We’re Removing Barriers to Next-Generation Education Technology Adoption

Public sector organizations can meet many of the identifiable and evolving needs of modern consumers with next-generation technology investments. But they must overcome budgetary roadblocks to meet these identifiable needs.

Fortunately, integrated and customized financing concepts help organizations optimize their technical infrastructure, even as they introduce new capabilities to their students and staff for the very first time. Organizations can begin with virtually no budget and scale critical technologies successfully, gradually increasing then decreasing their payments as they put those technologies to use. 

The rapid adoption of connected, consumer-facing technologies has aided public sector professionals in providing their services, even in moments of great upheaval. In education, thousands of schools and millions of students have already accessed education technology (“EdTech”) to broaden the scope of learning and make learning more personalized for students. A new generation of distance-learning tools with advanced capabilities like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) features will transform the ways educators engage their students, both in the classroom and at home.

But while school administrators remain open-minded in terms of new technologies that improve student experiences and outcomes, they often lack the financial means to invest in the tools they need—even if that need is immediate and they are confident in the long-term value of those investments. This has become especially apparent as global disruptions accelerate the need for distance learning and advanced capabilities that will enhance home-learning experiences well into the future.

When disaster strikes and people are confined to their homes, the need for connected technologies rises abruptly. Public education organizations have witnessed sudden increases in technological requirements as well. In early 2020, governments in over 100 countries closed their public schools, affecting over 900 million students and driving a dramatic increase in the adoption of distance learning tools.

But while this response arose amidst a temporary crisis, experts believe this sudden necessity was simply the continuation of emerging trends in education technology adoption and demand. “The pandemic will not last, but the world will realize the power of online learning,” says one EdTech business leader. “These educational tools are not just for a pandemic.”

But while there are countless needs and clear financial incentives for educational capabilities, investment dollars often are not forthcoming. Public sector organizations need to bridge the gap between identifying these growing needs and achieving the widespread technology adoption that will meet them, even at peak requirements.

Fortunately, flexible equipment financing options allow schools to shape their digital transformation sustainably along the entire technology lifecycle. Intelligent financing options allow organizations—even those with virtually no budget it all—to start on only small, regular payments and increase payment volumes gradually, even as their new technology performs. 

As that technology performs and payments increase, the technology will have proven its viability and financial justification. If the technology does not perform, organizations have options to cancel their investment—rather than become encumbered with unwanted, idle equipment. In this way, costs and lack of budget are no longer barriers to modernization and digitalization of public sector companies. 

CHG-MERIDIAN provides transparent and flexible financing options to public sector organizations to make this possible. What’s more, we provide technology lifecycle management support that adds measurable value to organizations’ technology investments, including a customized billing model to meet their needs. Organizations enjoy simple, cost-center-specific charging, lower total costs, and minimized risks.