Small and medium businesses are constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to improve productivity. However, small businesses can find it difficult to compete with their larger counterparts without making substantial financial investments. With constant technological advancements, many companies consider strong IT investment as crucial to improved business performance.

According to a recent Deloitte report[1], less than 10 percent of Australian companies are prepared for the future of business in a digital age. Although the productivity benefits of advanced technologies are indisputable, small businesses may find it hard to budget for such an investment. Addressing the cost benefits and consolidating hardware is a priority for many businesses from a capital expenses viewpoint.

Printing technology and capabilities are core to many businesses; however, if overlooked this important facet of business operations can become a drag on the bottom line. Today, printing solutions must keep up with the changing needs of the busy, remote and mobile office. SMEs need printing solutions which deliver functionality that assist in improving overall office efficiency through faster printing, multifunction capabilities, digital document transfer, cost-effectiveness, security and mobile printing.

The following steps are fundamental to ensuring that office printing technology is up-to-date to assist companies to save both money and time.

Revaluate your office technology

Office hardware such as computers, scanners, and printers become outdated in time. This makes it difficult to keep pace with and take advantage of the software, application and solutions advancements that have taken place. While putting up with old equipment might save money in the short-term, the opportunity cost of not enabling your staff with these benefits will cost businesses more in the long-term.

As computer technology continues to evolve, so too does printing technology. Like most technology, new launches typically offer more features for less money, all contained in a smaller footprint.  A challenge that most of the SMEs face is limited space and the last thing they want to buy is the large individual office machines such as printers, scanners or photocopiers. Having print infrastructure optimized and upgraded with all-in-one printers/scanners/copiers for the business is a great way to meet all the printing requirements while saving space in-house.  At the same time the new printing technology will enable you to stay ahead of the growing needs of your staff and your business.

Improve flexibility with mobile solutions

Interestingly, only 9 percent of Australian companies indicate that they were ready to handle the changes of a digital-age filled with automation and AI. In the face of growing customer expectations, companies need to do more in less time with limited resources. As such, one of the most effective ways to prepare for the digital age is by investing in mobile and wireless printing.

The annual Deloitte report found that 85 percent of Australian HR professionals claim their top priority is to create a better working experience for its employees. Mobile and wireless printing is an amazingly innovative technology that provides flexibility to your employees at work. It enables easy and quick access to printing facilities, turning digital files into full-colour prints, and scanning printed documents into digital files.  Numerous small to medium sized business have found the flexibility of mobile and wireless printing a huge competitive advantage in the workplace.

In this age of constantly evolving digital technology, investing in mobile and wireless printing is necessary for maintaining a smart and functional business. Wireless or mobile printing allows employees to connect to a printer simultaneously from anywhere, without having to worry about drivers, IP address, and network location. This type of flexibility underpins a mobile work office, which is a critical factor when supporting a competitive workplace.

As the workforce continues to evolve in the digital age, it’s imperative for SMEs to harness the latest innovations in order to maximise productivity and remain relevant. When it comes to printing technology, upgrading to the latest solutions can potentially reduce overhead costs, save space, and enable an improved workplace that supports mobile and flexible working conditions.

[1] https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/au/Documents/Economics/deloitte-au-economics-connected-small-businesses-google-051016.pdf