3 justifications for restricting access to desktop inkjet printers

Desktop personal printers are easy to acquire because of their low purchase price and off-the-shelf availability. But if you haven’t included them in your print-related expense reports, you should be. Because desktop printers have relatively insignificant sticker prices, businesses often overlook them and instead focus on large acquisitions like large multifunction copiers and laser printers.

Here’s what those desktop units may really be costing your organization, and what steps you can take to correct print-related cost overruns.

A Managed Print Approach

A managed print assessment will begin with an inventory of your print devices and how you’re using them. Print Audit managed print software can provide details showing who is printing, and on which devices. The analysis will reveal if high-cost desktop printers are a source of printing inefficiencies and high volumes.

Here’s how these single-function devices may be driving up your company’s print-related expenditures.

1. Expensive inkjet cartridges. Printer ink is so expensive that its per-gallon price can reach as high price. Even though you’re unlikely to use gallons, the cost is still very high. And since inkjet printers go through 300% more ink than laser printers, their TCO is comparably very high.

2. Convenience printing. Easy access to desktop printers often leads to convenience printing; users may not hesitate to print unnecessary documents when a printer is within arm’s reach. A jaunt across the office to a centralized multifunction printer isn’t quite as convenient, so users may think twice before selecting PRINT.

3. Security issues. Consumer-grade desktop printers may not have the multi-layer security protocols you need to keep hackers from accessing your network. A Print Audit managed print assessment will alert your team to these and other print-related security weaknesses.