MFDs prove bright spot

Elongating sales cycles and shrinking IT budgets slowed down the printer market in 2008, hence vendors need to innovate and target untapped markets in order to grow, according to Express Computer.

According to Gartner, the total shipments in the overall printer market in India grew by 4% in 2008 as compared to 2007, and within the serial inkjet market, printer sales declined by 4%, while the flatbed MFDs grew by 7%.

Coming to the laser category, sales grew by 16%, while the A4 and A3 MFDs grew by a whopping 57% and 14% respectively, clearly indicating the increasing interest for multifunctional devices as compared to standalone printers and scanners.

Pitney Bowes Canada has unveiled its Managed Output Services (MOS), a new service aimed at helping clients design, implement and manage their digital imaging resources, according to CNW Group.

The service can save customers up to 30% of their annual document imaging budget, by lowering operating costs and making employees and equipment more efficient.

"More than ever, businesses are looking for ways to reduce the costs associated with printing and imaging. With Managed Output Services, companies will no longer need to spend time organising or maintaining their document imaging solutions,” says Deepak Chopra, President of Pitney Bowes Canada and Latin America.

With the economic situation forcing companies to save on operating expenses, HP is hoping to encourage local companies to consider solutions that could lower printing cost, reports Inquirer.net.

Calling it “Make It Count”, HP's solution involves upgrading an organisation's fleet of printers with energy-saving units.

HP Philippine printing and imaging division GM, Jenny Siquico, says local firms can save up to 50% in printing costs with this new solution.