Join the conversation: How Transact’s smarter IT solutions are empowering higher ed
August 03, 2023
In a recent episode of “Innovations in Education,” a podcast series sponsored by Transact Campus, Keith Kellermeyer, Product Manager for Campus Commerce at Transact, joined Kevin Hogan, Editor at eCampus News, to discuss campus transactions, student life, and digital strategies. Specifically, they talked about the evolution of campus technology, mobile ordering, online payments, and the future of campus experiences. During the discussion, Kellermeyer shared how innovators at Transact had solutions underway ahead of the evolving demands of higher ed institutions.
Adapting to change: The power of flexibility
The onset of the pandemic necessitated rapid transformations in the higher education landscape. Kellermeyer highlighted the importance of flexibility in digital strategies, emphasizing the need for dynamic technology solutions to cater to the changing needs of students. From mobile ordering and online payments to facilitating student queries, Transact's focus on flexibility ensures that campuses can provide a consistent and high-quality experience, even in remote and flexible learning environments.
“We needed to address things at a rapid pace and change our tactics and strategy at the drop of a hat because everything was dynamic and fluid. The higher education space had a lot more opportunity to pivot and make changes a little bit faster than the K through 12 space, because a lot of the technology already existed on campuses,” Kellermeyer explained.
Necessity drives innovation
The pandemic acted as a catalyst for the adoption of technologies that were previously considered nice-to-have. Kellermeyer noted how requirements such as contactless and cash-free payments accelerated the development and implementation of solutions like mobile ordering and contactless payments. Transact leveraged its existing technology and expertise to swiftly adapt and address the increasing demand for these digital solutions.
“There's nothing like a requirement to drive innovations we're already thinking about. Transact had already invested in mobile ordering applications, and the requirements that developed blew those apps out of the water in terms of demand and the needs of functionality. We spent hundreds of hours developing the latest things that students wanted, and listened to feedback on how we could turn that around and bake it into our existing mobile applications. We went from students thinking about how their plastic student ID card could be used as a digital ID credential, to now where nearly 25 out of 50 states are using our Mobile Credential solution on campus,” Kellermeyer said.
Streamlining operations through integration
To increase efficiency and support student needs, administrators should prioritize integrating different technology solutions seamlessly. By consolidating services and eliminating repetitive tasks, campuses can unlock more creative opportunities.
“There's so much opportunity to take pieces of technology from different providers, integrate them together, and eliminate repetitive tasks,” Kellermeyer said.
Transact’s ability to integrate diverse technology providers helps campuses optimize their operations and concentrate on the 2% of student experiences that require personalized attention.
Looking to the future
“Where do you see these technologies and services going forward? If you're an administrator and you're trying to plan for the next 3 to 5 years, what sort of priorities or checklist would you suggest?” Hogan asked.
“If I’m a campus administrator looking at the next three years of planning resources, anytime I can automate something, that's where my investment is going to land. The future is going to revolve around speed of service and how quickly we can deliver what students really want with each piece of our technology. I don’t think students want to interface with six different technologies to do their dining on campus versus paying their tuition or access their dorm room securely. Every solution should talk to each other and be integrated. So, in the next 3 to 5 years, having a consolidated but flexible campus experience is what I envision,” Kellermeyer said.
Transact's smarter IT solutions are empowering higher education institutions to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic and meet the evolving needs of students. The conversation between Kellermeyer and Hogan shed light on the importance of flexibility, efficiency, and integration when implementing digital strategies. By embracing innovative technologies, higher ed institutions can create a future where student experiences are enhanced, operations are streamlined, and the campus community thrives.
Top 3 takeaways from “Innovations in Education” podcast
Takeaway 1: The pandemic accelerated the adoption of mobile and digital technologies on college campuses.
The pandemic caused colleges and universities to rapidly adopt mobile and digital technologies to meet the changing needs of students. Campus services, such as payments, dining, and access to facilities, needed to shift from traditional methods to more flexible and efficient digital solutions. In addition to contactless payments and mobile ordering, campuses started exploring other innovative technologies, such as autonomous stores.
Takeaway 2: Data-driven feedback and automation can improve campus services and student satisfaction.
Gathering feedback from students is essential for improving campus services, and embracing data-driven approaches can help institutions streamline this process. Kellermeyer suggested collecting feedback more proactively by using Mobile Ordering data to prompt students for feedback in real time. By automating these processes, feedback can be gathered more efficiently and used to improve operations.
Using technology can also help administrators make decisions more quickly, freeing up resources for more strategic and creative tasks. Ideally, campus technologies should be integrated and consolidated, providing a seamless experience for both students and administrators. By bringing together different systems and services, campuses can create a more flexible and efficient environment that meets the evolving needs of their students.
Takeaway 3: The shift towards digital and mobile technologies is likely to continue.
It’s clear that the shift towards digital and mobile technologies will continue, and that a return to traditional methods is unlikely. Campuses have embraced the benefits of these new technologies and may choose to adopt hybrid models that combine digital and in-person experiences. In the coming years, we will likely see a continued emphasis on the development and adoption of digital and mobile technologies on college campuses. By embracing these innovations, institutions can create more flexible and efficient experiences that meet the evolving needs of their students.