Several industries have taken the lead in accepting A4 devices, especially the legal market, healthcare organizations and the non-profit sector. Although some of the acceptance has been cost-based, a significant portion of businesses adopting A4 devices are need based – it just fits their requirements perfectly and there is no need to spend an additional 20% to 30% to acquire a bulkier A3 device.

According to InfoTrends, “A major and dramatic shift may well be underway in traditional A3-size (11” x 17”) office copier console placements, and their supporting OEM and dealer business models. These familiar office stalwarts are under attack from aggressive printer OEMs and their placements of low-cost, A4-size (Letter or 8.5” x 11”) monochrome and color printer-based MFPs (multifunctional peripherals). This latest generation of printer-based MFP devices typically offers very low entry prices, full function convenience/walk-up copying, flexible document feeding designs, “desktop” laser printer reliability traits, and eroding cost-per-page ratings—particularly for high-value color pages.”

In companies ranging from small, 20+-employee firms to large enterprises, IT and corporate administrative buyers are questioning and carefully analyzing their copier and printer fleet populations and capacities, as well as their associated service, support, and supplies costs. Businesses are facing unprecedented challenges due to the quickening pace of the marketplace, and they have an array of competing choices for hardware, brands, channels, purchasing options, and technologies. Users recognize that a single and monolithic printer or copier solution does not fit everyone’s needs and that the underlying precept today is flexibility.