Print is always going to be essential to organizations. Many businesses utilize printers and copiers in their everyday workflows. However, purchasing a printer for your organization has plenty of factors to consider.
One of the most crucial parts of purchasing a printer or copier is deciding when the best time to do so is. Usherwood Office Technology specializes in print services and assisting with providing our clients valuable equipment for their business. Today, we'll discuss the best time to purchase a printer for your business.
Planning for Your Business Printing Needs
The best time to purchase a new printer for your business would be shortly before your current contract’s service agreement or warranty ends. In short, three to four months before you would need it. However, there's planning and a bit of strategy required before jumping ahead to purchasing. You could purchase a primary home printer at a local Staples or office supplies store off the shelf, but those printers are typically for home offices or places where there’s minimum print operations.
Still, for a company or organization, you need to ensure the printer you choose is the best for your business' needs and arrives in time for when it’s needed. Your equipment could take five to six weeks to be delivered, so planning ahead with the expectation it could take a few months for arrival and installation is the best way to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Conducting Your Research
When selecting a printer or copying machine for your business, there are various factors to consider. One of these factors is your budget and what you're willing to spend. Would purchasing or leasing be the best option for your business finances? Choosing whether to go all out and buy a device to own or to lease a machine is an important decision. In our article, "Leasing vs. Purchasing Copiers; Which is Right for your Business?" we break down helpful tips for differentiating between the two options for your business.
However, other factors to consider include:
- What brand you're most interested in or what is most compatible with your other office devices.
- What functions are essential for the equipment to perform.
- How sensitive or vulnerable your company information is.
- How frequently you expect it to be used.
Finding the Right Business Printing Service
Figuring out what company will be your provider will also be crucial. Shopping around at local vendors in the area and reaching out to various providers to showcase what equipment they offer will give you multiple options. Special deals may be available through a specific vendor for you to take advantage of. Whichever provider you go with to purchase the equipment will be the one who helps deliver it and ideally provide you with maintenance and support.
Scheduling Delivery and Printer Installation
Scheduling ahead is always the best way to stay organized and on top of everything. Ideally, you should start planning and conducting all your research for your new device at the earliest of six months before, or at the latest, three months in advance. A large majority of this is due to the time it may require to have your new device physically delivered and installed in your business.
You want to have wiggle room. After all, you will also have to figure out the scheduling of removing your older equipment, if you have any. You want to ensure your business doesn't have a layover period without your needed print or copy equipment, and receive your device right before it's required. Any hiccups or stalling could hurt your productivity and workflows, so scheduling your delivery and installation ahead is the best way to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Ensuring You Have IT Support
As your business uses the printer/copier you've chosen, maintenance and upkeep are necessary to prolong the device's longevity to ensure your money's worth and efficiency. Hopefully, the business printing service provider you've selected will regularly follow up with your business regarding maintenance, upgrades, security, and even advice if a better solution comes along for your print/copy needs.
Ready to Purchase a New Printer For Your Business?
Usherwood has been in the print business for nearly fifty years and is equipped with a team of experts for all your print and copy needs. We specialize in the intricacies of print from a sales perspective and from a feature analysis viewpoint to find what's most beneficial to our clients.
Usherwood knows all the latest intelligent, secure, and quality equipment in the industry and wants to ensure our clients are equipped with the best fit for their business and daily work needs. If your business is searching for a new and efficient print or copier, Usherwood Office Technology can be your advisor and supplier.
