A reliable, quality printing network is a necessity in every office environment, where paper invoices, office communications and records need to be scanned, printed, faxed and filed. When it comes time to replace or upgrade your printers, there are many things to consider, such as the features, functionality, operating cost, performance and speed of your new equipment, and how it can benefit your organization, but don’t forget to include one of the most commonly overlooked, yet integral aspects of your acquisition: print drivers.
What Are Print Drivers?
A standalone printer may not require a driver to work, but an entire printing network, or any unit that is connected to a computer, needs print drivers to facilitate communications between the operating system and the printer, in order to maximize the potential and functionality of the unit.
In the case of an office running several different makes and models of printers, this can result in multiple print drivers, which poses its own unique set of challenges to both IT personnel and the end users. The solution? Interactive drivers that make desktop printing and faxing a breeze, helping to increase productivity and reduce end user frustration.
Food For Thought
Here are some questions to consider before you invest in a new printer:
• Will the print driver support any green initiatives? An example of this would be reducing paper consumption by implementing double-sided only printing.
• Can default settings be activated from within the print driver? Knowing that common applications such as PDF files or PowerPoint can be set to automatically print black and white or double-sided print.
• Can the print driver implement end user restrictions? This would allow control over print volumes and restrictions at the desktop level.
• Can the driver display the job status on the end user’s desktop? End users would be able to view the status of their print job and know when it’s completed.
Keeping control over your print budget is a necessity in an age of economic uncertainty; before spending money on a new printer, or Managed Print Services (MPS), consider all your options. Be sure the print driver you select is user friendly and easy to install; you may be surprised at just how much the right printer and driver can help your business to succeed, increasing both productivity, and your bottom line.
To find out how much your business is currently spending on print, click here for your free print assessment:
Leave a Reply