Introduction
Back in the year 2000, many business analysts predicted that copiers would become useless due to the widespread digitizing of data and information. If you think that office copiers are only good for reproducing documents as it is, then maybe, you are not making the most out of your office copier.
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Basic Features of a Copier
Gone are the days when the copiers’ only purpose was to duplicate a document or an image exactly as how it is printed. Copiers are now equipped with functions such as enlargement, scanning, duplexing, collating, faxing, and binding.
Enlargement is a copier feature that allows you to enlarge the copied image by percentage or paper size. (ie. A4 size print enlarged to a legal-sized print) while Duplexing is its capability to print on both sides of a page.
Most office-grade copiers also have an automatic document feeder (ADF) that allows scanning and copying without much human intervention. ADF also allows a faster output which is good for scanning or copying high-volume documents. Multifunction copiers can also send fax messages, so you don’t need to use multiple machines for different purposes.
Collating is a feature that allows you to make copies of documents with more than one page and automatically separates them into individual sets. Lastly, binding is a feature that usually needs some copier add-ons. This feature automatically staple collated documents or punch in 2 or 3 holes into one side of the document for easier ring binding.
Advanced Features
Since copiers now include a built-in scanner, they can convert and save your scanned documents as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file or a Microsoft Word file. Other scanner features are available such as scan to email, where the copier sends a copy of the scanned document to any email, and scan to network, where the copier sends a copy of the document to a specified shared folder in the office network for easy access.
New models of office copiers are now capable of connecting to the internet network, which means you can now print and scan documents using your mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, as long as the devices connect to the same network. Network printing and scanning are only possible if the mobile devices support network or cloud printing.
Copiers connect to the internet, alerting IT personnel when service or supply replenishments are needed. Network connectivity allows technicians to remotely assess copiers, perform diagnostics, and update software. Early detection of copier issues prevents technical problems, minimizing downtime before symptoms appear.
Lastly, network connectivity makes the copier vulnerable to cyber attacks and dangerous malware. Thus, copier manufacturers include data security features such as password protection, overwriting, and data encryption.
Data encryption jumbles the protected data and transforms it into a secret code. Specific software available only to the authorized security personnel of the business is used to decipher these secret codes. Encrypting data ensures sensitive information remains secure, even if the copier’s hard drive is removed.
Copiers overwrite protected data by deconstructing and changing some of its file bits to random values. Copiers can overwrite protected data after each use, at fixed intervals, or on specific dates, depending on security settings.
Conclusion
If you are in Sacramento and you are looking for a Copier in Sacramento for your business, you may contact Clear Choice Technical Services in Sacramento. You can ask about Copier Leasing Services in Sacramento, Copier rental services in Sacramento, and Copier Repair in Sacramento.
The digital age offers convenience, but having a traditional option for backup during technical issues is reassuring. Copiers, though old technology, continuously adapt with new features to enhance daily productivity.