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Watch: Partners reveal biggest challenges facing edtech this year

CRN caught up with channel execs at BETT 2020 to find out the biggest hurdles facing education institutions this year

Stretched budgets and slow migration from Windows 7 are some of the biggest challenges resellers are encountering with their education clients, partners have told CRN.

We spoke with channel execs at this year's Bett Show to ask them what the biggest hurdles facing edtech are, and what resellers can do to assist.

John Halsam, head of business development at Stone, noted that ever-tightening school budgets can lead to a conversation on the circular economy and helping schools "do more with less", where IT asset disposal companies (ITAD) can take old kit from other organisations, refurbish it and give it a second life with schools.

Despite support for Windows 7 ending earlier this month, resellers are still struggling to sway educational institutions away from the legacy OS, according to Amber Smith, sales director at eBuyer.

"Any software or applications that they have been using for years on legacy systems - it's a tough challenge to get them moved over and that's what we need to be talking to them about," she stated.

Meanwhile Chris Rothwell, Microsoft UK's director for education, said that deploying the kit and software at schools isn't enough anymore and that reseller partners need to properly investigate the institution's needs and then marry that with the edtech.

"Many schools are committed to edtech and the devices and the services, but that's not the overwhelming thing on their mind most of the time; it's about how to raise attainment, how to support pupil premium and how to help them manage their budget more effectively," he explained.

"I would encourage every reseller to make sure they are connecting what the tech is to the priority of the schools."