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Understanding your printer or MFP's Duty Cycle and Recommended Monthly Volume (RMV) is essential to keeping it running efficiently and preventing avoidable maintenance issues. Duty Cycle refers to the maximum number of pages a printer can produce in a month. Recommended Monthly Volume (RMV) represents the number of pages you can reliably and safely print each month without putting unnecessary strain on the device. While the duty cycle shows the absolute limit, it’s not the number you should aim for in everyday use. Instead, consistently printing within the RMV helps maintain print quality, reduces wear on internal components, and supports a longer device lifespan. Printing at or near the duty cycle month after month leads to higher service needs, costly repairs, and premature hardware failure. The RMV and duty cycle are set by the manufacturer, after the manufacturer puts the MFP through a series of stressful tests and analyzes the data. In fact, about 70% of printer issues occur when users exceed the RMV, making it a critical guideline to follow. Many businesses misunderstand or ignore these numbers, which is why it can also be important to find the right technology partner or managed print provider. How to Determine Your Monthly Print Volume To understand how much you’re actually printing each month, use one of these methods: Review Printing/Vendor Bill: If you work with a technology vendor or managed print provider, your monthly invoice typically includes your total print count. Check your Meter Reads: Meter reads show the total number of impressions (prints, copies, and scans) your device has produced throughout its lifetime. You can access this in your printer’s settings or on a printed report. Track Paper Usage: Although less precise, tracking how many reams or sheets you go through in a month can give you a rough estimate of your print volume. Comparing Your Print Volume to RMV and Duty Cycle A common rule of thumb is that the RMV is approximately 10-20% of the duty cycle. For example: If your small business prints around 2,000 pages per month, you should use a device with an RMV around 2,000 and a duty cycle near 10,000. If you run a high‑quality print environment (such as a graphic design studio) you should pay closer attention to RMV to preserve consistent color accuracy and professional output. Sometimes MFPs cannot handle both the volume and quality needed, in which case a production machine may be more beneficial. Staying within your RMV ensures better performance, fewer service calls, and a longer-lasting printer. The chart below compares the RMV and the duty cycle of a few different Ricoh MFP's and one production printer: Machine RMV Duty Cycle RICOH IM C401F Up to 5,000 Up to 10,000 RIOCH IM C4510 Up to 12,000 Up to 50,000 RICOH PRO C5410S (any?) Up to 150,000 Common MFP Problems that Signal Change There are a few common printer issues that can signal a need for a smaller or larger machine. For example, some businesses know they are paying too much for an oversized machine and downsize while other businesses may need the indicator from their vendor to downsize if they are not meeting their monthly print minimums. Indicators You're Overworking Your Printer (Or May Need an Upgrade): Frequent jams Slow processing Quality degradation Overheating Toner usage spikes Conclusion Staying within your printer or MFP’s Recommended Monthly Volume (RMV) is one of the most effective ways to protect print quality, prevent avoidable maintenance issues, and ensure your device supports your daily workflow without strain. By understanding the difference between duty cycle and RMV (and accurately assessing your monthly print habits) you can better determine whether your machine is properly sized for your environment or if an upgrade or downsized option would be more efficient and cost‑effective. If you’re unsure whether your current device is the right fit, or if you’re considering whether managed print or outsourced IT support might benefit your organization, check out our resource on Outsourcing IT or Leasing vs. Buying an Office Printer to help guide your decision. And if you’d prefer hands‑on support, the Crew‑Tech team is always here to assess your print environment and recommend the best solution for your needs.

Slow internet speeds got you down? For many businesses, simply having Wi-Fi feels like enough, until slow internet speeds start to hurt productivity and customer satisfaction. Taking a few simple precautions can help avoid these issues and drastically increase your office internet speed today. Here's how to get started: 1. Wi-Fi Router Placement It's common for businesses to hide their routers to avoid clutter, but this is a common mistake. Walls, metal, and obstructions actually weaken Wi-Fi signals. Generally, a central location will provide the best coverage in office spaces, but there are a few different ways to check. According to Net Spot, signal levels around -75 dBm or higher is strong enough for stable browsing, video calling, and streaming. dBm stands for decibel milliwatts, which is just the unit of measurement for the power levels of a Wi-Fi signal. 2. Optimize Channel and Bands One of the most common Wi-Fi problems is interface from overlapping channels. Luckily this problem is also a quick fix. You can utilize a Wi-Fi channel scanner to see if your network is overlapping with others. There are two common "bands" with various "channels" in them. A 2.4GHz band (pictured below) has 3 channels that don't overlap (1, 6, and 11) and provides a longer range of signal. A 5GHz has 25 channels that don't overlap and is a common bandwidth for large companies to support a variety of devices with faster speeds. When selecting a channel, empty channels are the best option to increase internet speed. If an empty channel is unavailable, choose a channel with another network, don't try and overlap channels to fit into an empty space. Wi-Fi networks can detect each other in the same channel, overlapping channels is what causes bandwidth issues. The example above has two overlapping channels, although this will not decrease the Wi-Fi speeds drastically, best practice would suggest moving them to channel 11. 3. Optimize Device Placement and Antennas Although similar to optimizing router placement, optimizing device placement is regularly overlooked. Positioning devices close to the router can reduce the need for Wi-Fi signals to travel long distances, speeding up your device's internet speed in return. Another trick to increase Wi-Fi speeds, without rushing to upgrade the entire router, is through the antennas. Check to make sure the antennas are not obstructed by anything, but if they aren't and the bandwidth still isn't strong enough considering upgrading them. High-gain or directional antennas can increase Wi-Fi speeds dramatically compared to the defaults. 4. Reduce Access Points Many people assume that when Wi-Fi is unstable in larger offices there is a simple fix: add another access point, but too many APs can actually make a network slower and less predictable. Increased interference, confused devices, and roaming problems could be a sign you have an overload of APs. According to Net Spot, you may have "too many" APs if your devices randomly cling to different access points or if speeds fluctuate while not in use. Conclusion With today's technological advancements and bandwidth demands, older routers will struggle to keep up no matter what. Optimizing router placement, device position, bandwidth, channels, as well as reducing access points and upgrading hardware like your router's antennas will help your router keep up. If you continue to have problems after implementing these changes it may be helpful to partner with an IT provider in your area, especially if your company doesn't have an internal IT department.

The business landscape in 2026 is anything but predictable. Economic pressures, demographic shifts, and rapid technological advancements are reshaping how companies operate and compete. From a cooling job market and evolving employee expectations to an aging workforce and changing consumer priorities, leaders face a year of both challenges and opportunities. Add to that the accelerating pace of AI adoption and cybersecurity concerns, and it’s clear that adaptability will be the defining trait of successful businesses. This article explores five critical trends shaping 2026—offering actionable insights to help you prepare, pivot, and thrive in the year ahead. The Job Market in 2026 As the job market cools, unemployment rates are gradually rising. According to Trading Economics, the unemployment rate in November of 2025 was 4.6%, which is a 0.4% increase compared to 2024. According to Vistage, unemployment benefits hit its highest rate since 2021 this past June. As less jobs are posted and candidates stay on the market longer, some are starting to refer to it as a "no fire, no hire" market. Finding candidates will not be an issue, but top talent will be difficult to obtain. Especially as demand for specialized skills in AI, sustainability, and cybersecurity increase. Remote and hybrid work models are here to stay. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 69% of the US workforce was on a hybrid or fully remote schedule during the peak of the pandemic. In recent years, the percentage has dropped down to about 22%, but according to Statista the pre-pandemic remote/hybrid work rate was only 17% of the US workforce. Insight: Top talent will gravitate toward companies offering growth opportunities and flexibility, not just higher pay. Implement skills-based hiring and reduce reliance on degree requirements. Offer micro-learning programs for AI and cybersecurity to attract ambitious candidates. Highlight career progression paths in job descriptions to stand out. Employee Satisfaction and Well-being Mental health and work-life balance are top priorities when it comes to employee satisfaction and well-being in today's workplace. Many companies have started offering flexible benefits and personalized perks to help maintain employee satisfaction and their retention rates. While retention rates are important, employee engagement rates can also give insight into employee satisfaction. According to Vistage, two-thirds of employees are not engaged or checked out at work. Company culture can have a huge effect on employee retention and satisfaction rates. According to Forbes, 98% of the US workforce would like to work remote at least a portion of the time. Insight: Retention hinges on culture and flexibility, not perks alone. Launch quarterly engagement surveys and act on feedback quickly. Provide mental health resources and flexible scheduling options. Create personalized benefits packages (e.g., wellness stipends, remote work allowances). The Aging and Shrinking Workforce The global crisis of an aging and shrinking workforce is coming to the US. In 2025 there was about 37 retired individuals for every 100 working individuals, but there has been a significant drop in the number of people added to the US. According to Vistage, from 1995-2024 about 70 million people were added to the US population but only 23 million people are expected to be added in the next 30 years. This is due to a variety of factors including the decrease in birth rates and new policies regarding immigration. Insight: Knowledge gaps will widen as older workers retire so succession planning is non-negotiable. Develop mentorship programs pairing senior employees with younger staff. Build a digital knowledge hub to preserve institutional memory. Invest in automation for repetitive tasks to offset labor shortages. Shifting Consumerism In 2026, the gap between inflation and wage growth continues to influence how consumers prioritize purchases. While wages have seen modest increases, they often lag behind rising costs of essentials like housing, healthcare, and food. This imbalance is driving a more value-conscious mindset among consumers. In a late 2024, 83% of Americans said saving money is a bigger priority now than in previous years (Vistage, 2025). As consumer priorities shift, business priorities should shift with them to adapt and meet consumer wants and needs. Along with that, the income gap is widening, according to Vistage the top 10% of wage earners makes up for 50% of consumerism. Actionable Tip: Consumers are value-driven and sustainability-conscious which means brands must align with these priorities to sell to them. Audit your pricing strategy and sales funnels to ensure affordability without sacrificing quality. Communicate sustainability efforts transparently in marketing. Introduce loyalty programs that reward eco-friendly choices or cost-saving bundles. Technology Trends Driving Change AI will continue to reinvent IT and technology trends into 2026. According to the Information Technology Research Group, agentic AI is expected to exceed generative AI adoption by the end of the new year. Currently, 58% of small businesses use some type of generative AI and 95% of enterprises will use generative AI by 2028 (CEO's Right Hand, 2025). Complete AI adoption within businesses could see productivity gains of 20-30%. AI and autonomous processes are reinventing businesses, cutting labor but increasing efficiency and reducing overall labor costs. According to Vistage, autonomous vehicles are helping with last mile deliveries, warehouse handling, simulation tools and more. With the adoption of new technology comes new costs. Technology advancements in 2026 will continue to level the playing field for small businesses but also raise the stakes. According to a report by Vistage, 75% of companies that implement AI report higher spending on data management. Cybersecurity is also a top business priority as new threats are slowly uncovered. On average, companies allocate 11% if their IT budget to cybersecurity (Vistage, 2025). Insight: AI adoption is no longer optional; it’s a competitive advantage. Start small: use AI-driven analytics for customer insights or predictive maintenance. Train teams on interpreting AI outputs to make informed decisions. Allocate budget for cybersecurity upgrades alongside AI investments. Conclusion The trends shaping 2026 aren’t just challenges, they’re opportunities for businesses willing to adapt. A cooling job market, shifting employee expectations, demographic changes, evolving consumer priorities, and rapid technological innovation all point to one truth: success will belong to organizations that embrace change with agility and foresight. Rather than reacting to disruption, lead the transformation. Invest in your people, align with consumer values, and leverage technology as a strategic advantage. The businesses that thrive in 2026 will be those that plan boldly today. The question is: are you ready to take the next step?