When sourcing a printer you have to consider what you will need the machine for. You have to ask yourself if the printer is for your personal use or for work purposes.

Your printer has to be functional as an all-in-one printer. All-in-one printers can scan, copy and print from different trays. Certain varieties can send faxes too.

Print resolution is what most people and companies want if detail is an important factor. One of the highest resolutions that you can get is about 4800 by 1200 DPI or dots per inch. This is an incredible number and often increases the value of the printer. Only inkjet printers can produce such high quality print jobs. If a company does not require high quality print jobs then a laser printer will be sufficient for basic printing needs.

Speed is important in a corporate environment. Usually when an employee prints documents they will need it immediately and quickly. Since there are many people in a corporate environment a fast and efficient printer would be necessary.

Operating system compatibility is necessary for the office that has more than one type of device running where some of them use different operating systems such as iOS, Linux, Windows and outdated versions of Windows. When considering a new printer ensure that you look at the specifications so that it is compatible with your laptop, smart phone or other device.

Wireless printing is another important factor during the decision-making process. Wireless printers usually have the capabilities to print quicker because not so many devices are connected to one machine. Plus not having to worry about laying out wires and cables makes the office a more efficient and neater place to work in.

Does your organisation do a lot of scanning and copying? It could become tiring having to feed the printer one document at a time for scanning. An automated scanning feature will help to save time and overloading yourself with unnecessary work.

The availability of ink cartridges will also need to be considered. Some printers can only use one type of ink cartridge which could become problematic if that specific ink becomes discontinued. You could stock up on ink cartridges to save on delivery expenses or you could opt for a pay-per-print solution where a printing company provides you with the printer and ink monthly, then when it needs to be replaced they take care of it. Then you don’t have to worry about certain parts becoming discontinued. Alternatively, if budget is an issue then you could opt for a refurbished printer with the features that you require.