Why Schools Are Rethinking Printing — And Saving Big

Let’s be honest: school printing has a bit of a reputation.

Stacks of worksheets. Last-minute test papers. Lost toner orders. And don’t even get us started on that one teacher who prints everything in colour (you know the one).

But here's the thing: printing doesn't have to be a silent budget killer. In fact, smart schools across KZN, Joburg, and Cape Town are starting to relook their entire setup — and it's saving them serious money.

The Real Cost of “Cheap” Printing

A lot of schools try to save by running older machines into the ground. But between high toner costs, constant call-outs, and admin time lost to jammed trays, it all adds up.

Not to mention the lack of control:

• No user tracking = no accountability
• No print limits = paper waste galore
• No data = zero chance of budgeting properly

Sound familiar?

Enter the “Oh Moment”

That moment when you realise: hang on, we could be doing this better.

That’s where Syntelo steps in — as an authorised dealer of both Olivetti South Africa and Riso, we’ve seen what the right setup can do for schools. Whether it’s controlling usage with PaperCut, tracking by user codes, or switching to high-speed Duplo and Riso production units, it’s not about printing less — it’s about printing smart.

What Smart Looks Like in Schools

Here's what schools are doing to get control — without locking teachers in print jail:

• Adding code-based logins so you know who’s printing what
• Rolling out PaperCut to manage print volumes and budgets
• Switching to Riso or Duplo for high-volume work (like tests and newsletters)
• Right-sizing devices (no more one-size-fits-none MFPs)
• Monitoring toner usage and setting alerts before things run dry

So, What Could You Be Saving?

Let’s get real. For one KZN high school, switching to a PaperCut + Duplo combo cut their monthly printing spend by 32% — and they finally had visibility across the entire campus.

No more budget guessing. No more late-night trips to buy emergency toner.

Just clean, controlled, cost-effective printing that actually supports teaching.

Need a Partner Who Gets Schools?

At Syntelo, we’re not just here to sell you a printer. We build full print solutions for education — rentals, outright purchases, software, codes, and everything in between.

We’ll show you where the real savings are, and how to keep control without killing creativity in the classroom.

Let’s give your school its own printing “Oh Moment.”