TouchNet, a Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) company and leading provider of integrated commerce and ID management solutions for colleges and universities, released the findings of its survey about ID management technology uses in higher education. The survey, conducted in collaboration with Higher Ed Dive’s studioID, captured input from 150 higher education executives in March 2022. Most respondents are finance or C-suite executives employed by four-year U.S. colleges and universities.

More than half (52%) of surveyed leaders said they believed ID management automations are compelling advantages in driving enrollment, and 35% believed the technology can help them attract and retain skilled faculty and staff. Only 29% of respondents said they believed their institution can remain competitive without upgrading or replacing ID management technologies in the next three years.

As higher education undergoes intense transformation, institutions are looking for ways to improve student experiences, simplify operations and advance performance goals. To that end, higher education leaders are expanding their use of ID management technology to include numerous unconventional applications, ranging from automating recurring student support tasks and frequently asked questions to identifying real-time behavioral trends, optimizing resource allocation and more. Many of these applications are increasingly accessible via the cloud.

ID management technology uses that are currently active or being implemented at surveyed institutions include: mobile access, self-service and remote permissions management for student/staff IDs; administrator access to trending behaviors and campuswide finances; order-ahead dining/services/products; equipment usage tracking; automated refunds and payments via mobile devices, and more.

“There’s a reason why other industries have moved to cloud-based automations. You get a huge lift in productivity and efficiency,” says Adam McDonald, president of TouchNet. “In doing so, organizations can put repetitive tasks on autopilot and free up employees for higher-impact work such as building relationships, exploring new opportunities, and using data insights to craft new strategies, campaigns and offerings.”

ID management integrations also cater to growing student demand for ease, speed and convenience. “As a digital-first generation, Gen Z expects the immediacy of Amazon deliveries, the frictionless experience of Uber and the personalization of Netflix in other services and interactions — including their educational institution,” says Hana Ben-Shabat, one of the experts who offered commentary for the survey report, and founder of Gen Z Planet, a research and advisory firm helping organizations navigate the changes Gen Z brings to the market.

Access TouchNet’s survey findings at https://resources.industrydive.com/how-campuses-are-leveling-up-with-id-management-tech.

Survey Methodology

TouchNet collaborated with Higher Ed Dive’s studioID to field an online, invitation-only survey, polling 150 higher education executives during March 2022. The survey consisted of multiple-choice, open-ended, Likert-scale and matrix questions to understand how institutions are using ID management technology across their campus. The questionnaire consisted of themes to better understand how ID management technology is currently being used, perceptions of the advantages the technology offers institutions and how institutions make decisions about technology purchasing. Forty-seven percent of respondents were finance leaders at their institutions (executive office, bursar, investments). The other survey respondents included C-suite/executive (28%), student life/engagement (7%) and business office (5%). Respondents represented primarily four-year institutions.