The customer experience is everything today, which is why customer relationship management (CRM) systems are a must-have in virtually every industry.
So, why does higher education have a CRM problem?
It has a lot to do with the fact that student management systems struggle to provide a modern CRM experience. Add to that how vital these systems are to the processes driving higher education forward, and it becomes clear why change is needed.
It’s also why connecting and integrating a standalone CRM to your student system may be the best option. And if that’s the case, what value does this additional integration offer?
CRMs and all applications communicate using different languages. The challenge is converting these different languages into a usable format.
While this may seem like an impossible task if you’re not familiar with programming and APIs, it’s one of the main reasons why integration is the focus today.
Here’s how it works:
By creating a seamless flow of data between essential applications, you can better optimise your processes, reduce manual inputs, and ensure your data is up to date and accurate.
In today’s competitive digital landscape, achieving seamless data flows should be the goal of any organisation.
Data formatting is only one part of the problem. Every application also has a unique set of rules, functions, and specialised requirements.
Keeping track of all of this between the applications your organisation relies on is nearly impossible without a dedicated tool. This is also the exact reason why integration platforms exist.
Integration platforms bridge the gap between these essential processes, providing a common interface between all connected applications.
Why does this matter? When co-dependent apps don’t communicate properly, your entire system can fail. The last thing you want is inconsistent data creating problems within your student information system.
An integration platform prevents this problem by removing data flow bottlenecks. When one app fails, everything else can continue to run.
Integration can even increase system reliability by directly addressing operating lifecycles issues. Think about it like this: if you’re not home to receive a package, the post office will hold it for you until you’re ready to pick it up. Integration platforms provide a similar service, storing data that’s critical to your other systems.
Supporting multiple applications across different vendors is a nightmare for many companies. It’s one of the main reasons why some of the largest enterprise applications try to do it all.
Working with multiple vendors has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, it gives you access to specialised applications that are really good at what they do. This is great for ensuring you are providing the best user experience possible. It also means you may have to deal with multiple technical support teams.
What about the single vendor approach? Working with a single vendor likely means one technical support team. But you may find yourself compromising on features and usability, which could diminish user experiences for staff and students.
Integration platforms give you the best of both worlds. Centralising the flow of data between your applications means you can offload a portion of your support requirements to your integration provider. Simply put: when things break, they take care of it for you.
Every organisation is the product of its people, processes, and technology. The challenge is visualising the relationships between these essential components.
You may find yourself wondering:
The list goes on and on. As an organisation grows, so too do the processes and technology enabling that growth. This introduces new levels of complexity that result in a limited understanding of how everything is interconnected.
Integration provides enhanced visibility into the complex relationships between your processes and technology by giving you a single pane of glass to look through. You can quickly see how applications communicate, where data is going, how it’s being used, and more to streamline decision making and improve operational efficiency. It also provides additional clarity into what systems and processes you can improve in the future.
For higher education, that means someone using a student system can see exactly what’s happening with the CRM system. It removes the guesswork and ensures your people are making decisions based on the most accurate data available.
Connecting your essential systems is more doable than you think, thanks to integration platforms like Amos | Connect.
There’s no need to completely overhaul the technology your institution uses every day. With integration, you can improve data flow, gain full visibility into your technology and processes, and get the full CRM experience.
Are you interested in seeing how other leading institutions are using integration to modernise and optimise their internal workflows? Get in touch with an Amos integration specialist today.
