As much as companies today are working towards a “paperless” office, a recent study by InfoTrends indicates that office printing is here to stay for the foreseeable future. In surveying 750 general office workers in the US, the UK, Spain, and Brazil, InfoTrends discovered that 81 percent of respondents considered the printer the most important office tool—more than pens, staplers, or even computers!
Most printing today is done in “traditional” offices, such as business headquarters and branch offices. While 73 percent of survey respondents reported that they’re trying to rely less on printing, 80 percent of printed documents are required for the work to get done. Nearly half of the office workers surveyed print something every day, and 28 percent of that printed content is duplicate, printed in an effort to improve quality or replace a lost original.
While paper is still needed in the modern office, employees are witnessing a move toward higher-tech document processes—a shift that eliminates manual tasks and simplifies workflows. Forty percent of respondents said that less than a quarter of their business’ content is still on paper, and the survey found that only 60 percent of all print volume is required in today’s office. Yet even millennials, that youngest generation of office workers (ages 18-29), are keeping up the printing habit—even in a smartphone-centric world.
Print technology is adapting to the mobile trend, with companies working to understand technology habits and develop technology that works in concert with the way we work today. Many multifunction printers (MFPs) now offer mobile-friendly printing—from wireless networking to cloud printing and specialized apps. Some manufacturers are even developing portable wireless photo printers for use with smartphones.
The emotional connection we have with physical paper is real, and research is showing that reading on paper also improves comprehension and retention. For the foreseeable future, print will play an important role in today’s business environment due to digital format’s practical limitations. While printing isn’t going anywhere any time soon, it is evolving—especially as mobile-friendly printing is optimized. To streamline your document processes or to add mobile printing to your office, contact us today.
