Multifunction printers, or MFPs, are pieces of hardware that combine the functions of a printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine. These tools sometimes went by the moniker “hydra” in their earlier iterations after the nine-headed snake that Hercules slew in classical myth. Small offices that seek to reduce the quantity of computer peripherals and other office technologies they need can use today’s MFPs.
Cost and Equipment Footprint
You’ll be amazed at how much space you can save by switching out three different gadgets for a single multifunction unit that only needs one electrical outlet, especially in a small office. You might be able to locate a device that will allow you to give your staff their own hardware within the price range of these gadgets, which starts at around $100 and goes up to $400 or more. Expect devices with greater capabilities, higher scanning resolutions, and improved output quality at increasing price points.
Charge Cycle
MFPs often focus on operations with lower hardware needs, unlike the large colour copiers whose multifunctional abilities these desktop devices imitate. For instance, less expensive devices frequently do not have an automatic document feeder, which makes it easier to scan documents with many pages. You can go through many ink cartridges to support high output requirements because many of these gadgets rely on inkjet mechanisms for their printing and copies. Last but not least, low volume MFPs won’t set any speed records, which could be a concern in a busy business.
Specifications
It would be difficult to purchase all three of its technologies as standalone hardware for the price of one MFP. However, you might not find it in an MFP if you require excellent performance from one or more of these features. To produce three-in-one designs at competitive pricing, manufacturers inevitably make trade-offs. You might discover that an MFP is inadequate for high-volume printing, scanning, or graphic arts scanning and that a standalone, single-purpose equipment is a better fit for your requirements.
Consumables
You only need to buy one set of consumables because an MFP uses one set of inks or toner to deliver the output of a combined printer and copier. You cannot, however, reduce your supplier expenses in half. In fact, you’re likely to put more demands on an MFP than you would on either of the output devices it replaces unless you rely extensively on documents that don’t require physical output, such as email messages, electronic invoicing in PDF format, and digital documentation.
Downtime
With MFPs, the advantage of combining capabilities is counterbalanced by the disadvantage of combining downtime. Your scanner and copier will also be lost if the printer on an MFP breaks down. You need a contingency plan to cover your bases in the event of downtime unless you’re willing to replace the entire unit if one of its functions fails, or live without all of the benefits it offers while the device is being serviced.
