The University of Manchester drives mail center efficiencies and automates package delivery
Client profile
Largest single site university in the UK with student population of 39,000
Located in the city of Manchester
The Residences Directorate is part of the university providing a comprehensive service to all students of the university
Business goals
Automate student communication and package tracking process to save time and money
Eliminate storage issues and increase efficiency
Enhance student experience in halls
Benefits
Implemented end-to-end solution
Time savings and reduction in staff needed to manage the process
Support the student experience by providing efficient and effective accommodation services
Technology Used
SendSuite® Tracking
Executive Summary
"The amount of time saved is considerable. Now, it only takes 30 seconds to log a mail item and notify the student. Our old paper-based system took at least twice the amount of time, not including delivery of the slip to a mailbox."
The University of Manchester is the largest single site university in the UK located in the city of Manchester, with a student population of 39,000 students and the 10.400 staff members. The Residences Directorate is part of the the university providing a comprehensive service to all students, administering and allocating over 8,000 bedrooms in university owned or managed accommodations.
Business Challenge
Student mail and package volumes for the University of Manchester were a growing challenge for the management of the student Halls of Residence as well as for the students looking to receive those packages in a timely manner. The university needed an electronic/digital solution to automate the communication and package tracking process to save time and money, eliminate storage issues and increase efficiency as well as enhancing the student experience in halls.
Solution
The University of Manchester turned to Pitney Bowes and implemented SendSuite® Tracking to streamline mail and package delivery. SendSuite Tracking software automates package handling for the university and ensures full accountability for parcels until they are picked up by students. Barcode readers, electronic signature capture, along with tracking and reporting functions, have brought post operations into the digital age to meet the expectations of today's students.
Benefits
"SendSuite has eliminated the need for excessive storage of parcels and packages because the students are just more responsive to pick up when they get the digital reminder, so everyone is happy."
The system is dramatically more efficient and boasts many overall improvements. Queries are dealt with instantly through the searching the database by student or tracking number. An image of the signature can be provided along with the date and time for each delivery made by the Halls.
Time savings as well as a reduction in the number of staff needed to manage the process also have been great benefits for the overall management team.