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39 teachwire.net ABOUT THE AUTHOR Winston Poyton is senior product director at IRIS Software Group; for more information, visit iris.co.uk or follow @IRISSoftwareGrp I MP L EMENTAT I ON improvements that can be made. That said, this will require a willingness on the part of the school to try out a system that’s still being developed, and some setting aside of time for the communications you’ll need to have with the supplier. Investigate pricing strategies Generally, there are two different types of payment – subscription or perpetual licensing. If your school is more cash rich you may prefer perpetual licensing, which typically includes an upfront software cost followed by an annual maintenance fee. However, subscriptions are rapidly becoming more popular, since government funding is often distributed throughout the year. This allows schools to spread their technology costs, making them easier to budget for. At a time when demand for technology in education has never been greater, it’s important to have an open relationship with suppliers and see if they can help you make a tight budget go that little bit further. 5 TIPS FOR INVESTING IN TECH l Define what your school needs from the new technology – this will guide your strategy and ensure you get the maximum benefit for more of your staff. l Partner with your supplier – find out what additional or ongoing services and support they can offer. l Share the benefits – get better deals by collaborating with other schools to secure volume discounts or negotiate referral deals with your supplier. l Put a value on your time and expertise – cost savings can be had if you test new technology. l Secure the best pricing strategy for you – do you want to pay for the tech upfront and be able to use it indefinitely, or would a subscription- based license suit you better?