Transact Campus ID Case Study

Mercer University and Transact Campus 

Mercer University is a private research university with six campuses and 9,000+ enrolled students across Georgia.  

Mercer and Transact have been partners since the mid-1990s, with Transact providing innovative solutions to enhance Mercer's campus experience. Together, they have created a mobile-centric campus experience for their Bear Card program, campus commerce, and payment options. Which has significantly improved the efficiency and convenience of its students and staff.  

Dr. James Netherton, Executive Vice President, Administration and Finance, echoed this sentiment: "If you invest in good technology, it always pays off." 

Today, Mercer offers a full range of Transact services, showing the successful partnership between Mercer and Transact. These services are designed to streamline campus services and meet the demands of a mobile-driven campus, providing students with a seamless and efficient experience. They include Transact Transaction System Enterprise (TSE), Transact Online Photo Submission, Transact Mobile Credential, Transact Cloud POS, Transact Registers, Transact Kiosks, Transact Mobile Ordering, Transact Platinum+ for Campus Commerce and ID solutions, Transact Cashiering, Transact Refunds, and more. 

Jay Bonney stated, "For almost 30 years, Mercer has been with Transact. And Mercer has about every Transact product I think that is on the market." 

Mercer made the transition from plastic to mobile student ID cards

Mercer asked Transact, a higher education specialist, to give their students a digital credential.

Mercer University successfully switched to using mobile credentials by planning strategically and thinking ahead. Ken Boyer, Associate VP, Auxiliary Services, noted, "We began the process years ago working with our client manager with Transact to make sure that we were well positioned to move forward to the NFC technologies. Being able to move to Mobile Credential on a smartphone was huge. It was what students were asking for."

Transact Mobile Credential—meeting the needs of Mercer's mobile-centric students and increasing enrollment

The trend of using mobile credentials is becoming popular on college campuses. Digital IDs have become an important factor in school recruitment. A study by Transact found that 70% of Gen Z students believe that having digital student IDs available is important when choosing a college to attend.

Jay Bonney agrees, "[Students] only know the phone these days. So, to have the phone continue to be with them and be part of their day and environment, they love to tap the phone everywhere."

Transact Mobile Credential provides students with convenience and has positively impacted Mercer University's enrollment numbers, demonstrating trust and safety for their students.

In 2019, Transact made Mercer a mobile-first school by meeting the student government's request for mobile access to student ID cards. By June 2024, they had issued over 10,200 credentials, with an impressive 92% adoption rate, showing the success and positive impact of Transact at Mercer University.

Dr. Penny Elling, Senior VP for Enroll Management, said, "We're up significantly in enrollment. And part of that, is our ability to say [students] trust us to provide a safe environment."

With Transact Mobile Credential, the Mercer community can enjoy the convenience and enhanced security of having Bear Cards on their mobile devices. This innovative NFC-enabled technology, compatible with Apple, Samsung Wallet™, Google Wallet™, Apple Watch, and Samsung Galaxy Watch, empowers users with seamless access to dorms, buildings, and dining areas.

Transact is the first and only provider to offer NFC-enabled contactless mobile IDs for Samsung, Apple, and Google. Mercer values every student and understands the necessity of serving all; Dr. James Netherton stated, "A lot of students have iPhones, a lot of students have Android devices. And if you serve only part of your students, you're not really doing your job." This commitment to inclusivity is a key aspect of Transact and Mercer's success.

Transact Platinum+ level support—upgraded support services to streamline operations

Mercer University's partnership with Transact is aided by a strong support system. They've integrated Transact Platinum+ level support for their Transact Campus ID and Commerce programs. This advanced support offering enables Mercer's team to streamline day-to-day tasks and provide a single point of contact, Jermaine, for any concerns. Transact Platinum+ ensures their operations run smoothly and efficiently, relieving them of unnecessary burdens.

Jay Bonney praised Transact Platinum+: "I got to give my boys a shout-out and support. There is not any one point of Transact that we could have a problem with and that we can't get an immediate solution for."