The value of the interactive display market is growing due to a strong transition to higher priced interactive flat panels (IFPDs). These accounted for over a third of the market in 2014, according to the new figures from Futuresource Consulting. New suppliers entering the market include distributors developing their own branded solution sourced from the Far East. In the UK, interactive flat panel displays accounted for 58% of sales in 2014, taking significant market share away from interactive whiteboards and triggering faster value growth.
Global market volumes reached 1.3 million units, representing a 2% decline across all interactive display devices. “One of the key factors expected to ensure steady sales is that the replacement market is now significant,” said Colin Messenger, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “Of the seven million interactive displays in schools, one million are over eight years old. This is providing a strong opportunity with many end users trading up to flat panel solutions when they replace their existing display.”
An extremely attractive yet untapped gap in the market is that of interactive displays in the corporate meeting room. Futuresource estimates that there are 46 million meeting rooms globally, current penetration is negligible at 1.6% (with market volumes in 2014 reaching just over 100,000 units), compared to the 20% penetration in classrooms.
“Few vendors have developed solutions targeting the market and to date, the success of interactive displays in classrooms has not transitioned across to the meeting room environment. One of the largest issues we hear is the issue of simplicity. Unlike the classroom environment, meeting room solutions are likely to be utilised rarely by any one individual. Therefore meeting room solutions need to be completely intuitive to ensure adoption.”
