Developing a Long term technology plan
Developing a Long term technology plan
- Subject: Developing a Long term technology plan
- From: Mark Billington <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2016 09:01:01 -0700
Hello all
Marc Melkonian sent out an email this morning outlining the equipment that will be supported by the new release of iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra. This is a great opportunity to look into trade in programs that may provide additional funding to upgrade your technology fleet. It is also a good time to begin developing a long term sustainability plan to address these types changes. Apple is here to help with that process.
As you integrate larger numbers of devices into your district’s technology fleet, it is critical to develop a sustainability plan. It is no longer enough to simply look at the acquisition cost of the equipment. How are you going to fund the project over a ten year or longer period? How do you avoid the peak and valley spending patterns of traditional plans that cause challenges for your Board? How do you plan for obsolete equipment? How will you dispose of the equipment at the end of it useful life of your project? These are all key questions that should be evaluated in developing a sustainability plan for your district. Apple has many strategies and tools to help you build a long term sustainable plan. These tools include planning spreadsheets, financing programs, and trade in programs that recapture funding for you at the end of your desired equipment lifecycle.
Many people have the perception that Apple is a higher cost choice for educational technology. When you take a longer term view of your purchase instead of looking only at the acquisition cost you will find that Apple is one of the lower cost, most beneficial choices you can make. Many schools and individuals have replaced their traditional lighting systems with new more efficient LED lighting. These new lights are significantly more expense than traditional lighting. Why are so many institutions and families making this move that has a very high acquisition cost? Their decision is based on a longer term plan. The new LED bulbs are are more efficient, last longer and are better for the environment. All these factors result in a much lower cost over a long term period. Apple equipment has a very similar long term value.
One of the key factors that impacts Apple’s long term value is the useful life of Apple equipment. Apple equipment traditionally has a longer useful life than competing technology products. This results in the equipment being used by schools for many more years or, a fact missed by many districts, a significantly higher trade in value at the end of their desired life cycle. Many districts are surprised to learn how much value is held in what they perceive as “old” equipment. Apple works with schools recapture that value through trade in programs to provide additional funding to sustain projects. Many districts have recovered tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even a million or more dollars in additional funding through these trade in programs. We can help you find the value in your old equipment as well as create a plan to maximize this value as part of future purchases.
These trade in programs also help sustain our environment. Many districts are purchasing what they call “disposable” technology. “Disposable” technology is cheap, and has no value at the end of a two or three year cycle. “If it breaks we just dispose of it and get a new one.” Where is all of the equipment going to end up at the end of its short life cycle. Most likely in our landfills! A strong sustainability plan is also ecologically sound by providing a method to trade in or recycle equipment at the end your planned equipment life cycle. In addition to trade in programs Apple offers a free technology recycling program to help sustain our environment. More information about our education recycling program is located here: http://www.apple.com/education/recycling/ <http://www.apple.com/education/recycling/>
By leveraging trade in programs, longer life cycles, and financing programs offered by Apple many districts have found that they can provide higher quality
Apple educational technology to their students at the same or lower costs than many of the perceived “cheap” solutions. Let us help you develop a sustainable plan to get the most out of your technology investments.
Thanks
Mark and the rest of the Apple Washington Team
Mark Billington, Account Executive
email@hidden <mailto:email@hidden>
(206) 617-6727
Melissa Jackson, Inside Account Executive
email@hidden <mailto:email@hidden>
Office (800)800-2775 ext. 42866
Fax (866)845-2999
Marc Melkonian, Systems Engineer
email@hidden <mailto:email@hidden>
(425) 445-8763
Pete Vraspir, K-12 Development Executive
email@hidden <mailto:email@hidden>
(360) 317-5828
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