Smart tech has definitely changed how students learn in school. Over the years, it’s made learning more inclusive and accessible for students. Purchasing smart tech also allows teachers to come up with lesson plans that make learning more engaging.

One of the main benefits of smart tech purchasing is that it helps American schools stretch their budgets. Many schools deal with small budgets, but with smart tech, these budgets can be maximized to improve the overall learning experience. Let’s take a closer look at this main benefit in this article.

Schools often end up buying multiple tools to do the same job. For instance, they may purchase a reading app, while another one buys a different one that teaches the same skills. This inefficiency can negatively impact a school’s budget, especially when that money can be used for other tools that improve learning.

Smart tech purchasing fixes this by taking a step back and looking at the entire school or district’s technology landscape before buying anything new. Through the help of these tools, schools can get a better view of every tool being used and find overlaps. Discovering these overlaps can then help them remove or replace unnecessary tools so the school only pays for what it truly needs.

Buying low-tech tools can look like a good way to save money, especially for schools dealing with tight budgets. However, it’s important to remember that students will be using these gadgets every day, and that means they’ll quickly go through wear and tear. 

Smart tech purchasing avoids this trap by looking beyond the price tag and focusing on the total cost of ownership (TCO). Taking the time to look at which gadgets are indeed worth the money helps reduce long-term maintenance costs. This is also where schools can make better decisions about refurbished and brand-new devices for K–12 budgets.

Schools don’t have to always worry about gadgets breaking down, and they can focus more on providing a better learning experience for their students.

Schools that buy technology on their own, such as one batch of laptops here and a few software licenses there, tend to pay higher prices. With smart tech purchasing, schools can leverage bulk purchasing power since they will buy large quantities at once.

Here’s how that works in practice:

“Shadow IT” happens when teachers, staff, or departments buy their own technology. This usually happens because the tech and tools that a school provides aren’t sufficient for the students. The purchases may look small at first, but they can build up and cause large, unplanned expenses. It also may result in paying for tools that were never in the budget and data privacy risks.

Smart tech purchasing stops this pattern by offering high-quality, district-approved solutions that actually meet educators’ needs. With a smart tech procurement strategy, schools can first ask teachers what they really need before buying new tech. Once the tools and tech are bought, smarter investments also provide training and support so teachers can use the official tools effectively.

Older classroom technology, like aging projectors and desktop computers, can be surprisingly expensive to run. They draw more electricity, which also means that they require larger utility bills. 

Smart tech purchasing can help schools upgrade their devices to modern, energy-efficient ones. Updated tech and tools can deliver the same performance (or better) while using far less power. For instance, many modern devices have built-in settings that automatically reduce brightness, enter low-power mode, or shut down when not in use. This is a great way to save money without any extra effort from staff.

The Bottom Line

Smart tech purchasing helps American schools make every dollar work harder. Choosing tools that last longer and have better features is a great way for teachers to provide better lessons and experiences for their students. 

Schools that buy strategically can make space for better learning tools that truly support students and teachers. In the end, smart tech purchasing helps schools build a more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready learning environment.