Summary
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore, choosing an office printer does not necessarily mean defaulting to a traditional office copier. If your everyday requirements can be met with A4 printing, a compact A4 multifunction printer may be another option to consider.
The right choice depends on what your employees need to print, the space available and how maintenance, toner and support will be managed. Here is what SMEs should consider when comparing their office printing options.
Does Your SME Need a Traditional Office Copier?
When businesses think about office printing, a traditional copier may be one of the first options that comes to mind. For some SMEs, this may be the right setup.
But before choosing one, it is worth looking at what your employees actually print. If most day-to-day documents are A4, a larger copier setup may not always be necessary.
Compact A4 multifunction printers can provide printing, scanning and copying while taking up less space. This can be particularly useful for SMEs where desks, meeting areas and other office equipment are already competing for available room.
The point is not that one type of printer is automatically better than another. The printer should fit the requirements of the business, rather than the business adapting to the printer.
Traditional Copier or Compact A4 Multifunction Printer?
A useful starting point is to compare the two based on how your business actually works rather than simply looking at the size of the machine.
| Consideration | Traditional Office Copier | Compact A4 Multifunction Printer |
|---|---|---|
| Physical footprint | Typically requires more dedicated floor space | Smaller footprint that can fit more easily into compact work areas |
| Paper size | May support larger paper sizes depending on the device | Designed primarily for A4 printing |
| Print, scan and copy | Available on multifunction copier models | Available on multifunction printer models |
| Placement | Often placed in a central or dedicated printing area | Can fit into smaller office or team work areas where appropriate |
| Best suited for | Businesses whose requirements call for the capabilities and paper formats of a larger copier | Businesses whose everyday printing, scanning and copying requirements can be met with A4 |
Neither option is automatically better. A business that regularly requires larger paper formats or capabilities associated with a copier should take those requirements into account.
On the other hand, if employees mainly print, scan and copy A4 documents, a compact multifunction printer may be sufficient. Understanding this distinction can help SMEs avoid choosing more equipment than they actually require.
Start With Your SME's Printing Needs
It is easy to compare printers based on specifications alone. But bigger does not automatically mean better if those additional capabilities are not relevant to your day-to-day work.
Before deciding on a printer setup, consider how employees will actually use it.
Useful questions to ask include:
- What does your team regularly print?
- Is A4 sufficient for your requirements?
- Do employees need printing, scanning and copying?
- Where will the printer be located?
- How many printers does the business need?
- Do different teams or locations have different requirements?
Brother's printer rental process starts with an assessment of the customer's existing setup before an A4 printer solution is recommended.
This is particularly relevant for SMEs because the right setup does not necessarily mean placing the same device everywhere. A small office may need only one printer, while a business with several teams or locations may require multiple devices in different areas.
Think Beyond the Printer Itself
Choosing the right printer is only one part of the decision. SMEs should also consider what happens after the printer is installed.
Printers need maintenance. Toner needs replacing. When something goes wrong, someone needs to arrange support. These tasks may seem small individually, but they can become more noticeable when employees are already managing other responsibilities.
This is why it is worth looking at the service around a printer rental arrangement, not only the printer itself.
Brother provides its printer rental solution through Managed Print Services (MPS) . In simple terms, MPS combines the rental printer with services that help manage it throughout the rental period.
Brother MPS can include:
- Full maintenance and support
- Toner and supplies management
- Automatic toner replenishment
- Dedicated account management
For SMEs, this can reduce the number of routine printer-related tasks that employees need to manage internally.
Consider How Your Printing Needs May Change as Your SME Grows
A printing setup that works for a small team today may need to change as the business grows.
Adding employees, opening another office or placing printers across several teams can make printer management more complicated. Instead of managing one device, the business may need to keep track of several.
Questions to consider include:
- Who monitors toner across different printers?
- Who arranges maintenance and support?
- Who should employees contact when they have a printer issue?
- Do different teams or locations need different printer setups?
Thinking about these questions early can help SMEs choose a printer rental arrangement that remains manageable as more devices or locations are added.
What Should SMEs Look for in a Printer Rental Plan?
Once you understand your printing requirements, you can compare printer rental plans more meaningfully.
Rather than looking only at the monthly rental, check what is included throughout the rental period. Maintenance, toner management, support and the length of the agreement can all affect how practical the arrangement is for your business.
Brother's printer rental offering in Singapore provides:
- Brand-new compact A4 printers
- $0 deposit and no upfront cost
- Full maintenance and support
- Toner and supplies management options
- Automatic toner replenishment
- Flexible rental periods from 24 to 60 months
- Dedicated account management
The objective is not simply to rent another printer. It is to choose a setup that fits your current printing requirements and remains practical to manage throughout the rental period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brother Managed Print Services (MPS)?
Brother Managed Print Services (MPS) is Brother's printer rental solution for businesses. It combines printer rental with services such as maintenance and support, toner and supplies management, automatic toner replenishment and dedicated account management.
Should an SME rent a printer or use a traditional office copier?
It depends on the business's printing requirements. A traditional copier may be appropriate where the business requires its capabilities or larger paper formats. If everyday printing, scanning and copying requirements can be met with A4, a compact A4 multifunction printer is another option to consider.
What should an SME consider before renting a printer?
Start with your printing requirements, available space and the number of printers your business needs. You should also consider how maintenance, toner and support will be managed, particularly if you have several printers or locations.
Why should SMEs consider renting instead of buying a printer?
Renting a printer can help SMEs reduce upfront costs and manage printing expenses more effectively. Brother Singapore's printer rental offering provides brand-new compact A4 printers with $0 deposit and no upfront cost, along with flexible rental periods from 24 to 60 months.
Does Brother printer rental include maintenance and toner support?
Brother MPS includes full maintenance and support. Toner and supplies management options are also available, including automatic toner replenishment, helping businesses manage more than just the physical printer.
Enquire About Printer Rental for Your SME
Looking for a printer rental setup that fits your business's printing requirements, available space and ongoing support needs?
Fill up the enquiry form to speak with Brother about your requirements. Whether you need one printer or are planning a setup across several teams or locations, sharing your existing setup can help Brother assess your requirements and recommend a suitable A4 printer rental arrangement.
Fill up the form to enquire about Brother printer rental for your business.
