California based hardware company ViewSonic has expanded its product line with software solution UNIVERSE. With this the company claims to have expanded their product range in the ed-tech space. “In the edtech sector, we are aiming to construct a holistic educational ecosystem which has the potential to unite hardware, software and service solutions, James Chu, founder, chairman, ViewSonic, told FE Education. “These programmes are designed to provide educators with ongoing opportunities for skill enhancement, knowledge enrichment and practical experience. Our approach is centred around addressing the specific requirements of educators, equipping schools with the essential tools to offer engaging and personalised classroom experiences,” he added. The company further claims to have created professional development (PD) initiatives tailored to educators in India.
Moreover, the company aims to grow its revenue by 2x-3x in the next five years. “We believe this target is achievable by capitalising on the expanding educational technology market in India. We aim to reach more ed-tech platforms and users, leveraging our innovative product offerings. It’s important to note that only five percent of the market has been tapped into so far, leaving substantial room for growth,” Muneer Ahmad, vice president, Sales and Marketing, ViewSonic India, said. As per the firm, it currently claims to operate 30 regional distributors (RDs) and more than 150 channel partners in India.
Furthermore, the company claims to have more than 30 strategic system integrators at a local level in both the government and private education sectors. “Our strategic partnerships have allowed us to effectively participate in government tenders and deliver robust solutions. We’ve established strong connections with various private education players. These partnerships help us and tailor our solutions accordingly,” Chu explained. The company launched a new platform Universe along with the latest ViewBoard IFP-52-2F certified under Android™ Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement (EDLA) and integrated with Android 13 OS. With Universe ViewSonic claims to develop online learning experiences through 3D environment, video conferencing and streaming. It further claims the platform allows students to interact and navigate around the digital platform through personalised avatars. Moreover, it claims that ViewBoard is designed for modern educators and offers an intuitive and interactive interface. “We have designed ViewBoard to boost classroom productivity, the new series provides full access to the Google Play Store by providing access to apps like Chrome, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Drive. It comes equipped with a range of security features such as password protection, two-step authentication, data encryption and others,” Chu explained.
Interestingly, the company claims that it has faced several challenges in terms of international expansion. “The most significant challenge we’ve encountered is dealing with cultural differences. Each country has its own norms, communication styles and management practices. Ensuring that our global team aligns with our mission and works cohesively towards common goals is crucial,” Chu explained. The company plans to develop tailored products and services to meet specific needs of Indian educators.