Determining when the time is right to update your office technology isn’t always black and white. We depend on business technology to be there when we need it, to help us accomplish tasks and to make our jobs easier.

If you find your wide format printer coming up short in any of these areas, it may be time to evaluate your options. To help you navigate any grey areas, I’ve compiled six wide format printer problems where the simplest fix is replacement.

1. Drivers and Your New Operating System Don’t Mesh

A new operating system is supposed to make life easier for employees, but outdated devices don’t always comply. When old hardware cannot communicate effectively with the new system, it marks everyone's day with errors, crashes and frustration. If IT has recently launched a new operating system in the office, updating your wide format printers can prevent productivity delays, computer crashes and upset employees.

2. Your Wide Format Printer Cannot Meet Business Needs

Maybe your business has grown and you wish your wide format printer operated faster and produced higher quality printouts. Or, maybe there's been a shift within your industry and the new standards aren’t being met.

Some machines lack the features to quickly and efficiently produce quality prints. For example, does your current machine have a built-in cutter? How many rolls of paper can it support? Newer functions significantly improve print speed and workflow.

3. It’s Eight Years Old or Older

While use and maintenance determines its exact lifespan, the average inkjet printer lasts three years, and the average laser printer lasts five years. Wide format printers are built to withstand heavy usage, but any device beyond eight years may be nearing the end of useful life.

4. Ink & Print Heads Aren’t Readily Available

Over time, finding supplies required to properly operate your wide format printer becomes increasingly difficult. This can leave users feeling frustrated with a lack of options. Finding the proper replacement parts or supplies is easier with new wide format printers.

5. Printing Process is Time Consuming

Older wide format printers show their age in their print speed. If you can enjoy a cup of coffee before your printer finishes, it is definitely time for an upgrade. Perhaps that speed was sufficient when the machine was first purchased, but now it doesn't match the demands of your workplace. Some wide format printers have quicker start-up times, while others can take several minutes to go from dormant to printing.

6. It Makes Your Job Harder Instead of Easier

Last but not least, if wide format printing problems have been bubbling under the surface for a while, it may be time to upgrade. Always remember that business technology is meant to alleviate problems and pressures, not create more. When employees cannot get their jobs to print or have their devices crash during a project, it can result in wasted work hours and can potentially cost money.

These six signs should give you a good indication if it's time for a new wide format printer. Don’t let print issues make your business less efficient. Contact us for help choosing the right update to better your business.