When budgets get tight, the printer is often the first to get the side-eye, and let’s be honest, it usually deserves it.
From ink and toner to paper and service calls, printing costs sneak up fast. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to shell out for a new device to start saving. In fact, most businesses can slash their printing expenses by up to 30% just by making smarter choices with the equipment they already own.
Here’s how to get started.
1. Set Double-Sided Printing as the Default
This simple tweak can instantly cut your paper usage in half. Configure your printers to automatically print on both sides of the page. It’s a small change that adds up to big savings, and fewer paper jams.
2. Limit Color Printing
Color prints look sharp, but they’re costly. Set color printing permissions to “as needed” or require user approval. Most internal documents are just fine in black and white, and your toner budget will appreciate the restraint.
3. Retire Unused or Inefficient Devices
That ancient printer collecting dust in the breakroom? It could be quietly draining your budget. Consolidate to reliable, shared devices in high-traffic areas. You’ll reduce maintenance calls, free up IT bandwidth, and keep things running smoother.
4. Use Hold Printing to Prevent Waste
With hold printing enabled, documents only print once the user is physically at the machine. That means fewer forgotten pages, more secure information, and a lot less paper clutter.
5. Track Usage for Smarter Decisions
With print management tools like PaperCut or uniFLOW, you can see who’s printing what and when. It’s not about finger-pointing, it’s about spotting patterns and making smarter decisions for your team and budget.
📌 Looking for visibility and control? Our Print Management Services give you insights to reduce waste and cut costs.
6. Shift Away from Personal Printers
Personal desktop printers may seem convenient, but they’re expensive to maintain and hard to monitor. Shared multifunction devices, centrally located, are more efficient and cost-effective, just make sure they’re easy for everyone to access.
7. Embrace Digital Alternatives
You don’t have to go paperless overnight, but switching to digital tools; PDFs, digital signatures, cloud collaboration, can significantly reduce your print volume. Less paper means less waste, more efficiency, and better security.
A Better Print Plan Starts Here
You don’t need new hardware to make a big impact. With a few thoughtful changes, your business can reduce printing costs, eliminate unnecessary waste, and create a more efficient workflow.
At Applied Innovation, we help organizations like yours streamline print environments through Managed Print Services, Print Management, and smart automation, no guesswork required.
Let’s Talk About Smarter Printing
Ready to cut costs without cutting corners? Let’s start the conversation. Our print experts are here to help you build a plan that works – no pressure, just real solutions.