Innovation

The unique innovation solution that Kite+Key has created is a business model that efficiently facilitates education by providing the best possible options for students' technological needs. In addition, it incorporates many different programs, including one that rewards students for utilizing public transportation when commuting to classes. The first initiative that Kite+Key has taken for global good is by providing financing options that make quality education affordable through technology. For instance, they offer technology loans with competitive financing options. This makes the newest technology, which is almost necessary for quality education in the modern day, more accessible to students on a budget. Faculty and staff are also provided with a payroll deduction, which offers interest-free financing, to utilize the latest technology in educational initiatives. They also provide educational pricing for departmental purchases, including computer hardware and technology products, to improve learning within the classroom. Additionally, students can trade in old devices, which not only gives them a cheaper option for the latest models but also recycles old electronics instead of wasting them. Another initiative that Kite+Key has implemented toward its innovation is a student commuter rewards program. This green initiative promotes the use of public transportation to reduce traffic and parking congestion and, resultantly, carbon emissions from personal vehicles. Finally, the company offers many free educational videos that make it easy for educators and students to understand and learn how to use different devices and services.

Most of the communication and funding for the innovation was done through Rutgers University to improve the school's educational experience. By doing so, the innovation directly impacts the UN Sustainable Development Goal of quality education and climate action. Kite+Key partnered with and gained resources from many different organizations, making it easier for them to take these steps to better the world. These include organizations like Apple that provide Apple Educational Pricing. Liron Day is a student manager at Kite+Key and has helped significantly with the innovation by tailoring technology products and services to fulfill specific educational needs, as well as promoting the company's financing options. Most of the efforts for the innovation can be credited to Rutgers University, its students, and its faculty by securing funding and providing necessary resources.

Inspiration

The company has many core values that contributed to its inspiration and success in creating the innovation. After conducting his own research, Liron Day, student manager, claimed that “the name Kite+Key comes from the infamous lightning experiment conducted by Benjamin Franklin, along with his son William, utilizing a kite and key in 1752. Kite+Key, Rutgers Tech Store, is named for their tools of invention and discovery.” The company still carries on these values by encouraging modern innovation and education through technology. Along with the initial inspiration behind the company, Day went on to say that “having access to the newest technology is becoming more and more important in education, and our core values embody that—things like a good selection of products, convenient locations, impressive academic discounts, good advice with no commission or added fees, quick service, and an extensive knowledge of Rutgers.” Essentially, the purpose of the innovation aligns with Rutgers’ mission, as well as the mission of any academic institution, which is to provide good, quality education through access to the best resources. The innovation emerged from the organization to incentivize students to put their best foot forward academically, as well as to be aware of their carbon footprints. Day says the values behind Kite+Key and its innovations motivate him and other students to continue being curious and innovative in their studies. He thinks it is impactful to see businesses place such a significant emphasis on doing good in the world by being a catalyst for better education and climate action.

Overall impact

The impact of the innovation is creating more educational opportunities for both students and teachers. Students “are the heart of the business,” according to Day. Kite+Key offers a way for both students and teachers to access new, affordable technology to amplify learning in and out of the classroom. According to Day, “Kite+Key recognizes the importance that technology serves in people’s day-to-day lives—it has become an essential just like water.” This recognition is the motivation behind Kite+Key’s policy of passing on distributor discounts to students, as they are more affordable and accessible. Even on the climate change front, Kite+Key has taken action to promote public transport by rewarding students. In the short term, Kite+Key will sell more technological devices since they offer them at a competitive price. Rewarding students to use public transport will also cause less road congestion and allow more open parking spaces. In the long run, Rutgers will have a smaller carbon footprint, and students will save money by not using gas on personal automobiles. “Many students I have spoken to have switched to public transport due to Kite+Key’s initiative,” according to Day.

Business benefit

Often people prefer to work within companies that share their values, and Kite+Key knows this. According to Day, “People here are mission driven and believe what we are doing is for the greater good; we tackle problems such as climate change and educational adversity.” As a business, this empowers employees to feel mission-driven, adding purpose to their work. Day has claimed employee retention has been at an all-time high after pushing initiatives to give more students affordable access to the newest technology. According to Day, kite+Key passing on all distributor discounts has increased the number of students willing to purchase new devices from them. Often students will shop around when making a large purchase, like buying a new laptop, but they usually know that Kite+Key is the most affordable place to purchase these devices due to the savings, which in return has driven sales up. Kite+Key is an example of how a company can help students and faculty save while still maintaining the “bottom line.”

Unfortunately, we could not collect data on specific transactions from Kite+Key, so there is not too much information to collect quantitatively. “Many of our customers are members of the Rutgers community,” Day noted. “I would say a majority of our sales tend to have some sort of discount.” He also mentioned that they see the most considerable sales numbers from August to September when students return to school.

Social and environmental benefit

Kite+Key’s innovations significantly impact society, as thousands of Rutgers students, staff, and affiliates use its services on a yearly basis. Giving these people the opportunity to access quality technology at a lower cost to facilitate learning and education is an unparalleled innovation. In this digital age, having a computer capable of handling online meetings and learning management systems, such as Canvas, is absolutely essential to success. Kite+Key’s ability to offer student discounts or Everyday Pricing to its Rutgers customers allows them to support the success of their customers. When people buy at the store, the pricing will “always be lower than stated at the Apple Retail store.” Day said, “whenever I tell a student the price of their item and it is lower than expected, they are very happy.” This has to be one of the best ways to show the qualitative aspect of the innovation helping society at large.

In terms of their Commuter Rewards Program, Kite+Key is actively working to improve the environment by promoting the use of mass transportation to get to classes over personal vehicles. Incentivizing bus or train usage rather than car shows their commitment to climate action and offers a great deal for students to realize the benefit of these transportation modes.

Interview

Liron Day, Student Manager