One of the most galling aspects of using a printer, whether you use it less frequently than before or not, is running out of ink at the most inconvenient time.
This might happen just before you need to print an important report or amid a large print job at work.
And so, if you or your employees are tired of running out of ink or toner, you'll want to check out HP Instant Ink.
This article aims to explain what the HP Instant Ink program is and outlines the important disclaimers to consider before subscribing.
By the end, we hope you'll have a clear idea of whether Instant Ink suits your business needs.
What is HP Instant Ink and what are its features?
HP Instant Ink is a subscription service available for many compatible HP printers.
The positives of HP Instant Ink are that it is designed to alleviate those frustrating moments when you or someone in your organisation runs out of ink unexpectedly.
With this subscription service, your printer automatically orders new ink before you even run low, making life easier and ensuring your team’s performance remains uninterrupted.
With HP Instant Ink, your business pays a fixed monthly fee based on the number of pages printed, rather than the number of cartridges used.
The cost will vary depending on the plan your business selects.
Since your business is billed by the number of pages, you may not receive new cartridges every month.
Instead, you'll get replacement HP Instant Ink cartridges (which are larger than standard or high-yield ones) only when your printer determines they’re needed.
The plus point is, that you don’t have to order new cartridges yourself, your printer does that for you.
It monitors your ink or toner levels and places an order before you run out.
The new cartridges will be delivered to your address along with a pre-paid envelope for returning and recycling the old cartridges.
Your employee won't have the frustrating experience of rushing to the store to buy a new cartridge and risk missing a deadline.
However, this plan may not work well for those businesses that print infrequently, as ink can dry out when left unused.
This issue can be more pronounced with larger cartridges that contain more ink.
With the HP Instant Ink subscription plan, you can choose a plan that suits your business needs as HP Instant Ink does not require a long-term commitment but, it is essential to estimate your organisation’s printing needs.
You can change your plan at any time as upgrades take effect immediately, but downgrades to a lower page limit will only apply at the start of the next billing cycle.
It is also beneficial to note that often, the cost per page is lower with a subscription compared to buying ink cartridges individually.
How will you know when your company reaches its monthly print limit?
HP sends email alerts as you approach your plan's page limit.
As a customer, you can also check your page count, rollover pages, and current ink or toner levels and see if your cartridges are being ordered by using the HP Smart app or logging into your business account.
Can your company’s current printer use HP Instant Ink?
Most new HP printers sold in New Zealand, including both inkjets and lasers, are compatible with HP Instant Ink cartridges.
However, this does not include wide-format printers and HP Smart Tank models.
If you're uncertain whether your printer works with HP Instant Ink service, HP provides a list of compatible models.
While Brother, Canon, and Epson offer similar ink and toner subscription services, these are not available in New Zealand.
Is HP Instant Ink worth your organisation subscribing to?
Whether HP Instant Ink is worth it depends on your business’s needs.
It's most beneficial if you print regularly with a steady volume each month and value the quality of genuine HP ink and toner.
Since the cost per page is the same for black-and-white and colour prints, you'll save the most if you frequently print full-colour graphics and photos.
However, If you don't print often or your print volume fluctuates, Instant Ink might not be the ideal solution for your organisation, and using standard store-bought cartridges would be a better choice.
Likewise, if you only print an occasional text document, a subscription plan won’t offer you savings.
To make the most of HP Instant Ink, it's important to select the right monthly plan.
If you’ve ever found yourself running out of ink at a critical moment, HP Instant Ink could be the solution your organisation needs.
This flexible subscription service can be tailored to meet the needs of your staff or business.
Whether it’s a school project or a large order for your office business, an HP Instant Ink subscription ensures you won't have to rush to find an ink cartridge again.
See all the HP Instant Ink plans here.
