Colour laser multifunction printers remain popular during recession

Sales of colour laser multifunction printers are continuing to hold up during the current economic downturn.
According to figures from IDC, sales of the devices in the first quarter of 2009 were up six per cent on the amount recorded a year earlier.

This, it said, is a "strong showing" considering the "challenging" economic climate faced by both consumers and vendors. The organisation believes manufacturers of office products will employ a number of strategies to ensure they remain able to withstand the global recession.

"Vendors will focus on offering cost-cutting and/or productivity enhancements to customers' existing document infrastructure," it commented. IDC added that multifunction printers remain the most popular model, occupying a 62 per cent share of the market.

Hewlett Packard was identified as one of the strongest performers, while Canon was also said to have done "quite well".

This comes shortly after Louella Fernandes of IT analyst Quocirca told Silicon.com that businesses could achieve significant cost savings by investing in multifunction printers.