Bechtle empowers digitalisation in Saarland schools

• Bechtle commissioned to supply over 20,000 HP notebooks and Aruba network infrastructure by the Regional Association of Saarbrücken.
• Bechtle a strong IT partner in the drive towards digital education

Neckarsulm, 16 September 2020 – Bechtle has been awarded a framework contract to provide the Regional Association of Saarbrücken with over 20,000 HP notebooks and Aruba network infrastructure. The contract also covers a tailored service concept for the delivery of end-to-end services over a period of up to four years amounting to up to 12 million euros. Bechtle will provide schools in the district with turnkey mobile devices for pupils and teachers.

Within the framework of the "DigitalPakt Schule", a federal programme to equip schools with modern technology, the largest of the six districts in Saarland has launched a campaign to make devices available to schools and pupils and enable a digital classroom experience both on-site, but also from home. Bechtle has been commissioned to equip the affiliated schools with up to 20,000 convertible notebooks from HP. These rugged devices have the added benefit that they can be transformed into tablet computers and come preloaded with HP Classroom Manager, which optimally supports digital collaboration in a school setting.

Bechtle also pre-installs all other required software applications and manages all related assets and inventories. The contract will be fulfilled by Bechtle Saarbrücken, which also offers complementary training and dedicated staff seminars.

The Bechtle specialists will collaborate closely with the Regional Association of Saarbrücken’s Information and Media Centre (IMZ), e.g. to develop a bespoke service and support concept for IT in education. Required software will also be installed in IMZ facilities to be able to deliver turnkey end devices to the schools. The extensive framework contract also encompasses Aruba-based network infrastructure in order to give schools gapless, high-performance Wi-Fi coverage.

“Bechtle is a highly reliable IT partner who truly understands the challenges faced by schools. There are many dedicated specialists working together to create and implement future-oriented solution concepts. Our collaboration is exemplary and could become a model for other districts and federal states of how you can make modern digital education happen,” says Christian Müller, director of the IMZ.

Christian Walter, Head of Bechtle’s Saarland branch: “For us, it’s not about just putting digital technology into schools. We pursue an integrated approach to make teaching and learning easier and better through technology. If we can do this, we’re doing a major service for the future of our children.”