EMEA education tech sales hit $2.74bn

Compounded annual growth rate of 12.4 per cent from 2007 to 2013, research finds

Sales of technology into the education market – covering tablets, displays, laptops, voice amplification and the rest – expanded to $2.74bn (£1.63bn) in EMEA last year, annual Futuresource analysis says.

Colin Messenger, senior market analyst at specialist researcher Futuresource Consulting, said the EMEA market for education technology expanded in compounded annual terms at 12.4 per cent from 2007 to 2013.

"For EMEA, 2013 reached $2.74bn. And 340,000 displays were sold into education last year in EMEA," Messenger told ChannelWeb.

Globally, education hardware sales expanded 11 per cent to reach $13bn year on year. This includes everything from mobile PCs and complementary systems and peripherals to interactive whiteboards and projectors, the research firm said.

"Despite a lull in a number of other technology markets, education technology continues to perform, even with pressure being applied to education budgets across the world," Messenger (pictured) said.

What's more, there is plenty of sales strength to come as projections suggest the entire market could reach $19bn by 2018 – although at a slower eight per cent rate from 2013. Interactive flat panels globally are tipped to do better, seeing 2013 to 2018 growth of 11 per cent.

Mobile PCs – including laptops, tablets and netbooks – are a major driver, currently accounting for 62 per cent of the total education hardware spend, he said, although the product mix continues to mutate.

"As the education sector continues to transition towards digital, many further requirements need to be met beyond the hardware itself with the emphasis moving from hardware activity into software, content, infrastructure and services," Messenger said.

Futuresource is also set to hold a webinar on 9 July looking at developments in the market.