Vaughan Patterson, sales manager of the production
printing business group at Ricoh SA
T
he European Commission projects that 414 million students worldwide
will enrol in higher education by 2030. It is also expected that 90
percent of jobs will require digital skills across Europe in the
near future.
Higher education establishments must address how to stay attractive to
prospective students while competing with other similarly ranked institutions,
as well as with massive open online courses (MOOCs). Ensuring a modernised
environment is essential. While technology will play a role the real route to
success is to ensure that back office operations are optimised.
European leaders in the sector agree. The EIU research, ‘The Challenge of
Speed’, asked respondents to identify areas where adapting to change was
most crucial, and most cited responses were back office related. First is
improving core business processes (44 percent) followed by recruiting
new staff (42 percent) and adopting new technologies (40 percent).
Now is the time for the print room to shine and be a central point to
optimise core business processes. For example, targeted communication is
a highly effective way of attracting new students and making a positive first
impression. This can range from customised prospectuses specifically for each
student, created via an online form, to multichannel communications. Potential
students can receive tailored information about their preferred course based
on the registration of their interests, information about where they can
pursue their hobbies or even learn about the best entertainment venues
based on their favourite music.
The information gathered can also be used for broader communication such
as integrated campaigns and direct e-shots. It can also facilitate impromptu
communication that is related to topical situations or updates on course
information to add to building lasting relationships with the students.
Educational establishments can also streamline their print requirements
through software that simplifies the dissemination of information on-demand.
Lecturers can order online what they require the following day, upload
supporting content to an online portal or send students the link to download
to tablets or other mobile devices. Relevant information or publications can
be provided on a just-in-time basis in a highly efficient and cost effective
way. Lecturers can use their saved time on meeting the learning needs of
their students.
Bottlenecks
So, what is holding them back? Education leaders said the top two bottlenecks
to achieving greater agility are difficulty in getting employees, business units,
or functions to adopt a common approach (44 percent) and bureaucratic
decision making processes (35 percent).
A smooth, quick and responsive line of communication can address these
issues. For example, the back office administration can be linked to various
data sources for easy and timely invoicing or other mandatory documents. A
Web portal can also be created to share information simply and also serves
as a means to communicate university news and updates more effectively.
Efficient business process communication, streamlining of operations and
addressing bottlenecks via multichannel communications, from print to mobile
devices and augmented reality, will ensure operational-wide improvements.
This approach to multi-communication has far-reaching effects from speeding
up information for students to smoother, more effective back office operation.
As a result, the corporate print room can transform into a communication
centre driving efficiencies and being instrumental in introducing a number of
different formats and channels that streamline information flow.
With this full service system in place, the print room will not only be able to
support educational establishments as they rapidly change, but will also
take an active role in enabling this change. The truly developed print room
can speed up the pace at which schools develop through improved critical
communications, data management, and even decision making through
enhanced visibility of information. In this new era of digital transformation,
the print room can truly take centre stage, not only as enabler, but also as
a driver of change in the education sector.
GrahamMoore, business development director at Ricoh Europe
Printed on 128 gsm Hi-Q Titan Gloss supplied by
I
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