Van Schaik picks Ingram's VitalSource to power e-textbook

"Having served the academic market in Africa for nearly a century, we have a clear understanding of the needs of our unique customer base" said Stephan Erasmus, MD of Van Schaik Bookstores. "We believe that e-textbooks are a growing and important part of the future of education and working with an international market leader like VitalSource, we have the resources to enhance learning throughout Africa and meet the digital needs of the academic community today and into the future."

Van Schaik has an online store, a library division and 55 stores, located on or near academic institutions. As e-textbook use in higher education continues its dramatic growth worldwide, the Vital Source reseller solution provides Van Schaik with tools to sell and deliver e-textbooks to its widespread customer base without costly infrastructure investments. Through the reseller programme, Van Schaik will administer publisher and institutional relationships, content, contracts, orders, and financial management.

Looking for a robust e-textbook solution

"Van Schaik was looking for a robust e-textbook solution that would serve even the most remote of its customers," said William Chesser, vice-president of sales, Vital Source Technologies. "The VitalSource platform is a true online/offline e-book solution, with robust iOS and Android apps complementing Mac, Windows, and browser-based access. The multiplicity of access options is crucial in an emerging environment like South African higher education."

Van Schaik easily incorporated its online store and in-store kiosks with the VitalSource fulfilment engine through industry-standard web integration. Students and educators who purchase e-textbooks from Van Schaik enjoy all the benefits of the VitalSource platform, including integrated download, online and mobile content options, advanced searching, and annotation, note-sharing, and accessibility features.

Becoming a reseller of VitalSource allows Van Schaik's stores to consolidate their position as a key content service provider on campus. "They become the go-to local experts in e-content, and are able to help their client campuses solve not just content aggregation and access challenges, but the critical integration, finance, support, and training challenges that come hand-in-hand with migration to a digital education world," said Chesser.

"As resellers reshape their business and enhance their offering for today's students, the Vital Source reseller solution is perfectly suited to support those efforts," said Kent Freeman, COO of VitalSource Technologies. "Using VitalSource, Van Schaik will connect more students and educators to the newest interactive learning tools and e-textbooks from the leaders in education. We are pleased to support Van Schaik in their efforts to make e-textbooks available to all that want them."