Dive Brief:
- Several colleges and universities are moving to digitize mailroom processing and notification as a means to increase efficiency and service to students.
- Schools such as Lehigh University and the University of Southern California are using new technology similar to platforms used by UPS and FedEx to notify students of when packages arrive.
- These systems reduce the need for storage space and physically printing packing slips, and they reduce time for students to find out about deliveries.
Dive Insight:
As with the college bookstore, the college mailroom is also a fading university enterprise that has been dramatically changed by technology. For institutions, this could mean lower costs in personnel, higher positive feedback from students about customer service, and opportunities to use those savings in other critical operational areas.
Similar systems could be used in other auxiliary functions, such as custom school apparel, food service, athletic seating reservations and more.