Copier or Multifunction Device… Which is Right for Your Business?

If it’s time to replace your aging copier, you’re in luck! Today you have options. You can stick with an updated version of your standard copier, or opt to upgrade to a multifunction device or MFP. Both are standard equipment in today’s workplace. The terms used to describe them and how they function while treated interchangeably are completely different.

Both can produce copies quickly, and both user tone, but the similarities end there.

In this post, we’re going to compare the standard copier and the MFP to help you make a better-informed decision when it’s time to upgrade!

• Functionality – A copier has but one task, which it does well… it makes copies. A multifunction device also makes copies, and it scans, prints, faxes, and performs other tasks. Most MFPs offer both monochrome and color output. Depending on the device, both can produce high-quality output.

• Speed – Copiers in general have a faster ppm output than MFPs. However, for short runs, there is little difference in speed. If you’re making 1,000 copies of a single document, the copier wins in terms of speed. However, for most day-to-day stuff the difference is negligible.

• User Friendly – When first released, MFPs were bulky, complex, and difficult to operate. In the years that followed, they have become progressively more user-friendly. Today, most are designed with the end-user in mind and operate with the touch of a single button.

• Market Saturation – With the number of tasks an MFP can do, more businesses are moving away from the copier. Copiers are best kept if you produce large runs. Today as we move to a greener world with digitization, digital marketing, and reduced use of consumables, the MFP is replacing the copier in many offices.

• Device Size – Like most technology today, MFPs are shrinking. Today, models are available that are small enough to sit on a desktop, and light enough to move wherever it’s needed. However as a general rule, the higher the output, the larger the device.

So… Copier or MFP?

Will your office need the ability to make hundreds of copies over the course of a week, on a regular basis? A copier could be right for you. Have the need for copies, prints and to fax? An MFP might just fit the bill. If you’re still not sure what to do or have questions, give us a call! We can answer your questions and are always ready to help.