Publish date:

• 5th March, 2021

Academies and centres of learning & excellence has realised the value of technology and a digital makeover. In the 21st century, tech tools & apps are the “new normal”. In order for universities to stay ahead of the game of others, they need to embrace CRMs. Customer Relationship Management systems enable universities to win over, interact and correspond efficiently with their students during the entire student lifecycle. CRMs enable precious insights about the students, facilitating deeper and intimate relationships with potential and existing students, as well as alumni. Plus, the platform is available on smartphones and hand held devices so work does come to a standstill.

The universities are using CRM systems for:

• Social listening. CRMs are used to listen to social media conversations and brand mentions in them. This enables them to stay ahead in the public relations game and also nip any negative publicity in the bud. Thus, the good name of the university etc remains intact. Social listening is a way of observing digital conversations to obtain a knowledgeable understanding of how leads and other stakeholders engage with them. 

• Multi channel marketing efforts. Outreach to communities and potential students fare and wide have been activated thanks to CRMs. Information and publicity material on various courses and new launches can be amplified using CRMs to the right segments. 

• Alumni engagement.  Alumni networks are great sources of funding as well as publicity. CRMs enable the university to remain in touch with them through relevant communication. This works to the advantage of both parties. Alumni feel connected and relevant, and the university benefits from their “unofficial brand ambassadors”. 

• CRMs are used to make the life of students easier. It could be in terms of paying fees, uploading documents, and alerts on any looming deadlines the students need to be aware of constantly. SMS reminders or alerts aid students in time management and so on, thus having a positive impact on their overall wellness. 

• Donor engagement. CRMs are used to maintain consistent and relevant engagement with the donor community. Fund raising is enabled through CRM activities and it also enables the university to view the donations and who donates how much and when. This could enable the company to approach those donors who have reduced or stopped their fundings and get them onboard. 

• CRMs provide personalised messaging to leads and their families. This enables for a higher % of leads getting attracted and signing up for courses.  

• CRMs allow for data to be available in the form of reports and dashboards. This enables the decision-makers to make strategic decisions & policies based on this data. It could mean removing unpopular courses and so on. Data is king and needs to be properly collated & used to make an impact. 

• Improving organisational efficiency and streamlining of work processes for various departments such as counselling, administration, accounts, and marketing.

Want to know more about CRM for education? Contact our Salesforce Education Cloud Consultant today!

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About the Author

Arun Sharma

Arun Sharma, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), focuses on business expansion, product development, and strategic growth. His skills include project and account management, where he improves operations and boosts efficiency. With a growth-driven approach, he leads innovation and ensures projects are completed successfully. His strategic insights have been key to achieving steady results and building long-term client relationships.