Vendor launches online store

Interactive technology vendor Promethean has launched an online store for end users, but claims this move will not have a negative impact on the channel.

The store only sells education software ­ it does not stock Promethean’s interactive whiteboards (IWBs) or interactive voting products.

Paul Berry, director of UK business, said: “With the exception of a few resellers, education software is not a main revenue stream for the majority of the channel. Selling software represents a lot of effort on the part of the reseller and with an average transaction of £150, provides a very low return.

“For those who do sell Promethean software or who choose to in the future, we are investigating whether or not it is technically possible to provide resellers with access to the online shop so they get returns for driving customers to the site,” he added.

Nick Lumley, commercial manager at Promethean VAR CDEC, said: “Software sales tend to be customer driven. We might install an IWB and then the customer will ask what other software is available for it. It is not a huge revenue stream for us at the moment though.”