Monochrome MFPs – Still Selling and Strong

In a 2012 IDC report on MFP placements in the U.S., the market research firm showed that monochrome MFP sales far outnumbered color MFP sales.  IDC indicated that the total sales of B&W MFPs in 2012 reached 1,708,384 units, whereas sales of color MFPs totaled only 753,666.  That’s almost one million more B&W MFPs sold in the U.S. than color MFPs.

As the data shows, monochrome MFP sales are still booming, and despite predictions that sales will decrease in 2013 and beyond, there are many reasons for the continued adoption of B&W devices.

Similar to production print systems, monochrome, or B&W, MFPs generally offer faster speeds and a lower cost per page than their color counterparts.  In addition, color MFPs are often much more expensive to purchase, as are the supplies to keep them operating at peak performance.

Additionally, with the exception of specific business segments that rely on color output as a crucial part of their business operations, most companies print more monochrome documents than color.  Schools that are printing exams, students’ essays and worksheets; legal practices that are printing case materials and client information; and physicians’ offices that are printing patient records, healthcare forms and medical documentation – these are all examples of businesses that do not need color for a majority of their output.  In such environments it’s cost effective and faster to use monochrome devices.

In the production print market, we often discuss how B&W systems can complement color systems to expand the capabilities of a print house. With regard to MFPs, the same argument holds – color MFPs and B&W MFPs can coexist in many business settings to deliver affordable, high-quality color when necessary, while continuing to rely on the B&W devices for everyday output and keeping costs down.

Legal, healthcare and education settings will likely always leverage B&W technologies for the speed and lower cost of operation, thus the demand for continued innovation in this space is a key part of Konica Minolta’s ongoing development strategy.  Via streamlined workflow management, enhanced overall productivity and compact designs, Konica Minolta bizhub monochrome MFPs are ideal for a broad range of environments.