According to Quocirca studies, cost control, security, and AI-enabled document processes are shaping the future of cloud print
Konica Minolta has been positioned as a Leader in the Quocirca Cloud Print Services Landscape 2026 for the third consecutive year. According to the international market research firm, “Konica Minolta stands out for its cloud-first, security-led approach, combining cloud print, workflow, fax, device monitoring, and zero trust-aligned controls across a hybrid, multi-cloud architecture. Its strength lies in bringing print and document workflow into a unified, cloud-enabled MFP ecosystem, with strong appeal for regulated and security-sensitive environments.”
For the report, Quocirca examined the cloud print strategies of leading OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and ISVs (Independent Software Vendors). The report is based on vendor assessments as well as several end-user studies involving a total of several hundred IT decision-makers. The findings show that “cloud print adoption has reached the mainstream”: Already 78% of organisations are using cloud-based print management at least partially today. At the same time, demands for cost efficiency, security, and intelligent document processes continue to increase.
Between Cost Pressure and Security Requirements
The findings of the Quocirca study show that organisations are increasingly evaluating their print infrastructure from both an economic and security perspective.
A total of 41% of respondents cite controlling costs as their biggest challenge – three percentage points more than in the previous year, rising to 46% among midmarket organisations. At the same time, 37% cite the costs of purchasing and maintaining on-premise print servers. Local print infrastructure is becoming an increasing challenge, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. “Energy consumption, resilience, and administrative overhead are key contributors.” With cloud-based print management platforms such as Workplace Pure and SAFEQ Cloud, Konica Minolta directly addresses these challenges: They replace traditional print servers, automate administration and maintenance, and optimise the print environment through centralised monitoring and management. In addition, Quocirca highlights that the flexible, subscription-based pricing model “makes it easier for businesses to scale and budget for cloud adoption”.
Security is also a key focus for organisations. 38% see securing and managing printing across a hybrid workforce as a major challenge. In addition, 25% identified improving print security as a priority for 2026. Finally, 34% cited data security and privacy in the cloud as the biggest barrier to adopting cloud print management. Among large organisations, concerns regarding data governance and sovereignty were also cited most frequently, at 20%. According to Quocirca, Konica Minolta addresses these requirements with a zero trust cloud architecture. “End-to-end encryption, secure cloud authentication, global compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, NIST 800-53, CJIS, ISO 27001), and automated cloud-based firmware updates with AI-driven threat detection keep MFPs continuously protected.”
According to Quocirca, these findings show that organisations “remain cautious about relinquishing control over cost, security, and data governance. As a result, hybrid models dominate.”
Cloud Print and AI-Enabled Document Capture Are Converging
Another key priority for 2026, according to Quocirca, is implementing better solutions to integrate print and scan workflows (28%). In addition, more than three quarters (77%) of organisations expect an increase in the adoption of cloud capture over the next 12 months. According to Quocirca, this “transition is increasingly characterised by the adoption of AI-enabled solutions that move beyond basic digitisation to offer intelligent document processing (IDP).” At the same time, “scan volumes are also rising, with 66% expecting increased MFP usage”. According to Quocirca, “the consolidation of print and capture into a unified, AI-supported infrastructure is expected to rise.” Konica Minolta follows precisely this approach with its cloud-based document and workflow solutions. Workplace Pure, for example, “Konica Minolta’s own-IP-based cloud services platform, provides a range of digital services to simplify document-related workflows.” The cloud-based platform combines cloud printing, document capture, document management, cloud fax, and workflow services within a centralised environment, helping organisations transition their document processes into an integrated cloud infrastructure.
Konica Minolta as a Partner for Cloud Transformation
Konica Minolta’s renewed positioning as a Leader reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting organisations throughout this journey – from modernising print infrastructure to delivering intelligent, secure, and cloud-based document processing. Quocirca summarises the value of Konica Minolta’s solutions as follows: “Konica Minolta helps organisations reduce costs, mitigate cyber risks, prevent unauthorised access, and streamline document processes.”
