No matter how much a business commits to paperless statements, they still have to print mountains of documents. Printers and copiers remain a staple in every office. They won’t be going away anytime soon.

Since you need a copier for your business needs, it’s essential to learn how modern copiers can impact your workplace. They are designed to work with workflows to improve performance metrics — even in areas you wouldn’t think to depend on a copier. When people spend less time dealing with physical documents, they have more time for other essential business ventures.

Modern Copiers Are All-in-One Devices

The best thing about modern copiers is that they are capable of more than just copying. They can print, scan, and almost serve as a digital assistant. It’s why they are often called multi-function printers (MFPs) instead of copiers. The full scope of additional features is vast, but there are a few you should pay close attention to.

  • Faxing: It was believed that digital solutions would render faxing obsolete, yet fax machines are still a prominent piece of office equipment. Faxing is less common than it used to be, but it comes up as the only viable communication method for specific scenarios. However, you don’t need a dedicated fax machine for niche use. Instead, get an all-in-one device that can easily handle faxing whenever necessary.
  • PDF Creation: One of the reasons faxing can be viewed as antiquated is because of digital document creation. Going digital is the key to paperless office work, and modern copiers have tools that can digitize documents. Instead of just imaging a document to make copies, the new machines have software that makes searchable, editable documents. These documents include PDFs or any other digital format that you want to use.
  • Document Management: The best copiers have quality-of-life features that save on labor costs and promote efficient workflow. These are features like stapling or hole punching. Documents aren’t just printed. They can be sorted, managed, and grouped through automated features on your copier. It’s easy to see how this saves employees a lot of time otherwise lost to busywork.

Modern Copiers Offer Wireless Printing

Wireless printing has been around for a while, but for many years it was an obstruction as often as it was a convenience. Wireless communication has come a long way, and digital handoffs are more accessible and automated than ever. On top of that, wireless printing comes with extra bonuses that should never be ignored.

  • Print From Wi-Fi: Every modern office has a network, and that network typically includes Wi-Fi. Any device on the network can quickly and easily print to your workstation with wireless features. This makes workflow faster and easier for everyone, and modern wireless features go far beyond the simplicity of queuing a print job. Wireless features can allow users to see the queue and plan around wait times. They can scan from the copier to a mobile device and access digitized documents stored in the copier. The list goes on, and every item on it empowered employees to work smarter and better.
  • Print From Anywhere: New copier features allow you to set up a copier domain and print from anywhere in the world. Employees in the field can still use the copier as needed. The feature works by setting up an email address for the copier. Documents emailed to that domain are printed. It’s worth noting that these features allow you to scan from anywhere too. A mobile app can use a phone’s camera to scan and deliver it to the printer.
  • Security: Wireless copiers typically have better digital security than their counterparts. They need it because they are networked, and their enhanced digital security helps to protect documents that have essential information. This can include financial records, customer contact information, and anything that could leave you liable in a data breach.

Modern Copiers Include Enhanced Features

Aside from the usual stuff, there are unique features you can find in a copier that may be exactly what your workplace needs. Some are straightforward, like printing capacity. Others are more niche. Regardless, it would help if you took the time to explore enhanced features. You might find something that becomes indispensable in your office.

  • High Output: When one copier handles printing for many jobs, having a high output machine makes a drastic difference. Pages per minute is the key metric, and the numbers can get high enough to serve incredible volumes of printing. That allows one copier to service more tasks and reduces the amount you have to spend on machinery.
  • Design Assistance: Enhanced features can include design software. This can help you create templates and elements that are pre-optimized for your printer. You can eliminate the frustration of cut margins and missing information due to digital conversion errors. Things like OCR can turn an image into a searchable document (PDF, RTF, etc.) that can be edited as desired.
  • Embedded Software Platforms: Embedded software comes with your copier. This software can replace expensive software packages you might otherwise use for document management. The embedded software allows for regular updates to the copier, and this translates into future-proofing your copier. The updates will enable it to take on new features and perform new tasks without being replaced.

A modern office copier can do such much for your workplace. Contact Golden Gate Office Solutions, and we can discuss your options in-depth. You’ll come to know which copiers can do the most work for the right price. Workplace productivity will benefit, and your printing frustrations will subside.