Feature factory vs. experience factory
When selecting technology for schools, many wireless solutions out there check a long list of feature boxes. While that may sound promising, a feature-rich product doesn’t always mean a great user experience. A screen that can handle everything under the sun often becomes over-complicated, taking more time to set up, troubleshoot, and explain to teachers and students.
At Airtame, we took a different path. We don’t aim to have the most features; instead, we prioritize the features that matter most to the people using our technology day in and day out. From teachers and students sharing information to IT teams managing digital signage and technology readiness across schools, we build for ease, value, and long-term satisfaction. Here’s how we approach design differently—and why it works for education.
1. Feature factory vs. experience factory
Most products in the wireless collaboration industry aim to check off every possible feature, becoming what is commonly referred to as a “feature factory.” The result is often a product loaded with options but not optimized for day-to-day use. At Airtame, we focus on building an “experience factory,” where the emphasis is on how each function can truly enhance the classroom and school environment.
This approach allows us to develop a solution that’s simple to use and quick to learn, even for teachers or staff who aren’t tech-savvy. By focusing on seamless screen sharing, intuitive digital signage, emergency alerts and reliable connectivity, we deliver a product that works—no manual required.
2. Selling points vs. experience points
When products are built solely for “selling points,” they’re often crammed with features meant to appeal to decision-makers. But these bells and whistles don’t always add up to a smooth experience for teachers, students, and staff. At Airtame, we look beyond the sale, designing each feature for practical use and user satisfaction.
For example, our digital signage allows administrators to manage content remotely, ensuring important messages or visuals reach students and staff quickly – no training required. We don’t do this to tick a box for digital signage, but instead to create a tool that genuinely makes life easier for everyone involved.
3. Building for decision-makers vs. building for all
In education, decision-makers often select technology based on specs and features, but the end-users are the ones interacting with it daily. Airtame focuses on building a solution that serves everyone: from decisions-makers, administrators, and IT staff to teachers and students. We understand that while decision-makers may prioritize specs, end-users need something they can rely on and understand immediately.
Our device-agnostic approach — compatible with Chromebooks, PCs, iPads, and more—reflects this philosophy. It ensures every student and teacher can connect effortlessly, regardless of their device, removing the friction that comes with incompatible tech.
4. Every scenario imaginable vs. main use cases
Many products attempt to cover every use case imaginable, which leads to over-engineering and a steep learning curve. Instead, we built Airtame to support the primary needs in school environments: screen sharing for classrooms, digital signage in hallways and lobbies, emergency alerts across spaces, reliable connectivity for hybrid learning environments, and seamless remote management for users and admins.
By narrowing our focus to core scenarios, we deliver a streamlined experience that’s highly effective for the most common situations. Teachers aren’t bogged down by unnecessary settings, and IT teams spend less time troubleshooting complex setups.
5. Passing tenders vs. delighting users
In the tech industry, many products are designed to pass public tenders by meeting as many specs as possible. But at Airtame, we believe technology should do more than just meet requirements on paper; it should exceed expectations in the real world. Our focus is on designing solutions that delight users with their simplicity and functionality, which ultimately leads to better adoption and fewer support requests.
We know that this approach can mean sacrificing certain “tick-box” features. But by choosing the most impactful capabilities, Airtame delivers a solution that teachers, students, and IT staff genuinely enjoy using.
6. Feature density vs. ease of use
Ease of use isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a fundamental requirement in school environments where teachers need to engage students, rather than troubleshoot technology. However, defining ease of use in a requirements specification is often tricky, making it challenging for decision-makers to prioritize it alongside technical features.
Airtame has tackled this by focusing on simplicity: setting up our devices takes minutes, screen sharing requires just a couple of clicks, and digital signage is managed remotely, freeing IT teams from classroom interruptions. This prioritization of ease of use reduces support needs and improves overall user satisfaction.
7. Building not just to be used, but to be loved
Ultimately, we don’t want Airtame to be a tool that’s merely tolerated or used out of necessity. We aim to build something that teachers, students, and administrators actually enjoy using—technology that empowers, rather than frustrates. Building an “experience factory” instead of a “feature factory” means focusing on creating a product that people love because it’s simple, reliable, and genuinely helpful.
Going for experience factory over feature factory
We want to focus on what matters most to users: a straightforward, powerful, and dependable experience. By prioritizing usability and long-term value, we’ve created a solution that’s designed not just to be used, but to be enjoyed. For schools looking to reduce IT complexities and increase classroom engagement, this approach is essential.
With Airtame, it’s not about checking every box. It’s about checking the right ones – with care for and understanding of the user.
Interested? Let’s talk.
