IDC Reports Slump in Czech Hardcopy Peripherals Market

According to global research and consulting company IDC, the Czech hardcopy peripherals market nosedived 25.1% year on year (YoY) to 167,663 units worth $62.48 million in the first half of 2013. The slump was attributed to reduced sales of unprofitable, entry-level devices.

Zuzana Babicka, Senior Research Analyst at IDC, said, “The market recorded the lowest level of shipments in the past 10 years, as key players moved away from inkjet devices priced below $100 and entry-level laser devices, due to extremely low profit margins on such models and the low usage of consumables that they generate. In spite of this, the market grew mildly in value YoY, due to an upsurge in sales of production-grade devices and strong sales of midrange color laser MFPs.”

IDC pointed out that market demand keeps shifting from single-function printers to MFPs and it believes end users are looking for ways to step up their productivity and improve competitiveness under bleak economic conditions. Also, IDC said organizations with extensive printing needs are willing to purchase high-end devices, adding that vendor promotions, low-cost print service offerings and EU funds are the factors driving the sales of upper-level midrange and high-end laser devices.