Middle East businesses printing more but not tracking costs

Companies in the Middle East and Africa print more now than they did three years ago as data generation and digital archiving rates increase but are unaware of the costs, according to a new report.

In a survey of 1,000 business decision makers and end-users in the Middle East, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and Eurasia, Canon found that 57 per cent printed more than they did three years ago and 59 per cent scan more.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) also said they would spend more on printing, copying and scanning devices and software in the next three years.

Despite this, 42 per cent of respondents said they did not manage their print costs and one in ten are unaware if the process is tracked at all.

The problem was particularly noticeable in the UAE and Saudi Arabia where just 9 per cent and 25 per cent of decision makers respectively said they were aware of the cost of printing.

A further 30 per cent of overall respondents said they were dissatisfied with the way costs were measured.

Canon said the increasing volume of paper, digital and virtual documents had raised challenges for businesses, including security.

Nearly four fifths (79 per cent) of respondents said they strongly agreed technology made for a more secure work environment but nearly a quarter was concerned about losing sensitive information.

“Technology is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future for businesses in the high-growth markets. Digitisation is uncovering many benefits for businesses, but it does extend the ever-growing stream of information businesses must secure and process cost-effectively,” said Canon Middle East and Central and North Africa marketing director Hendrik Verbrugghe.