Buying the Perfect Thermal Receipt Printer : A Buyer’s Guide for Businesses

Efficiency is most imperative aspect in any business scenario. Regardless of the size and scale of the enterprise, delivering the right service in the shortest time translates to money making. In any retail or business scenario, printing of receipts comes into play as an essential aspect of business. The most common types of receipt printers that are widely used on a global level are thermal receipt printers. Yes, these are the small black boxes which you see at every POS counter that hum away while printing your bills. These printers not only streamline business operations but boost organizational productivity while delivering a better customer experience. With the market flooded with a variety of available options, choosing the right thermal receipt printer can prove to be a bit challenging.

Here is why we have created this expert guide in which we offer the right assistance in helping you learn about the essential factors which you might consider to make an informed decision while buying a thermal printer. Remember, a thermal receipt printer must align with your business needs to deliver the best performance.

The basics of a thermal receipt printer

Before we get into the comprehensive guide on choosing the right printer, it helps to understand a few fundamentals of the actual device. Utilizing a heat sensitive paper to deliver quality prints on receipts, a thermal receipt printer works unlike any conventional office or home printer which uses cartridges of ink or toner. Hence, thermal receipt printers tend to be cost effective, environmentally friendly and also very compact in size.

Factors to consider when you buy thermal receipt printers

• Printing speed

The speed with which the printer operates is a crucial factor to consider. This particular aspect is directly proportional to sales experiences and volumes as well. If a printer prints faster, you can deliver rapid checkout times and thus tend to more customers. The best thermal printer offers the printing speeds of 300 MM/sec which is faster than the most common printing devices. By delivering such a high speed with a great print quality, these printers offer the best performance balance.

• Paper width

In order to deliver efficient and optimal printing performance, the printer must accommodate standard sizes of paper which depends upon the specific requirements of your business. The most common receipts are sized from 58mm to 3’’ widths. Within this size spectrum, businesses can offer all types of receipts with space that accommodates the essential details such as complete invoice, coupons and also some marketing information.

• Connectivity features

A thermal receipt printer’s wide connectivity options makes it suit a diverse array of business setups. With wired as well as wireless connection features such as USB and Bluetooth 4.0, a modern portable thermal printer offers high speed data transfer which makes for an uninterrupted sales experience. These devices can connect wirelessly with mobile phones, laptops or tablets to offer a seamless experience.

• Operating system compatibility

For a printer to be versatile in its utility, it needs to be compatible with diverse operating systems. Choose a thermal printer that is compatible with Windows, MacOS as well as Android operating systems. Whenever you decide to upgrade your operating system for the POS, you won’t be required to change the printer if it offers multiple OS compatibility options.

• Battery capacity

Battery capacity, especially for a portable mini thermal printer is an important factor that defines its usability. For a portable thermal printer this is a critical consideration as a longer battery life offers an uninterrupted operation for longer durations, thus making sure that you can print more on a single charge. For a small portable printer, a battery capacity of 2600 Mah is sufficient to make it go the distance. Also, consider the charging time for a printer.

• Product durability

In order for the thermal printer to ensure optimal function over a longer duration of time, it should have good build quality. Prefer a thermal printer which is durable to withstand everyday rigors of a challenging retail environment. With its strong components and sturdy construction, it will be able to last longer even in frequent use conditions.

When you carefully consider all these factors, you get to choose the best thermal printer which not only complements your business requirements, but makes sure that your sales thrive. Udyama POS offers high quality thermal printers with enhanced efficiency and better durability features that offer great customer experiences.