The cost of initial acquisition of an inkjet printer is usually $50-300 (the average price of a laser printer is $350), which is appropriate for small and micro enterprises with limited budgets. Entry-level inkjet hardware accounts for 68% of SME purchases (laser hardware 22%), according to the IDC 2023 report, and its per-page printing cost of $0.03- $0.08 (laser hardware $0.05- $0.12) reduces operation costs significantly. For example, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e features a monthly duty cycle of 20,000 pages (TCO estimates indicate savings of $1,200 in three years), double-sided printing (22 pages per minute) automatically, and cloud connectivity, improving document processing efficiency by 41% (compared to single-function printers).
New inkjet technology developments greatly improve performance: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7830 relies on PrecisionCore printhead (nozzle density 400 / inch), black and white/color speed 20ppm (precision ±0.5 seconds/page), up to 4800×1200 dpi resolution (laser devices typically 1200×1200). Its capacity of the ink tank is also raised to 140ml (industry average 50ml) and the number of pages per cartridge one can print 6,000 (median figure for toner cartridge is 2,500 pages), reducing the frequency of replacement of consumables by 63%. For instance, according to a consulting firm, the print cycle of promotional materials takes a reduced duration from 3 days to 4 hours when Canon MAXIFY GX7021 is used, and the color reproduction degree Delta-E≤1.5 (industry average ≤3).
Energy-saving and environmental protection functions enhance competitiveness: inkjet printer standby power consumption is only 1-3W (laser device 5-15W), which is in line with Energy Star certification (power saving per year 85kWh/set). The Brother MFC-J4335DW uses an on-demand ink supply system (INKvestment Tank), which conserves 90% of waste ink production (compared with traditional ink cartridges), and the return rate of ink bottles is 98% (plastic toner cartridges return rate is only 35%). According to the Sustainable Office White Paper, when small and micro enterprises shift to inkjet solutions, their annual carbon footprint falls by 1.2 tons per unit and their operating costs (energy consumption and consumables) fall by 34%.
Space-saving multi-role functionality is improved with: HP Smart Tank 580 featuring 2.7-inch touch screen display, 35-page ADF, wireless direct printing transfer rate 867Mbps, reducing color print cost for A4 color contracts by $0.01 / page (average market price $0.07). The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 includes fax, optical resolution 1200×2400 dpi scanning and voice control, takes up only 38×37cm (average 45×50cm for laser multi-function machine), and enhances space efficiency by 28%. Market statistics point out that by 2023, the global penetration rate of inkjet equipment in the small and micro business sector will be 57% (12% yearly growth rate), and its modular design will reduce the maintenance cost to $25 / time ($80 / time for laser equipment), redefining the benchmark of cost effectiveness of productivity equipment.