The Datamax Thinking Blog

Educating, collaborating, and sparking ideas for maximizing the technology that matters.


6 Ways Your Old Copier Could Be Telling You 'It's Time'

Whether it’s diminishing quality, limited functionalities, or the simple inability to find the right parts, there are certain signs that the office copier needs to be replaced.

Suffice it to say, your employees and your office copier develop a unique, oft-love-hate relationship over time.

From that glimmering first impression as the new device rolls into the office for the first time, to the frustrations with the inevitable paper jams, the employee and the device spend a lot of time together day in and out at the office, developing genuine familiarity. As a core hub for workflow functions, the copier is the consummate multi-tasker by printing, copying, scanning, faxing, and finishing to help move tasks forward in a routine manner.

Topics: Multifunction Copier Digital Copiers Office Equipment Copier Repair Secure Printing Copier Repair Service

McAfee Embedded Control Enhances Endpoint Security on Canon MFPs

McAfee Embedded Control blocks the execution of unauthorized applications like malware through intelligent whitelisting.

In an attempt to fully secure your home, imagine creating a list of every potential intruder that exists in your neighborhood, in your city, and beyond. Now – imagine creating a list of every APPROVED individual into your home.

Topics: Printer Management Multifunction Copier Office Equipment Canon USA Secure Printing

Section 179 Deduction Presents Office Technology Opportunity for SMBs

Essentially, Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software purchased or financed during the tax year. That means that if you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income.

As organizations continue to wrestle with workflow challenges and seek ways to expedite routine business processes through technology, Section 179 presents a unique procurement opportunity.

Topics: Multifunction Copier Digital Copiers Productivity Tips and Tools Technology Procurement

Section 179 Deduction Provides Big Incentive for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses

Essentially, Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software purchased or financed during the tax year. That means that if you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income.

It’s the end of the year. Businesses are busily reviewing their bottom line and – perhaps – scanning every corner of their organization for any sort of competitive boost as 2020 looms around the corner.

Small business owners or managers may not be aware of an incentive that could forge a huge technology and productivity boost in their immediate future: Section 179 Deduction of the IRS Tax Code.

Topics: Multifunction Copier Digital Copiers Productivity Tips and Tools Financing

Achieve Office Equipment Enlightenment by Mastering the Art of Asking Questions

Is your potential copier provider capable of going deeper with relevant questions? Will their level of service handle the technology burden for you, and enable you to focus on your forte?

Martial Arts expert and movie star Bruce Lee is an unequivocal legend for his physical feats on the big screen. But he also possessed a few philosophical nuggets that packed a real punch.

One example from the former philosophy major turned Hollywood icon? “A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.”

Topics: Multifunction Copier Digital Copiers Productivity Tips and Tools Office Equipment Technology Pain

Technology Forecast: Office Climate Change Imminent, but Probability of Printing Remains High

In the report, 36 percent of enterprises surveyed say they are printing MORE OFTEN than they were 12 months ago, while only 14 percent are printing less often. Similarly, 40 percent are scanning more often and 35 percent are copying more often.

By 2020, Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group predicts that 50 billion physical IoT devices will be connected to the Internet, consuming, generating, and communicating data. The office is no exception.

Crucial documents reside on our desks and file cabinets, but also in cloud servers and mobile devices. With such wide and easy access to the information we need, it’s tempting to think that printing may soon become a function of the past.

As ESPN analyst Lee Corso famously says on College Football Game Day, “Not so fast, my friend!”

Topics: Scanning Printing Printer Management Multifunction Copier Office Equipment Document Security Print Management Canon USA Managed Print Services

Canon's Unified Firmware Platform:  Full Speed Ahead in Existing Copier Models

The burden of administrators handling an entire fleet can be significantly lifted by usability improvements and features that simply make doing their job more efficient.

Visiting a car dealership (even if today, most buyers’ research is done online beforehand), there’s multiple variables to consider. Beyond budget and leasing options, one must consider speed (that sleek, streamlined sports car), functionality (the gas-friendly cross-over with room for the dog), safety/security, as well as that inevitable drop in value with that vehicle moving forward.   

The same used to be said about copiers.

Topics: Multifunction Copier Productivity Tips and Tools Office Equipment Print Management Canon USA

Why It’s So Hard to Get a Straight Answer on Copier Price

The top 10 questions a sales rep should ask you before they EVER give you a price – or recommendation.

There is nothing more unsatisfying than a salesperson who cannot give you a price when you ask them how much something is going to cost. Their reluctance may even cause you to doubt them. Believe me when I say it, they are actually doing you a favor.

Sure, any salesperson can throw out a number just to make you happy, but in the long run, the true cost of office equipment depends on many things. Sure, you can:

Topics: Multifunction Copier Did you know? Digital Copiers Office Equipment Partnering Technology Support

Dozens of Business Productivity Tips – Our 11 Best and Most Popular Blogs of 2017

You have a lot of options on the market when you make a technology purchase. The best solution for your business isn't determined solely by the price, the feature set, or how fast the vendor gets it to your doorstep.

Every year, I learn more about copiers, document management, workflow, and, increasingly, managed IT topics.

I do my best to pass on what I learn to you.

Here are the 11 most popular posts in 2017. They cover a range of topics:

Read on for insights into those topics – and more – to get yourself ready for 2018! 

Topics: Scanning Information Technology Technology Multifunction Copier Did you know? Managed Network Services Security Digital Copiers Digital Security Productivity Tips and Tools Healthcare Solutions Office Equipment Legal Solutions Network Management Document Workflow Document Security IT Consulting Business Continuity Disaster Recovery

19 Reasons Why It’s Hard to Say How Much a Copier Costs

While it’s annoying to hear “it depends” when you ask us how much a copier is, it’s also the truth. Here’s why.

One of the most common questions (if not THE most common question) every copier dealership is asked is some variation of “How much is a copy machine going to cost me?”

Our sales team is asked that all the time.

The answer is (really!): it depends.

I’ll explain why.

Topics: Printer Management Solutions Canon Color Copier Multifunction Copier Digital Copiers Healthcare Solutions Office Equipment Legal Solutions Leasing