To Office Workers, Color is Not Yet for Day-to-Day Work

(Uxbridge, MA) September 14, 1998 — Although some kind of color computer printer or copier can be found in the majority of businesses, everyday use is still uncommon, according to Color in the Office: The Dynamics of Adoption, a research report published today by Blackstone Research Associates.

Color in the Office: The Dynamics of Adoption is based on 210 telephone interviews with office computer users in companies representing a cross-section of sizes and industries. Fifteen chapters and 146 detailed charts and figures provide a comprehensive overview of the factors that influence the adoption of color in today's business market.

The researchers observed an expected, close correlation between the documents that employees work on the most and the ones that they print the most. For example, 27% of the color printer users contacted work on correspondence the most, and correspondence is also the most frequently printed document for 31% of the office workers. However, only 18% of these users print their correspondence in color. Color printer-generated logos may appear at the tops of their letters, but a more widespread color correspondence application is the creation of employee notices or employee manuals.

Far and away, the most commonly stated use for color printers in the office is the printing of presentations: half of the color printer users placed presentations on their list of color document types printed. But printing presentations is only an occasional need -- a scant 8% of the surveyed office workers concentrate their time on this application.

Over the course of the study, the researchers learned what factors support or inhibit color use in the office. "It has never been easier to incorporate color in office work," said Michael Zeis, President of Blackstone Research Associates, and author of the report. "Color printers and copiers have never offered this much value. Yet people tell us that a principle hurdle to color adoption is lack of time to set up color documents, and lack of access to color production and reproduction equipment."

For more information about Color in the Office: The Dynamics of Adoption, please contact Michael Zeis at 508-278-3449

Blackstone Research Associates
10 River Road, Suite 104
Uxbridge, MA 01569-2245
Main: (508) 278-3449
Fax: (508) 278-7975