OKI survey demonstrates how using office printers for personal use is making it “impossible” for businesses to manage print budgets.
OKI Systems (UK) unveiled an infographic based on the findings of a survey it conducted regarding the reasons for printing in an office, with the results suggesting that “a paperless future is a long way off” and “printing and paper still play a surprisingly important role in office life” due to a high proportion of employees printing personal documents using the office printer.
The infographic shows that 70 percent of employees featured in the survey print personal documents in the office, with nine percent admitting to using office equipment for personal use at least once a day. In terms of the reasons for printing personal documents at work, 37 percent of employees said it was due to the convenience, while 38 percent indicated it was due to them not having a printer at home.
Mobile printing is also covered by the infographic, with 24 percent of employees bringing their own mobile devices into the office and 45 percent of them printing from that device in the office.
Looking at businesses’ print management, 27 percent of those surveyed have a print management strategy in place with the aim of cutting paper and energy costs and reduce the impact on the environment, with the infographic suggesting that 30 percent of costs could be reduced by implementing such a strategy. On the other hand, 61 percent of businesses state that no one is responsible for turning off their office printers, which may show that more can be done by businesses to reduce energy use.
OKI’s Graham Lowes commented on the survey’s findings: “It’s clear that the blurring of home and office time, brought on by the rise in mobile working, is having an impact on an organisation’s printing needs. A managed document solutions provider such as OKI can offer the expertise needed to bring office printing into the 21st century, while making significant cost and energy savings.”
The Recycler reported in November that one in five businesses in a study conducted by information analysts AIIM admit that they have increased their paper use, despite 56 percent indicating that they have an environmental impact policy covering reduced paper use in place.