Sales of Multifunction devices (MFPs) is expected to touch 80 per cent of the inkjet printers in 2010 as manufacturers introduce competitively priced models targeting the Soho (small office/home office) segment.
IT research and advisory firm IDC expects this shift to happen faster in 2010. Sales of laser devices will also grow faster than those of inkjet devices in 2010 in the Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Cema) region.
Laser HCP (hardcopy peripherals) purchases will often be driven by the need to consolidate functionalities into one device, namely an MFP. Colour laser technology (especially MFPs) will constitute the fastest-growing laser segment and will propel overall laser technology growth. At the same time, operating cost considerations will drive users to adopt tools that control colour printing.
“It’s no surprise that slowing economies and shrinking demand in 2009 pushed companies to cut costs and scale back operations,” says Mitri Roufka, IDC Cema Research Director, Imaging and Hardcopy Devices. “And IT was no exception to this trend. Cost-control measures introduced last year will be lifted only slowly and cautiously in 2010. However, IDC does see signs of a return to more normal spending, including investment in non-critical IT projects postponed last year.”
