For small businesses and startup enterprises who are debating the merits of outsourcing their commercial printer needs or investing for printing services for the long-term, there is a great deal to consider.
There can be little room to maneuver on a constrained budget as owners and managers have to decide if they can earn value for money on quality and quantity.
Much of these deciding influencers will come down to the niche of the industry, the client demands and future projections of the company.
Even in 2018 there remains a high demand for printed physical copies, whether they can standard A4 documents, reports, flyers, business cards, presentation boards, event notices or anything else that must be produced.
Here we will examine the merits of investing in a printer for your premises to bypass the need of outsourcing altogether.
Internal Knowledge and Expertise
The obvious downside that becomes evident when outsourcing duties to another party is that a role can become diluted as the expertise remains outside the parameters of the enterprise. The same principle applies with the running of a commercial printer as in-house operators are able to understand how to utilize the tool in an efficient manner, picking up on design techniques and catering the business requirements to the features offered by the printer. Commercial operations can enjoy a quick fix by leasing out some of their own duties, but for the long-term viability of the company, it is worthwhile educating staff on the advantages of using a printer on the premises.
Appreciation of Running Costs
The common saying “out of sight, out of mind” enters the equation when it comes to calculating the overall costs that are apparent with a commercial printer. Especially for outsourced partnerships that are budgeted over the span of weeks or months, managers and executives can run up a long list of individual printing projects before realizing that they have blown the budget. By having the item physically on location and examining how much ink and how many cartridges are used, then the financial department can begin to gauge the return on investment (ROI) of the product.
No Outsourcing Fees or Logistics Necessary
The continual need to pay up for leasing fees with a third party who provides your commercial printer needs can weigh down the budget. Then there is the logistical hassle and communicating with an external source regarding what you need and exchanging messages before a timeline is issued. That back and forth is a drain on human resources during precious business hours, an issue that becomes obsolete when investing in an in-house product.
Speed and Precision of Unique Printing Projects
There will be moments for a business when a printing project has to be carried out within minutes, a scenario that creates additional problems and pressures for brands outsourcing their commercial printer needs. That turnaround time is negated when the printer is on location as designers and marketers can whip up a draft copy or issue items for the staff to read over in due course.
Security and Insurance Measures Covered
Given that your in-house commercial printer will be running and kept on the premises, this product suddenly turns into a major asset for your organisation. Much like a high powered desktop, a vehicle or another valuable piece of equipment that the business must utilise each and every day, there will be security features and insurance measures that must be introduced.
In an age of digital printing, this is data that can be hacked, a threat that is out of your control if the printing is left to an outsourced third party. By covering the product with comprehensive insurance and syncing the machine in line with a digital security framework, outside influencers will have little chance to compromise your material.