Companies in this industry design, develop, market, and support software used in education and training. Major companies include Anthology, Renaissance Learning, Rosetta Stone, and Skillsoft (all based in the US); as well as software divisions of publishers such as Cengage Learning and Scholastic Corporation and training units of diversified software providers such as Oracle and SAP. Top firms based outside the US include Affero Lab (Brazil), NIIT (India), and Promethean World (the UK).
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven by corporate, institutional, and consumer spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on technical expertise and effective marketing. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in marketing and customer support. Small companies compete mainly by targeting niche markets or developing new technology. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest firms account for about 70% of revenue.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include software for training students, employees, and consumers. Using education and training software online is often referred to as e-learning.