A multifunction gadget can be beneficial to businesses of all sizes and industries. However, we understand how difficult it may be to select the best one for your company’s specific operations, objectives, and goals.

Furthermore, not everyone understands what a multifunction printer is and instead refers to it as a “office copier,” “printer,” “photocopier,” and a variety of other titles.

In this post, we’ll define a multifunction printer and discuss six things to ask before purchasing an MFP for your organisation. By the end of this essay, your company will understand how to choose the best MFP for its needs.

What Is A Multifunction Device (MFD)?

A multifunction printer, often known as an MFD, is a device that can print, copy, scan, fax, sort, and email.

MFDs are great for printing several pages at once, binding, and sorting, but they’re also great for intensive document output.

Furthermore, if your company wants to go paperless, an MFD can successfully:

• Direct cloud printing;
• Search, store, and share documents.
• Documents should be routed for stapling and hole punching.

So, how do you know which type of MFD to buy? This will be determined by your company’s specific print requirements and ambitions.

6 Questions to Ask When Purchasing a New MFD

When looking for an appropriate gadget for your organisation, it is critical to know which questions to ask. There are numerous models to choose from.

Let’s look at six specific questions to ask your company before purchasing a new printing unit.

1) What’s My Business’s Print Volume?
Before selecting on whatever brand or style of equipment to purchase, it’s critical to determine how much your organisation prints each month. Why?

The technical specifications of your copier, such as print speed and service life, will be determined by the print volume of your firm. This knowledge can help you avoid wasting time and money on unneeded repairs in the future.

Speak with your preferred independent copier dealer or manufacturer to have them correctly examine your print environment and determine how much your company produces monthly.

Furthermore, most service agreements that accompany the purchase or leasing are based on a monthly allotment of a particular number of copies or prints.

Your independent copier dealer or manufacturer may be able to offer you with access to an online dashboard that allows you to keep track of the number of prints, print activity, supply status, and service history linked with each of your devices.

Take a look at the numbers below to see how print volume corresponds to a specific device:

Budget Business MFD

This device can produce 10,000 pages per month.

MFD for Mid-Range Business

This device can produce 15,000 to 75,000 pages per month.

MFD for High-End Business

This device produces 90,000 to 300,000 pages per month.

2) How Fast Should The MFD Be Able To Print?
When it comes to an MFD’s speed, the measurement used is known as printouts per minute (ppm). Your company must decide how many print tasks your office crew will do on a regular basis.

Consider this: the faster the device, the less time spent waiting for a print job to complete.

However, if your company just prints a few pages each day, you may not be concerned with how fast your MFD is.

However, imagine your company has multiple employees who print or copy over a thousand pages per day. In that instance, the printing delay can soon add up and produce issues.

Let’s have a look at the pages per minute for each MFD type. Keep in mind that the speeds listed below do not include double-sided printing, stapling, or sorting.

Budget Business MFD

This device is capable of producing 35 ppm.

MFD for Mid-Range Business

This device can produce between 35 and 60 ppm.

MFD for High-End Business

This device can produce 60 to 100 ppm or more.

3) Does My Organization Need A Color MFD?
It depends. Is your company a marketing firm that requires crucial colour features to ensure that each print job’s colour is precisely calibrated?

If you answered yes, you will need an MFD that can print in both colour and monochrome (black and white).

The same is true for any organisation that wants to make more aesthetically appealing prints and needs their printed colour to be precise.

Taking a proactive and honest approach to reviewing what your business prints and how it may improve will assist you in selecting the ideal equipment for your needs in the future.

4) What Size MFD Should My Business Get?
That’s an excellent question! We recommend that you make sure you have enough space for whatever size you’re looking for. It may appear to be a basic concept, but you’d be shocked how often it is neglected.

To perform properly, the MFD will require a spacious, orderly, and clean designated place. To open paper trays, remove paper jams, and reduce overheating, allow 20″ to 24″ of clearance room on either side of the unit.

An average clearance of at least 30″ is suggested for removing lengthy cartridges and toners.

Aside from that, the size of the MFD has no effect on how it works. The size is there to accommodate all of the functions included into the gadget.

As a result, making sure you have enough space to fit your gadget is critical.

5) How Much Is My Business Looking To Spend?
It is critical to assess your budget before making any investment.

A multifunction printer makes sense for a variety of organisations since it can copy, print, scan, fax, and print in colour. However, other businesses may be hesitant to commit to the cost of an MFD.

The cost of multifunction gadgets ranges from $2,000 to $35,000. Every gadget brand now has different price per device.

However, now that you know the pricing range, your company may evaluate whether or not it is feasible.

6) Should I Try The Device Before I Lease Or Buy?
The answer is unequivocally yes.

MFDs are a substantial investment. Now, if these gadgets are properly maintained and cared for, they can be used for many years.

However, before you choose a device, we recommend that you request an in-person demonstration of the printing device you desire to lease or purchase.

With the assistance of an expert, your team may practise using the device, finish a print job, and learn the various functionalities of the device during an in-person demonstration.

Whether you engage with an independent copier dealer or a manufacturer, be sure they can guide you through the tasks you will most likely perform on a daily basis with your MFD.

From there, your company can quickly comprehend and use the MFD functions that will fit your specific demands.