Should we put printing aside or adapt it to new uses? Between connectivity, cybersecurity and sustainable solutions, companies like Xerox are proving that printers still have a role to play. Provided we don't use them as we used to.
There was a time when the printer sat proudly at the centre of the office, used for anything and everything, without much thought. Today, things have changed. Digital technology has taken over, teleworking has become widespread, and the environmental impact of businesses is under the microscope. As a result, printing has become a more considered act.
Companies no longer print in the same way they did ten years ago. Players such as Xerox, specialising in printing services, are developing smarter, more secure and more responsible solutions.
Printing in the digital age
It has often been said that the digital age will put printers out of business. But the reality is more nuanced. Today, printers can be connected to the cloud, integrated with companies' digital tools and even incorporate artificial intelligence. ‘To remain competitive, we need to offer complete solutions, just like smartphones and their applications,’ explains Jonas Dutreeuw, managing director of D&O Partners, one of the main Xerox dealers in Belgium.
The company has therefore developed a platform of applications dedicated to printers, with functions tailored to the needs of professionals: Scan-to-Microsoft 365 for direct transfer of documents to the cloud, electronic signature with DocuSign, automatic translation of documents into 44 languages, archiving and anonymisation of data to meet the requirements of the GDPR, etc.
Secure printing
As the world goes digital, data security has become a priority. ‘Xerox and HP are the two leaders in printing cybersecurity,’ says Jonas Dutreeuw. Thanks to partnerships with specialists in the field, Cisco and Trellix, Xerox has developed advanced security systems to prevent intrusions and control access.
The ‘Follow Me Printing’ principle, for example, means that a document can only be printed when the user identifies himself with a badge or smartphone. No more forgotten printouts on the printer, reducing both waste and the risk of information leaks.
Responsible printing: mission possible?
Is guilt-free printing still possible? Not quite so simple. ‘There's this preconceived idea that paper is more polluting than digital, but the servers that store and send PDFs consume an enormous amount of energy,’ points out the expert.
Today, several solutions exist to make printing more responsible: use of recycled and FSC-certified paper, reconditioned cartridges and recycling programmes, etc. The aim is not to print more, but to print better.
So, does the printer still have a place in the modern office? According to Xerox, the answer is yes, as long as they are no longer seen as a simple printing tool, but as an ally of digital transformation. Connected, secure and more responsible, printers are part of intelligent document management, helping to improve productivity and protect the environment.