely dry before handling. If you contact the ink while it is still wet, the entire page may become unusable, resulting in additional waste and spending. Modern inkjet printers are much better at drying quickly, but handle your paper carefully when it first comes out of the printer to avoid damaging your prints.
What are the best laser printers for the office?
Laser printers are commonly thought to be ideal for use in offices since they can handle huge print jobs. It is simple to print large volumes without experiencing jams or other problems.
The best Laser printers are known for their fast printing speeds due to their use of laser technology. Most of the time, the printer completes the task before you arrive. It means that a laser printer saves you a large amount of time by executing the task quickly and efficiently. It is not only ideal for huge printing needs, but it is also suitable for office use due to its increased speed.
Laser printers are said to be the finest for producing high-quality text. No other printer, inkjet or otherwise, can produce such crisp prints. Laser printers are preferred because of their ability to print official papers like emails, invoices, and other paperwork. Furthermore, there are no smudges to be concerned about.
Laser printers are more dependable and long-lasting than inkjet printers. Unlike ink cartridges, toners used in laser printers do not evaporate or dry out. They're designed to survive for far longer periods of time. Toner yields can range from 1500 to 60000 pages, depending on the printer and how well it is maintained.
Monochrome printers are simple and practical
Simply put, monochrome printers print in black and white. They use a combination of toner or ink to create text, graphics, and images on paper.
Wireless monochrome printers are typically less expensive to purchase and operate than colour printers. They are also smaller and lighter, making them ideal for home or small office use.
There are two types of monochrome printers: laser and inkjet. Laser printers use a laser beam to fuse toner to the paper, while inkjet printers use tiny ink droplets to create images on the page.
Laser printers are generally faster and more reliable than inkjet printers. However, inkjet printers produce higher-quality prints and are better at printing photos.
Monochrome printers are most commonly used for printing text documents, graphics, and images. However, they can also be used for scanning and copying documents.
If you need a printer for your home or small office, a monochrome printer is a good option. They are affordable, reliable, and take up less space than colour printers.
If you need to print photos, however, you may want to consider a colour printer instead. Colour printers produce higher-quality prints and are better at printing photos than monochrome printers.
Here are a few of the areas where mono printers provide exceptional value to your business and your office spaces:
Cost
Monochrome printers are usually less expensive to buy and maintain than colour printers. As a result, they're a good budget-friendly solution for homes and small companies.
Space
Monochrome printers are also smaller and lighter than colour printers, which makes them perfect for use at home or in a small office.
Reliability
When you need to print hundreds of copies quickly, monochrome printers are faster and more reliable.
Quality
Laser printers create lower-quality prints than monochrome printers. They produce photographs, graphics, and images better than laser printers.
FAQs: Our experts answer your most frequently asked questions!
Can printers photocopy your documents?
Many modern office printers are equipped with multiple features as standard, allowing them to function as both printers are scanners when needed. By combining your scanner and printer into one handy device, you ensure that you’re minimising the footprint of the devices in your office, which in turn maximises the space available on desktops.
By reducing clutter, you’ll be creating an environment that helps your staff to concentrate effectively throughout the day, which boosts productivity in the long run.
You can check out the range of printers with built-in scanning capabilities right here on the Printerland website - we have a fantastic collection of combination printers and we’re sure there will be a device to suit your needs and budget! Or for a recommendation from our printer experts you can check out our pick of the best all-in-one laser printers.
Are office printers laser or inkjet?
Despite many articles stating that office printers must be laser or inkjet, both types of printers are actually fantastic fits in the modern office space.
Today’s range of printers in both the laser and inkjet categories boast a number of beneficial features that will enable users to produce excellent prints in the blink of an eye, without having to sacrifice quality at any stage.
In general, we’d say that offices with low usage should lean towards the side of the laser printer, as inkjet printers can become clogged up with ink when left inactive for long periods of time. It’s also usually more cost effective having laser printers for high usage locations as higher capacity toner cartridges are more efficient than small ink cartridges. Inkjet office printers can often be more suited to SMEs and home offices, so this is something to consider before you make your final decision.
We’re huge fans of both types of printers for use in office settings, so be sure to check out our collection of office printers here on our website!
Where should you put the printer in an office space?
Positioning the printer in the office is a crucial part of creating an environment that encourages productivity wherever possible. Having the printer in the wrong position can lead to disruptive noise in areas where people are attempting to work and can create queues of employees looking to collect their documents in zones where it quickly becomes crowded.
To optimise your office setup, the ideal place to position your printer is in an open space away from banks of desks - this gives the printer a designated place within the office that won’t cause disruption for those trying to continue working.
What are printers used for in an office?
Printers are very versatile pieces of equipment for the office that can be used to create a variety of different types of print-outs for your business. For some businesses, printers are a vital part of the administrative process - they’ll help you to create documents that record sales and other data, and help you to keep track of everything that’s happening at the business.
For other businesses, printing is a core part of the product range. Businesses that sell replica prints, original designs, cards, infographics, or even pamphlets and leaflets all need to be able to produce these products in a manner that’s quick, high in quality, and cost-effective in line with their pricing models.
What are the best printers for use with iPhones?
Mobile printing is something that’s becoming increasingly important for modern businesses. With many employees now handling much of their activity on mobile devices, compatibility for mobile printing is a huge advantage for an office printer.
In the case of iPhones, it’s AirPrint compatibility that you’ll be looking to utilise where possible; whilst standard wireless connections may work, the increased practicality and functionality that iOS AirPrint provides to iPhone and iPad users is second to none.
You won’t need to download an app to get started with AirPrint - simply connect to your compatible printer and away you go!
You can check out our range of AirPrint printers here!
What are the best office printers for A3 and A4?
When you’re looking to print in multiple sizes, perhaps for different types of documents or products, you need to ensure that you have a printer that’s capable of adjusting to these needs in a reactive manner.
Thankfully, many printers that are used for printing in A3 sizes are also capable of printing in many other smaller sizes too, including the popular A4 size that is used for most standard documents such as contracts and similar pieces of paperwork.
By investing in one of these versatile A3 colour laser printers, you’ll be ensuring that you can retain a degree of flexibility in your printing setup, helping you to create different types of print-outs should you ever need them.
"The Xerox VersaLink C400DN is a customer favourite with good reason. It offers great performance and economy. Shipped with 3,000 page black and 2,000 page CMY toners the C400DN allows users to print straight out of the box and with extra high capacity toners available it's easy to keep cost per page low. The ability to continue printing in mono even if the printer is out of colour toners is also a feature not to be underestimated."