Nearly every academic institution and campus has made significant investments in IT and tech infrastructure over the past few years. However, modernization is complex, and there are lots of choices to make.
Today’s budget challenges and billions of dollars in deferred capital needs across the education sector have resulted in a patchwork of solutions in many cases. For example, an Educause survey showed that although 92% of institutions are undergoing some level of system modernization, only 1% of those responding felt their academic institution has fully modernized its data management and IT strategy.
Yet, there’s a critical (and urgent) need to manage information technology and ensure it offers the best possible experience for staff and students. With a wide range of options available and an ever-growing list of priorities, selecting the right information technology suppliers can feel overwhelming.
Working with the right technology suppliers goes way beyond just finding a good deal. You need to develop long-term, strategic relationships with companies that understand your institution’s goals, provide scalable solutions, and support continuous innovation.
When assessing potential EdTech or information technology suppliers, price is only one piece of the puzzle. Here are five critical areas to consider:
Campuses face more than 2,500 cyberattacks every week.
Let that number sink in for a minute. Between research data, student information, and financial details, colleges, universities, and school districts have a wealth of information attractive to hackers.
It’s critical to make sure any technology supplier you consider is familiar with education-specific compliance requirements, including FERPA and COPPA. You cannot afford to settle for anything less than industry-leading encryption, storage practices, user access controls, and threat remediation.
Look for solutions that can grow with your institution. Whether you’re adding a new campus or expanding course offerings, your suppliers should offer flexible technology that scales.
Any technology supplier you consider must also be able to demonstrate how its system integrates with your existing infrastructure and will enable future upgrades to accommodate the introduction of new EdTech solutions.
Look beyond the initial price and focus on TCO. Evaluate implementation fees, staff training, licensing, maintenance, and support. Some lower-priced offerings may end up costing more over time due to hidden expenses or inefficient service.
The education sector is unique. Suppliers with a strong track record of serving education clients are better positioned to understand your challenges.
Ensure you’ll receive consistent, high-quality support. Review service-level agreements (SLAs) and ask about average response times, resolution procedures, and customer satisfaction ratings. A responsive partner can make a big difference when things go bad.
The most successful technology relationships are built on shared goals and open communication. You want a partner and not just an information technology supplier. Working collaboratively to assess your needs and to design solutions that work for your unique situation is crucial to long-term success.
Involving internal stakeholders in the early stages to evaluate options and test pilot programs in a real-world setting can help provide feedback and adoption.
One way to simplify the selection and evaluation process is to use cooperative contracts. These competitively solicited contracts streamline vetting and procurement. Working with an education-focused cooperative like E&I Cooperative Services, you get access to top-tier technology suppliers that understand academic settings.
Cooperative contracts at E&I offer significant benefits, including:
Technology needs are constantly evolving. Your supplier relationships should, too.
It’s a good idea to set KPIs and benchmarks, planning regular reviews with your EdTech partners to ensure their solutions meet your expectations. This provides a way for you to address any shortfalls more rapidly and have the data to back up your claims.
Good communication is key. Discussing your technology roadmap with your suppliers helps them understand your needs. In many cases, your needs can help influence suppliers’ product development schedules to better suit your future needs.
When a supplier becomes a trusted partner, it is more likely to suggest improvements and invest in the relationship.
Choosing the right technology suppliers is a critical step in modernizing your operations and providing the learning experience your students deserve. From compliance and cost to innovation and support, every decision matters.
E&I Cooperative Services can help you access competitively solicited contracts to save you time and money. As the only member-owned nonprofit sourcing cooperative focusing exclusively on education, E&I negotiates volume discounts on behalf of its over 6,000 member institutions with terms favorable to the unique needs of education.
Ready to make every technology partnership count? Learn more about E&I’s approach to technology suppliers and find the best solutions for education technology purchasing, or apply for membership to access cooperative contracts that save you time and money.