Pittinsky says that Blackboard, however, is growing at a greater rate, and he expects platform revenue to outpace debit-card software revenue in 2001. Debit Cards on Campus Debit card systems allow parents to provide their children with funds on campus for a variety of needs. Institutional fees and academic resources currently account for about half of purchases. Pittinsky expects these purchases to account for a significantly larger share of debit card use as the system is integrated with the Blackboard platform and it is possible for students to purchase online academic resources. Blackboard will continue to support the debit card's functionality for needs such as vending machines, laundry and local vendors approved by the institution.
Parents can allocate funds for different needs such as books or food.
The system also gives institutions market research by allowing them to track types of purchases. Unlike credit cards, debit cards allow an institution to earn a profit from the interest from the account holding the deposited funds. Institutions can also approve specific vendors for the debit card system, charging an inclusion fee and taking a share of each transaction. When Duke U approved the local Dominoes pizza delivery service, for example, the franchise became one of the most successful in the country. Integration with Blackboard's Platform Institutions will likely continue to structure such deals with local retailers and vendors, but Pittinsky expects campuses to look to Blackboard for establishing debit-card agreements with online vendors.