Print in the Channel - issue #15

EDUCATION SECTOR

CONTINUED

David Harrison director public sector sales

are looking to deliver more coordinated, connected efforts to help students succeed, something that is especially vital given many are still trying to overcome the setbacks imposed during the pandemic,” says Noel. “Digital transformation plays a significant role here, granting students unprecedented access to staff and information. Increased access empowers staff to identify trends and develop tailored approaches for individuals, while students will benefit from enhanced transparency and access. Previously, education was often one-size-fits-all. “The advent of generative AI tools such as document summarisation promise customers significant time savings, and more possibility for an individualised approach, yielding more successful outcomes for students and their teachers. “Customers are also prioritising document management solutions that eliminate paper- based forms and processes, saving time and money across activities like application evaluation through manual process automation.” Must haves Noel adds that the recent proliferation of learning technology, largely because of hybrid schooling, means that fresh tools that enhance the experience of students and staff are now a 'must-have', not a ‘nice-to-have' that they might have been viewed as in the past. “Particularly among primary and secondary school educators, we are likely to see continued demand for digitalisation and centralisation of records, which allow schools and teachers to access and secure vital documents with ease,” Noel adds. “Research

from September 2023 found that a third of teachers already use technology such as AI to help with their work, doubling in size since May of the same year. “This figure is only set to grow in 2024 as customers continue to look for the most innovative solutions to free up teachers’ time, supercharging classroom experiences.” David agrees that in the education sector, the demands for efficient, flexible, user- friendly and cost-effective solutions are high. “Clients often seek out solutions that streamline workflows, offer lower power consumption, enhance collaboration, improve document security, and support remote learning environments,” he says. “On top of this, there's a growing emphasis on solutions that offer integrations with Microsoft Teams, One Drive and Google as well as with existing educational technology platforms. All of which need to provide robust analytics for tracking usage and managing costs.” Embracing technology Other product categories that are in high demand in the education sector currently include cloud-based document management systems, multifunction printers with advanced scanning capabilities, interactive tables mobile printing solutions, and software applications for document collaboration and digital workflow automation, David says. “For many of our education clients it’s about embracing the transformation to a Multi Academy Trust (MAT), by seeking out easy to use technology from one supplier who can provide devices with common functionality for printing and scanning. MATs CONTINUED

sharp.co.uk

Clients often seek out solutions that streamline workflows, offer lower power consumption, enhance collaboration, improve document security, and support remote learning environments. ” “

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