What trends will impact the future of mobile and desktop printing? Here are a few Mopria Alliance members who offered expert insight on this topic:
Mike Scrutton, Director of Print Technology & Strategy, Adobe
The boundaries between mobile and desktop have blurred – maybe irreparably. “Desktop” used to mean at the office while sitting at a desk, and “mobile” used to mean away from the office on a device that fits in your hand. The information we’re working with is no longer stored in a fixed location (either at home or on premise in the office) and we expect to be able to access that information (and print it) wherever we happen to be, with whatever device we have to hand. That means more working on data in the cloud and accessing it seamlessly on any device (including printers) when we need it and without thinking about the “how”.
Greg Shipmon, Director, Channel Development, B2B Marketing, Brother International Corporation
Workplaces are embracing digital tools that enhance employee mobility, but that doesn’t mean paper is obsolete; it just needs to evolve in step with new, more decentralized working conditions. For example, the “balanced deployment” of smaller, more dispersed printers and scanners is essential for employees on-the-go to be able to access documents quicker and more efficiently. In addition, some workers will still be cautious of high-contact surfaces post-COVID, so Brother expects to see a greater need for low-contact solutions, such as NFC-enabled printing, and expanding Device-as-a-Service offerings which eliminate the need to physically touch the device.
Todd Kruse, Product Manager, Epson America
Although digitization continues, printing is not going away because printed material can help communicate ideas and enable better retention of ideas or events. Influences on future printers include advancements in computing, memory, sensors, voice interface, and artificial Intelligence. The result will be smarter printers that pull content directly (rather than through the PC or smartphone) and share metadata with smart home hubs. Voice capability will continue to become an important user interface across different industries and I expect this to be a key influence. As products gain features there will be less need for buttons and LCD menus. AI services will enable new experiences through the enhancement of documents, images, and audio.
Ingrid Kelly, Strategic Alliances, HP Inc.
The combination of Return to Office and Work from Home will change the print landscape. During the pandemic, employees missed some of the benefits of office printing – no to low maintenance and many employees consider it to be ‘free’. Hybrid work will change how employees interact with their home device and will change their expectations of the print experience from their PC and their mobile device. Additionally, employers will bring additional security requirements and solutions into the home to protect confidential documents as they balance hybrid working environments.
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