The introduction of low cost personal printing devices in the 1990s, and subsequent move away from centralised, large format copiers as dominant business printing devices, has been a significant change for small to medium sized organisations across the globe. As a result, the ability for smaller organisations to produce high-quality output using laser technologies in monochrome and colour, at an accessible price point, has seen an increase in the number and variety of print devices deployed. End user choices have shifted significantly over the last five years and Australia is now considered a mature printer market with device growth in excess of 5% year-on-year . New trends have seen smaller businesses shift from inkjet printers to laser printers, while end-user demand has evolved from monochrome to colour and enterprises are seeking multifunction printing solutions as opposed to traditional single function printers. As complexity has grown some local organisations have also sought to return to managed print services, which was a common feature of the market when copiers were king. According to the Longhaus 2009 ICT Spending and Priorities Study, these firms remain in the minority, with only 12% of Australia’s medium to large enterprises using this type of approach to alternative direct capital investment in equipment, and increased service levels for end users. From a behavioural perspective, the print-on-demand mentality has led to increasing output volumes; whilst the move away from traditional managed devices, such as large central copiers to alternative form factors, has seen management visibility and cost control diminish over time. Gone are the days when all that was required to manage cost was to lift the flap on the copier in the corner and check the page counter against a service invoice from Xerox. Today’s printers have become a forgotten device; victims of their own success and quiet utility. However, the global financial crisis and a focus on cost management, coupled with increasing action on climate change and business sustainability, have once again begun to shine a spotlight on just how much the true cost of operation – both in dollar and environmental terms – the print-on-demand culture is costing Australian enterprises. While Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is a well developed discipline, Longhaus’ research into print device usage and associated end-user behaviour within the Australian mid-market has found that few organisations practice what they know when it comes to optimising printer fleets. The result is that Australia’s mid-market is squandering an opportunity to reduce costs by as much as 25%, or around $37,750 on a typical investment over three years of over $151,000.