Interactive Whiteboards Market Analysis Report By Technology (Resistive Membrane, Capacitive), By Projection Technique, By Application (Education, Corporate), By Form Factor, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global interactive whiteboards market size was valued at USD 1.38 billion in 2016 and is expected to register an estimated CAGR of 6.1% over the forecast period. Digital learning has transformed the definition of conventional classroom teaching.

The introduction of advanced learning methods with the help of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) has altered the means in which teaching is perceived, and has led to the creation of an operating system that provides an adaptive and user-friendly learning experience. These boards are serving education, government, and corporate sectors in diverse applications, subsequently driving market growth.

Presently, institutions are increasingly preparing students for employability across major industries such as automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, and healthcare. Most industries are deploying hardware systems such as interactive whiteboards to enhance teaching methodology.

The main idea of using interactive boards is to deliver visual presentations on various subjects by actively engaging a group of people. This technology used in IWBs offers a better replacement for existing conventional whiteboards or traditional flip charts. Moreover, it helps students gain experience in performing complex technical operations apart from acquiring skills such as communication and teamwork.

The growing trend of education gamification is expected to drive growth prospects for the market over the coming years. Rising popularity and efforts from vendors have also helped in its penetration in corporate and government sectors. Interactive whiteboards are increasingly being used in the education sector as they help teachers in demonstrating using alternative modes and make teaching easy by integrating quality materials lessons with images and graphs from the Internet.

Technology Insights

Infrared, resistive membrane, electromagnetic pen, and capacitive are key IWB technologies. The resistive membrane segment captured the largest market share of more than 40% of the total revenue in 2016. This technology can process contact from a pen, finger, or any other device, making it immensely popular among users. Further, these whiteboards are cost-effective in comparison to other technologies, which is another reason driving its adoption.

Capacitive boards have been showing a promising growth rate. Capacitive touchscreens have successfully found application in smartphones, tablets, and now interactive whiteboards. This high technology penetration is ascribed to their durability, sensitivity, responsiveness, and ability to support multi-touch. The technology has proved to be better than resistive touchscreens as they provide better manipulation of content, thereby improving interactive environment.

Form Factor Insights

Interactive whiteboards are available in fixed and portable designs. Fixed whiteboards are more user-friendly as they provide standard aspect ratios, which is familiar and compatible with most existing projectors and computer set-ups. It does not require to upgrade any existing equipment. It has a robust construction with reliable and accurate finger-touch interactivity. Owing to such advantages, fixed IWBs are being increasingly deployed in recent years and the segment accounted for over 50.0% of the total market in 2016.

Some of the latest developments, such as ‘Laser Image Technology’, auto calibration technique, and Gesture Recognition systems, are now being integrated within portable interactive boards, making them the future of IWBs. Portable boards are suitable for instant presentations during business trips and small classroom studies. It involves different gesture recognitions, such as writing, moving, zooming in and out, scrolling up and down, and erasing, with just the movement of fingers. This has rendered them popular among corporates as well as teachers that require to shuffle between more than one presentation room.

Projection Technique Insights

Based on projection technique, the interactive whiteboards market is segmented into front and rear projection. Front projection technique accounted for close to 68.0% of the overall market in 2016. These IWBs are equipped with a video projector, usually attached to the board frame, which leans over the board and projects back onto the board’s surface externally. A major disadvantage of these IWBs is that the presenter, standing in front of the screen, requires to extend his or her arm with or without a stylus to avoid casting a shadow.

The rear projection segment is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Rear-projection locates emissive display or projector behind the whiteboard sensing surface to avoid occurrence of shadows. This also reduces the problem that front-projection technique presents, of the presenter looking into the projector light while communicating with the audience.

Application Insights

The market is expected to witness healthy growth as an increasing number of end users understand the need for greater engagement as well as learning in classrooms as well as businesses. The use of IWBs in the education sector was the highest in 2016 and accounted for a market revenue share of more than 65.0%. Technology has a long-standing history in improving classroom learning experiences. For instance, with a modest beginning, overheard projectors and TVs have paved a way for newer technologies such as interactive whiteboards as well as flat panel displays. This has aided in providing a fully immersive learning experience.

One key factor expected to drive demand in the education sector is today’s tech-savvy youth, which is so well connected with a host of digital devices. This continuous stream of information through digital devices has led to schools/colleges and other educational institutes to focus their attention on upgrading visual and IT equipment primarily utilized for interactive learning.

Regional Insights

Developed countries such as U.S. and U.K. support the use of smart classrooms and e-learning in schools, in a manner that is aligned to the educational curriculum of that country. These countries provide schools sufficient aid to procure IWB solutions and also promote technological advances in the education sector. Europe accounted for the majority market share in 2016.

The market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. E-learning initiatives in emerging countries such as Japan and India have resulted in increased demand for these boards. Furthermore, rising government initiatives to equip classrooms with appropriate technological tools to facilitate easy learning for students is anticipated to drive demand in the region.

Interactive Whiteboards Market Share Insights

Some of the leading players in the market are SMART Technologies; Promethean Ltd.; Mimio; Egan Teamboard Inc.; and Hitachi, Ltd. The market for interactive learning and collaboration products and services is still emerging and evolving and is characterized by rapid technological advancements and frequent introduction of new products, many of which may compete with, or replace, IWBs. The industry is witnessing a shift in product mix from interactive whiteboards and interactive projectors to interactive flat panels, which is anticipated to continue over the coming years.

However, development of new technologies and products involves time, substantial costs, and risks. Owing to the competitive and highly volatile nature of the industries, manufacturers continually need to introduce new products, technologies and services, enhance existing products and services, and efficiently stimulate customer demand for upgraded and new products to sustain in the market.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of latest industry trends from 2014 to 2025 in each of the sub-segments. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global interactive whiteboards market report on the basis of technology, form factor, projection technique, application, and region:

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Infrared

  • Resistive Membrane

  • Electromagnetic pen

  • Capacitive

  • Others

• Form Factor Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Fixed

  • Portable

• Projection Technique Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Front projection

  • Rear projection

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Education

  • Corporate

  • Commercial

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Korea

    • Indonesia

    • Australia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East & Africa