Printing Trends in 2021
The beginning of a new year is a good time to consider the events of the previous year and plan for success in the year ahead. It’s no different in the world of printing. Let’s take this opportunity to consider the major recent advances in the printing industry and the key trends to watch out for in 2021.
Smart technology and the rise of the Connected Workplace
Print will continue to be critical to businesses in Australia and worldwide in 2021.
Printing will play an integral role in the realisation on the “Connected Workplace”. We won’t be restricted to just printing from our desktop computers in the office. We will be even more mobile, as we will be able to print directly from our mobile phones, tablets, smart watches and other devices, accessing data that is stored in the Cloud.
The increased implementation of the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy in business is one of the key drivers for growth in the market. One of the reasons that many organisations are promoting the BYOD policy is that it makes printing easier for employees and helps them to become more efficient. Employees spend less time printing as they can print directly from their mobile device that is configured with the printing device.
HP Colour LaserJet printer M277DW
Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in the demand for multifunction printers with wireless networking and WiFi Direct, such as the HP M283FDW Colour LaserJet printer pictured above. A Wi-Fi Direct connection between your mobile device and a Wi-Fi Direct compatible multi-function printer lets you print or scan using an NFC (Near Field Communications) app, without having to connect to a network or enter in any login details.
Printing technology becoming a bridge between paper and digital worlds
Manufacturers in the printing industry will be likely to focus their efforts this year on further improving their products in ways that help businesses to carry out document and business processes that facilitate seamless integration with digital services, such as mobile and Cloud technologies.
In the face of rapid change in printing technologies such as mobile and Cloud, both print and scanning technology is evolving to better meet the needs of customers which includes the necessity to integrate their digital and print activities.
Francis Thornhill, Product Marketing Manager at Canon Europe predicts that “in 2016, modern multifunction devices, document solutions and service providers will prove to be the critical links in helping businesses bridge the worlds of paper and digital efficiently and securely.
Eco friendly printing technology
We have witnessed an increase in demand for printers and printing consumables with environmentally friendly features over the last few years. Eco-friendly printing practices will continue to be a hot topic in 2022. We are likely to see more manufacturers releasing products with innovative new technology which reduces the environmental impact of our printing including printers, printer cartridges and even eco-friendly ink.
One great example of this trend within our product range is the Kyocera M5526MFP multifunction laser printer.
Kyocera M6625MFP multifunction laser printer
The M6625 has range of innovative functions, with an easy to operate touchscreen, cost-efficiencies provided by technology built into the multifunction printer by Kyocera and in particular the eco-friendly Ecosys technology which provides long life operating life, reduces your environmental footprint and cuts your printing costs.
The 3D printing revolution
The 3D print market is another key growth area in the industry with experts agreeing that the trend will continue its positive momentum into the future.
Whilst 3D printing is still not a very cost-effective option for small and medium sized businesses, experts predict that the dawn of affordable 3D printing is fast approaching. 3D printing will continue to grow in areas like the prototyping market, low-volume production runs (on very high-end machines), medical and aerospace. However, we still haven’t reached the point where the 3D printer is about to become an everyday household or office object.
We are very excited about what lies ahead for the printing world and will endeavour to keep you updated with industry news via the Tonerink blog, so stay tuned.