Timothy Thomas, Epson

It’s hard to believe the printer, developed in 1962 – the same year the cassette tape was invented – remains as relevant today as it was 62 years ago. Companies, regardless of their size, still rely on the printer for basic operations, including the endless need for paperwork demanded by bureaucracy. The revenue for the printer and copier market in South Africa in 2024 is $61.1 million, according to Statista, with an anticipated volume growth of 2% in 2025. The local market has steadily recovered since 2020, reflecting the trends in the global market, which is showing impressive growth, from $54.35 billion in 2024 to a predicted $67.88 billion by 2029. South Africa, along with Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya, owns the largest share of printers and copiers in Africa.

Globally, printers remain a viable business model for companies that have invested in the technology to build thriving print-on-demand (PoD) services. According to Precedence Research, the PoD market is anticipated to reach $87.13 billion by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.9% from 2024. Printer manufacturers have also sought out new ways of optimising printer sustainability and finding new revenue opportunities, prioritising AI, environmental awareness, cost-optimisation and security.