Dealers Comment on Uncertain Future of A3 Devices

The prevalence of A4 printers has been overshadowing the performance of A3 devices, leaving their future enmeshed in uncertainty. ENX Magazine’s dealer panel shares their opinions and comment on the future of A3 units.

A3 devices still offer some distinct advantage. For businesses with substantial printing needs, A3 units remain the best choice. Also, the centralized printing experience provided by A3 devices is preferred by companies with fewer in-office employees due to hybrid work styles. The main problem is that these strengths are not appealing enough compared to their A4 equivalence, which include almost all their functions at a lower price.

Slow but Inevitable Transition

Sean Bell

There is no dispute over the decline of A3s, but at what pace it will continue shrink. Sean Bell, president of Solutions YES in Portland, Oregon, believes this will be a gradual process. “I am still very optimistic about the future of imaging, for those who are doing the right things to be among the last standing,” he said, confident that dealers can still sell A3 units.

Josh Britton

Still, A3s seem destined to fade out as their original functions are no longer their raison d’être. More users are using A3 devices for their scanning functions, while large-volume printing tasks are mostly assigned to centralized A3s. Josh Britton, president of imageOne, is convinced that the industry will see a continual A3 replacements overtime. “We certainly want to continue to sell as many A3s as we can, but keeping print as a sole focus will present challenges in the future,” he added.

Natural Selection by Customers

Chip Miceli

The downturn of A3s is not attributed to dealers’ lack of trying, but rather customer preference. Chip Miceli, CEO & President of Pulse Technology, reported a significant reduction in A3 sales, which is common among other managed print services (MPS) providers. “The average A3 sells for about $10,000 whereas an A4 is half that price.” Even for the minority of A3 models sold, customers purchased simply for their capacity for printing 11×17 copies.

Robert Woodhull

There is no shortcut for the industry but to satisfy the customers, notes Rob Woodhull, vice president of business development for Woodhull LLC of Springboro, Ohio. Customers now prioritize budge-saving over features. “We have to find ways of making our offerings simpler and more cost-effective,” he added.

Related:

• IDC Reports Growth in APAC Imaging Solutions Market
• HP CEO Claimed 20% Decline in Print Volume
• Global Printer Shipments Decrease Significantly

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