5 Ways to Stay Ahead of the Curve on Emerging Education Trends
Oct 7, 2025
By Osman Aziz, Eaton Segment Development Manager, Education
For Eaton partners seeking to bolster sales, the writing is on the wall ― or on the blackboard, as the case may be. From preschools to higher ed campuses and everything in between, the education sector is exploding with prospective opportunities.
There’s never been a better time to capitalize on outfitting classrooms, libraries, network closets, lecture halls, auditoriums, district offices and other education applications with the comprehensive Eaton/Tripp Lite portfolio. Consider the fact that the IT budget for education spend was estimated at $40 billion last year ― an investment that is only expected to rise. Meanwhile, the use of digital devices in schools has increased 99% since 2020. PowerAdvantage partners have everything needed to take full advantage of selling into the educational space. Ace the test with the following tips:
At Eaton, we understand the challenges faced by education IT professionals. With our team of experts and our extensive portfolio of power solutions designed to support every aspect of your IT environment, from server rooms to classrooms, we provide comprehensive solutions that meet the unique needs of your educational institution.
1. Be the Big Man (or Woman) on Campus
Encompassing more than 6,000 SKUs, the Eaton/Tripp Lite portfolio makes it easy to meet education customers’ increasing desire to standardize on a vendor who can help the sector overcome its greatest challenges of downtime, student safety and security. The broad portfolio also addresses the segment’s growing need for flexible solutions that improve efficiency and simplify lifecycles. Thanks to Eaton’s strategically located distribution partners who can deliver product quickly, as well as partners’ access to applications engineers and sales support resources, you can make the process seamless.
2. Deploy smart solutions
Deploying UPS solutions with lithium-ion batteries and safeguarding against escalating cybersecurity threats currently rank among the most prominent trends in the education sector. Eaton is well positioned to address these focal points with solutions such as lithium-ion 9PX and 5P UPS models, as well as the remote monitoring and management capabilities afforded by the Gigabit Network Card (Network-M3) and Brightlayer software.
3. Embrace study tools
Position yourself at the top of the class by accessing the wealth of support and resources available to PowerAdvantage partners, from deal registration to sales incentives to marketing assistance. Even more, you can offer your education customers onsite power reviews. Valued at $1,500, these assessments are free for both prospective customers and partners. And make sure you keep your calculator handy, because there is a 70% close rate on recommended solutions following an onsite power review.
4. Expand your curriculum
To maximize educational opportunities, it’s important to think beyond UPSs and explore the many additional product options within the Eaton portfolio. The full spectrum makes it easy to address the unique needs of the sector’s varied applications; think power strips, monitor mounts, charging stations, adjustable-height workstations, power management software and more.
5. Do your research
It’s critical for partners to stay up-to-date on state and local funding sources, such as contracts with pre-negotiated rates that allow schools to upgrade network infrastructure at discounts ranging from 20% to 85%. Eligible products for E-Rate, for example, include UPSs, racks, network switches, network cards and software. With many application processes now open, there’s never been a better time to capitalize on these opportunities.
For more information
Learn more about why Eaton is the smart choice to help schools save time, save money and reduce risk. Unlock valuable resources and tools in our Education Solutions Hub.