Mobile devices cut into printer sales

Printer sales are dropping in relation to the rise in tablet and smartphone use, according to a recent study by Gartner, The Ledger reported. The research firm predicts that global printer sales will drop by about $2.2 billion by 2014, and International Data recently reported that global printer shipments have dropped by about 26 percent during the third quarter of 2012. These changes mark an overall shift toward electronic devices, rather than paper, for both consumer use and in the enterprise.

This shift to paperless operations, at least for businesses, is enabled by high-quality document management solutions. With improved ways to handle information in a digital setting, companies don't need printers anymore, but rather the tools to disseminate that information to employees through their email, unified communications strategies and mobile devices.

According to The Ledger, printer companies have already been suffering, with lagging sales on printers, as well as ink and toner. Federico De Silva of Gartner told the news source that the market is declining and isn't likely to see a comeback.

Businesses looking to take advantage of the paperless revolution can begin moving away from printers and their related costs as well, and investing in a high-quality document management solution is the first step to ensuring it's done right.

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