The high cost of printing is often a frustrating inevitability of running a business. This cost can be especially difficult to account for because tracking printer usage is an inherently difficult task. Printer IDs are a common solution to this concern, however, there are both positives and negatives to their use.

Increased Tracking and Accountability

One of the struggles of tracking business costs is not being able to accurately track where your business’s money is going. By implementing printer ID’s, it becomes much easier to establish metrics that show printer usage by time, location, and employee. This allows business owners and managers to identify specific usage cases to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. Further, it allows specific employee performance to be monitored to reduce misuse or personal printing.

Higher Complexity and IT Costs

While the increased ability to track printer use is a large advantage of employee IDs for printers, there are also downsides in the form of complexity and up-front costs. By installing printer ID systems on your business’s printers, you are adding a layer of complexity to the network and printing system. Further, you are adding an additional step and cost to the onboarding process of any new employee. Depending on the IT capacity of your business, this may be a worthwhile cost, or it may be a misleading headache. If you have any questions about the implementation or operating expense of such a system, it is worthwhile to speak to an expert in printer services in Las Vegas.

Employee Moral Effects With Printer IDs

An often-overlooked aspect of printer IDs is their effect on employee morale. While it is possible to reduce costs by making employees accountable for their printing activity, this can also cause animosity to grow between employees and their employees. In extreme cases, this feeling of being over-managed can lead to a decrease in productivity, reducing the efficacy of the system overall.

When you are searching for managed print services Las Vegas options, you need to know that each print will look perfect. Printing companies must choose amazing ink and toner for each job. Clients need to know their colors will be vibrant. These steps help your print jobs look amazing no matter how complex they are.

How Do You Choose Ink and Toner?

You choose ink and toner based on the colors you use most. You can purchase basic colors, pastels, black, and white inks. However, you must choose colors that can be mixed or thinned to create the right color for each job. You must keep a large assortment of colors in the print shop so that you can replicate any color.

Can You Think Inks and Toners?

Paint thinner can be used to clean your shop or dilute colors. You can create unique colors for your customers with a mixture of paint thinners and inks. However, you must use the inks and toners that are appropriate for each machine.

Inks and Toner Will Vary

Ink and toner can be used in a standard printer, copier, or massive printing press. Toner cartridges are created for large machines, and inks are sold in loose cans. You can dilute or alter toner if you know what you are doing. However, you might prefer mixing ink before filling a custom cartridge.

You can buy ink or toner for your print shop based on the colors you use the most. You can ask the shop if they have the colors that you need, and you must review a test swatch of each color. You will learn how the ink or toner appears when it is dry, or you can test different shades of the same color before you begin printing.

Three Reasons to Choose a Third-Party Service Provider

In order to connect with clients, share information and get a host of daily tasks done, your office relies on its printing equipment. When there is a problem with a machine, whether it is a broken part or running out of toner, it can disrupt the flow of the day. Important projects have to wait while someone runs out and gets supplies or a service company can put you on their schedule. If you regularly require a copy machine repair in Las Vegas, you might consider working with a third-party service provider. Partnering with a managed services company can save you money and frustration.

Financial Savings and Easy Budgeting

When you work with a service provider, you will pay a monthly or annual fee, and they will take care of the maintenance of your office equipment. It becomes the service provider’s job to pay attention to your equipment. If your copier is running short on toner, an automatic toner replacement will soon be on its way. As your equipment ages, your service partner will replace worn parts before they fail. Often, these repairs are done at a reduced rate without the added cost of an emergency visit.

Convenient Service With a Single Call

When something does go wrong, you and your staff do not have to worry. With a single contact, a technician from your managed services provider will be on the way. The service company knows the history of your equipment and will have the parts necessary for the repair on hand.

Fewer Unanticipated Interruptions

When your office machines are well-maintained, they will not fail you in the moments when it matters most. You can schedule service calls when they are the least disruptive. You will have the supplies you need before you run out. Working with a managed office services provider will keep your office on task and on budget.

5 Things to Consider When Buying a New Copier

Thanks to technology, copy machines are more sophisticated than ever. If you are in the market for a new device, you will want to make sure it includes all the copier features you need. There are five key factors you must consider when buying a new copier.

Can It Be Upgraded?

Most of today’s devices come with a slew of standard copier features. However, you should learn whether it is capable of being upgraded at some point. This is important as your printing needs might change over time. A few notable upgrades may include encryption, larger output trays for high volume copying and even options for completing booklets and pamphlets.

Print Volume

Of course, print volume is an important aspect of a copy machine. The best copier for your needs should always be capable of higher output from the start. Check whether the device has a higher page per minute speed as well as that is best for large businesses.

Color Printing

Oddly, color printing is a copier feature that is often overlooked when choosing a new machine. In today’s world, color print is being produced more than ever due to its marketability capabilities. You should always ask whether a certain copier is capable of color printing.

Mobile Printing

Mobile printing is another feature that the best copier should include. In addition to easy copier repairs in Las Vegas, you will want to make sure your new machine can produce print directly from mobile devices. After all, more people than ever are using mobile devices for business.

Space Issues

Consider the amount of space you have available for a new copier. If you have a tiny home office, you might want to skip on a large, bulky copier and get one that’s smaller but just as efficient.

These are among the most important factors to consider when buying a new copier. Do your homework and you will find the best one for your needs.

Printer Giving You Error Codes? Here’s What to Do

Error codes are your printer’s way of telling you what went wrong. Most printer error codes are easy to troubleshoot, and the rest can be solved by a printer repair service. Keep reading for solutions to the most common printer malfunctions.

Jammed Paper, Low Ink, and Other Common Printer Error Codes

One of the most common error codes is 13, or “Paper Jam.” Open the tray and re-align your stack of paper. If you see a jammed piece of paper, gently pull it out before you try again.

Error number 16 refers to low toner. Your cartridge might be out of ink. Try taking out the cartridge and shaking it around to jostle leftover ink back into place.

Error code 14 means that your printer doesn’t have an ink cartridge or doesn’t recognize the cartridge you’ve installed. Check to see if you’ve removed the security tape and installed the cartridge correctly.

Finally, errors 20, 21, 24, and 25 all refer to your printer’s memory capacity. You may have sent your printer a job that was too large, or you could have sent too many jobs at once. Clear out your printer’s memory and make the document smaller before you try again.

Turn It Off and On Again

A surprising number of printer malfunctions can be solved by simply rebooting the machine. Most models can be turned off by holding down the power button. If that doesn’t work, you can always unplug your printer, wait a few minutes, and plug it back in again.

This simple troubleshooting method should fix software-related issues. It can also solve one-time problems related to the cooling fans or internal motors.

When to Contact a Printer Repair Service

Although basic printer troubleshooting can solve most error codes, there are some problems that only a professional can fix. If you keep seeing the same error code over and over again, you should call a company that provides printer services in Las Vegas. Write down your printer error code before you call and follow their instructions to resolve the issue.