Handheld voting system vendor Qwizdom has ditched its 100 per cent direct sales strategy and signed an exclusive UK distribution agreement with Midwich.

The firm is hoping to target the UK’s 23,000 primary schools through Midwich’s network of audiovisual (AV) resellers.
The voting devices, which enable students to vote on key questions during lessons using a push-button system, can be used in a variety of markets, including corporation presentations and training. But the primary focus for resellers should be education, according to Midwich’s business manager, Stuart Mizon.

“This technology has been around for a while, but it’s set to really take off now,” he said.

According to figures from Decision Tree Consulting (DTC), the UK sales total for interactive voting
systems is predicted to be around 230,000 handsets. The UK market is currently growing at 24 per cent year on year. DTC found that interactive voting systems are used in one-third of secondary schools in the UK.

Qwizdom director Gary Morrison has urged the channel to target primary schools and universities as the main growth areas. “There is £336m available to primary schools. That makes this latest deal a particularly attractive offering to resellers.”

Qwizdom is offering Midwich preferential margins, training and demonstration kits. Midwich will provide resellers with product demonstrations and training.

“Interactive voting systems make a refreshing add-on to the whiteboard market,” said Mizon.