Some would argue that copy machine technology has been stagnant for a decade or more, but there are upcoming innovations that should shake things up.

How Copy Machines Are Becoming More User Friendly

Although computer technology continues to advance at an incredible rate, the same cannot be said for many business machines, such as copiers. Sure, the control panels are more sophisticated, but for the most part, what a copy machine service technician needs to know today is much the same as what he or she needed to know a decade ago.

Copy Machines Will Be Better at Self-Diagnosis

Many modern copiers do have some form of self-diagnosis on board, but that technology has remained relatively basic for a long time. Perhaps the motivation to advance it wasn’t there, but that’s changing now that 3D printing is playing such an integral role in many evolving industries. 3D printing isn’t the same as traditional printing services, but advances are bleeding over in a similar way that advances in NASCAR can make their way into production vehicles.

Printers Will Be Smarter

If smart printer isn’t already a marketing buzzword, it will be soon. Smart printers, like any other smart device that supports automation, will be able to monitor, analyze and adapt. Manufacturers are already introducing business machines that turn off at night, turn on and heat up in advance of employee arrival, go into a lower power state during non-peak periods and even phone home with diagnostics.

Printers Will Print Faster

Manufacturers are already introducing machines that can achieve 75 pages per minute and are affordable for the small business. Ten years ago, even most corporations didn’t have printers that could print this fast. This is just the beginning. Several recent breakthroughs in micronization will allow for home units that outclass best-in-class business machines from just a decade ago.

The Cloud Will Power Copiers

Imagine copiers that have little onboard processing but instead offload it to the cloud. Well, stop imagining because they’re already here. Even small units can process like they have the latest in onboard technology, and the cloud can process, diagnose and even self-correct faster than what you’re likely used to.