29.3% of Copier Inquiries Specify a Manufacturer | OFFICE110 Releases Industry Research

OFFICE110, operated by Bell Technos, analyzed 851 copier-related inquiry logs received between December 7, 2022, and February 28, 2026, to investigate trends in manufacturer specification during the selection process.

The findings show that inquiries regarding specific manufacturer requests totaled 249, accounting for 29.3% of the total. When selecting a copier, decisions are driven not only by the base price but also by comfort with familiar manufacturers, printing quality, maintenance support, and counter charges.

This survey aims to clarify the background behind manufacturer selection—often difficult for SME personnel—to prevent comparisons based solely on price and avoid discrepancies in expectations after implementation.

## Background of the Survey

When implementing copiers, manufacturer selection is a crucial decision factor alongside price and leasing terms. Real inquiry records frequently included requests such as, "I want the same manufacturer I am using now," "I want a quote for a preferred manufacturer," and "I want to check if a specific manufacturer's used copier is available."

Behind these requests are the security of familiar operation screens, trust in manufacturers used in the past, and expectations for print quality and maintenance. However, even with the same manufacturer, necessary features, counter charges, and maintenance conditions can vary depending on the model and implementation method.

To grasp these realities, OFFICE110 conducted a survey on manufacturer specification trends during copier procurement based on logs from December 7, 2022, to February 28, 2026.

## Survey Result 1

Analysis confirmed 249 inquiries regarding manufacturer specification, representing 29.3% of the 851 inquiry logs.

This result indicates that for a significant portion of companies, "which manufacturer to choose" is just as important as "finding an inexpensive model." Manufacturer specification reflects judgments focused on post-implementation operations, including user familiarity, past experience, print quality, and peace of mind regarding maintenance.

## Survey Result 2

Inquiries regarding manufacturer specification often involved more than just checking prices for the preferred brand; they frequently included questions about maintenance contracts, counter charges, choices between used and new units, and print quality.

Specifically, there were 174 inquiries regarding maintenance contracts and counter charges, 166 inquiries for quotes or price confirmations for preferred manufacturers, and 151 inquiries concerning used copiers from preferred manufacturers.

These results show that manufacturer-specific inquiries are not merely brand preferences but practical confirmations involving post-implementation costs and usability.

## Implications from the Results

This survey revealed that manufacturer specification is a vital consideration in procurement decisions.

Companies specify manufacturers for reasons that cannot be measured by price alone, such as existing operational expertise, past positive maintenance experiences, expectations for printing quality, and the ease of sharing usage knowledge within the team.

However, deciding on a copier based solely on the manufacturer name may result in mismatches with necessary functions, print volume, maintenance terms, counter charges, or budgets. Therefore, it is essential to compare not just the manufacturer name, but also print volume, required features, maintenance coverage, counter charges, and post-installation operating conditions.

## Supervision Commentary

Kazuhiro Chihami, Sales Department Manager, Bell Technos Co., Ltd.

Specifying a manufacturer is an effective selection method that reflects field familiarity and past utilization experience. However, decisions should not be made based on the manufacturer name alone; one must check features per model, maintenance conditions, counter charges, and the total cost.

We published this survey data to communicate the importance of comparing copiers based on conditions that ensure long-term usability, rather than judging them solely on price. We believe that providing clear information on maintenance scope and operating costs, in addition to manufacturer differences, will lead to more transparent quotations.