MFPs FOR HYBRID WORKERS
Advantages There are various advantages for hybrid workers to using MFPs. For instance, as Deyon notes, there is the convenience of them. “MFPs consolidate multiple functions into one device,” he says. “They also offer flexibility as employees can print or scan remotely. MFPs also offer robust security features, crucial for remote printing.” Peter adds that with the right MFP, hybrid workers become productive, flexible and self-sufficient. “They are able to make snap decisions as circumstances change, they can make that urgent meeting and attend with high quality documents,” he says. “When the meeting is finished, they can securely scan completed documents directly to their PC, network, or email for efficient record keeping without the need to attend the office. “When teamed with [solutions like] Kyocera Cloud Print & Scan, our cloud native print management technology, remote users gain parity with office users as they gain the ability to print or scan from anywhere to any device in their organisation.” Kerry adds that MFPs allow hybrid workers to scan documents directly to cloud-based folders or applications. “This means that they are stored in the right location for them to be able to access wherever and whenever they need them,” she says. Trends With demand rising from some areas of the market, there are also certain trends among customers from what they want in an MFP. “The must haves for any MFP and hybrid worker are cloud capability for scanning, printing and retrieval and sharing of documents for effective collaboration and mobile friendly for seamless connection from wherever they may be working – this feature also enables those working from home to print directly to the office printer too,” says Deyon. He adds that it is also important that the MFP used in a home office supports the same software solutions employees are used to on the larger A3 devices they use in the office. Another trend is for colour printing. “Colour is a must for hybrid workers, as is ease of
use and high-quality document production is expected,” says Peter. “The functionality, reliability and business print quality delivered by laser print technology is driving them to be the preferred option for home working.” But the trends with MFPs are not all to do with hybrid workers. “The expectation with hybrid working
Toshiba e-STUDIO400AC series Feature-rich, mid-range A4 colour MFPs with advanced e-BRIDGE technology.
was that a greater requirement for home- based printing would prevail,” says Kerry. “However, in our experience, after the initial COVID panic, this has not been the case. We have seen that people align their printing and scanning timetable to when they go into the office. This means where organisations have done fleet consolidation, they have upgraded to feature rich and high quality A3 MFPs and added more A4 printers or MFPs to the fleet.”
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Demand for smaller A4 MFPs has increased significantly due to the rise of hybrid work arrangements.
Reseller conversations While MFPs are popular, there are
alternatives, so there are certain facets of them that resellers should be highlighting in conversations with customers. “When discussing MFPs for hybrid work, there are several key features to emphasise,” says Deyon. “For instance, there is security: address concerns about remote print security, highlight features like local and network authentication, data encryption, password access and data overwrite functions. Ensure both home and in-office devices have robust security measures. “Remember, having employees reach one machine for their entire print job reduces security vulnerabilities associated with multiple network connections.” Another feature to highlight is cloud capability, Deyon adds. “Cloud-enabled printers allow employees to print or scan from anywhere, supporting the flexibility of hybrid work,” he says. “Additionally, this feature enables remote workers to print directly to the office printer.” Also, the multi-function capacity should be talked up. “MFPs combine printing, copying, scanning and sometimes faxing in a single device,” says Deyon. “They save office space and streamline workflows by eliminating the
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Deyon Antoine product marketing manager
toshibatec.co.uk
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