Software2
How Application Virtualization Can Improve the Student Experience

Delivering complex but necessary software to students in academic setups such as universities has always been a challenge. Traditional methods of deployment require large teams of IT staff as well as massive infrastructure and licensing costs; and yet, despite the huge investment involved, they often prove to be disappointingly inefficient. The main reason for this is that universities offer so many different courses, with each student wanting to access a multitude of software programs on multiple devices. The problem is further compounded because the user base changes so frequently, with a fresh intake of students arriving each year. CIOs of educational institutions are therefore, understandably keen to improve IT services to students, not least because a better learning experience helps the university to achieve improved ratings and, ultimately, that all-important associated income.

Software2- a company providing on-demand software exclusively to users in the academic world, has hit on the ideal solution to this problem. Application Jukebox can streamline any software application to any device, on or off campus; this also comes at a reduced licence cost, with ease and efficiency comparable to physically installed software, but without the need for high-end systems. Tony Austwick, CEO of Software2, says, “Unlike other solutions, which make users go to a specific machine or lab, we ensure that the applications follow the users by creating an app store type of environment.”

Unlike other solutions, which make users go to a specific machine or lab, we ensure that the applications follow the users by creating an app store type of environment

S2 Hub, the company’s flagship offering, is an ‘app store’ that enables individual students to access the software they need, wherever they may be. The option of customising the look of the product is a great value addition, enabling universities to create valuable brand reinforcement. Software2 Hub can also control access to applications, ensuring that organisations

always comply with the licensing rules of software vendors.

Two other complimentary technologies, Scense and Nexthink, have been valued partners of Software2 on the road to creating a matchless learning environment for students. “Regardless of the user’s device, Scense reduces the time to teach and makes the user experience consistent,” explains Austwick. “Meanwhile, Nexthink helps to provide information on proactive problem management methodology and saves millions of dollars for universities in hardware refresh cycles.”

Software2’s popularity amongst clients can be credited to its unique understanding of the education landscape. “We only work in academia and direct all our time and resources towards that. This enables us to understand the challenges that CIOs of universities face, which are different from the problems of other businesses,” affirms Austwick. The company has certainly become a firm fixture in the academic IT landscape.

The University of Surrey is a valued client amongst many across the UK, Europe, and the USA. With aims to become a top 10 UK and a top 100 global university within ten years, it selected Software2 as its partner in this ambition. “We worked around improving the student user experience. As a forward-thinking university, and with Jukebox being a successful project, Surrey is now ranked 4th in the UK,” states Austwick.

Austwick will continue to lead the company on the path to success as a value-added software provider in the academic niche, with Software2 Hub as its prime focus. “We’ll continue to help CIOs facilitate better learning for their students by building solutions with them,” he concludes.