Print and scan are still important for hybrid workers, and many want a multifunctional printer for this – although what they want in that needs to be carefully considered, which resellers need to be alive to.
Hybrid working is well established in many businesses, but the expectation is that they can work as efficiently as in the office when they are elsewhere, and printing and scanning are vital parts of this. Understandably, some businesses are looking to multifunctional printers (MFPs) to enable workers to work to their best abilities.
Tony Ko, vice president of hardware and business solutions at Katun, says that demand for MFPs remains strong among businesses with hybrid workers. though purchasing patterns have shifted. “Offices continue to use MFPs for collaboration and document management, but companies are also investing in more compact, secure, cloud-enabled models for home or satellite setups,” he adds. “These devices support mobile printing, remote management, and cloud workflows, key features for maintaining productivity and security in hybrid environments.”
Ian Fox, Xerox channel solutions and services specialist, agrees that demand for MFPs remains robust among businesses with hybrid workers. “There is a growing trend of businesses equipping their hybrid workers with MFPs for home offices,” he says. “This shift ensures that employees have access to essential printing, scanning and copying functionalities regardless of their location, thereby maintaining productivity and efficiency.”
Cameron Mitchell, head of indirect sales at Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK, notes that the continuing evolution of hybrid working means that customers are reviewing their print requirements and contracts to ensure they better suit new ways of working. “Hybrid working isn’t just home or a designated office,” he explains. “In fact, many of our customers have multiple sites and want their employees to have the freedom to work – including the ability to print and scan – from wherever they choose. This means right-sizing the print fleet, to have the appropriate number of the right devices in the most useful locations.”
Customer priorities
But when customers are looking for MFPs, they have certain priorities in terms of the functionality they want.
“Customers are looking for MFPs that are easy to use, dependable, and low maintenance – tools that simplify daily tasks and integrate seamlessly into existing systems,” says Tony.
“Sustainability is also top of mind, with continued interest in energy-efficient, eco-friendly features that reduce environmental impact and operating costs. Security remains a critical priority as well, with strong demand for protections like secure print release and data encryption. Ultimately, buyers want simplicity, efficiency, sustainability and peace of mind.”
Ian adds that organisations are increasingly prioritising robust security features to protect sensitive information. “Other key requirements include remote management capabilities, wireless connectivity and mobile printing,” he says. “Additionally, ease of use and integration with cloud services are critical, as they enable seamless document management and collaboration among remote and office-based employees.”
Cameron agrees that the ability for hybrid workers to print and scan irrespective of their work location is one of the top priorities. “Naturally, this is driving the shift to cloud print solutions that can meet these requirements in a secure and compliant way, whilst simplifying the overall approach to print management,” he says.
Size matters
But with hybrid workers, size is often a factor when choosing a printer as their workspace may have a limited area. “Size is a significant factor when businesses decide which printer to invest in, especially for home offices,” says Ian. “Compact and space-saving designs are highly sought after, as they fit more easily into home office environments without compromising on functionality.
“However, these need to offer a balance between a small footprint and high performance, ensuring that employees can work efficiently and securely without needing a large, dedicated space for their printing equipment.”
Tony adds that businesses seek compact models that are easy to set up, quiet, and capable of reliable printing, scanning and secure workflows. “A smaller footprint is also a consideration,” he says. “The goal is to balance performance and practicality without sacrificing essential features in a home environment.”
Reseller conversations
When talking to customers about the option of purchasing MFPs for hybrid workers, there are various facets they should highlight.
“Resellers should focus on how MFPs make work easier, no matter where employees are located,” says Tony. “Highlight simple setup, ease of use, and reliability, whether the device is in a busy office or a home workspace. Talk about features like cloud integration, mobile printing, and remote access that keep teams connected. And don’t forget security and sustainability – both are top priorities for today’s flexible, future-focused businesses.”
Ian says that resellers should emphasise the flexibility and convenience these devices offer. “Highlighting features such as remote management, mobile printing, and cloud integration can demonstrate how MFPs help support a hybrid work model,” he says. “Resellers should also focus on the importance of security features that protect data across various locations and devices.
“Upsell opportunities are also available, the inclusion of our Workplace Cloud Software, complete with its Home Worker Print Tracker functionality allow print activity to be reported on and the delegate print capability of XWC allows office-based users to release print jobs that have been submitted by their remote working colleagues.”
But Cameron notes that not every customer is returning to the office and some never left in the first place. “We see that the situation is very different by sector and individual organisation,” he says. “It is important to take the time to understand each customer’s specific challenges and future requirements. Do they plan to implement hybrid working or return to the office? If so, what do they want that to look like?
“It is a great opportunity for resellers to propose cloud print solutions and a right-sized print fleet, as part of a flexible managed print service contract.”
Future
Commentators expect demand for MFPs will be maintained over the next 12-24 months. Ian says that Xerox anticipate demand for MFPs will driven by the continued prevalence of hybrid work models. “Even as more employees return to the office, the need for versatile and efficient printing solutions will persist,” he says. “Businesses will continue to invest in MFPs that support both in-office and remote work, ensuring that their workforce remains productive and connected regardless of their working location. By understanding these trends and priorities, Xerox resellers are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of businesses in the hybrid work era.”
Tony adds that businesses are focused on finding solutions that work and simplify their daily tasks. “They want devices that are easy to set up, simple to use and reliable,” he says. “Features like mobile and cloud connectivity matter more than ever, along with responsive support that helps keep everything running smoothly.”
Cameron notes that post-COVID new ways of working resulted in a lot of uncertainty and unknowns for the print market. “While the office print market recently returned to pre-COVID levels, the whole market landscape has changed, with newly emerged trends,” he says.
“In the next one to two years, we will see ageing print infrastructure that has been extended due to these unknowns being replaced by a powerful combination of right-sized mixed fleets and cloud services. This new approach to print will make it easy for authorised personnel to complete their tasks whenever and wherever they are through secure and compliant technology and platforms, while providing the organisation with greater control over how print is managed, administered and costed.”
