Time is one of our most important commodities. It sometimes can seem like there is always more to do with less time and resources to accomplish what needs to be done. We’ve gathered the best tips from 2024 on how to streamline campus store processes, simplify course material distribution and accomplish more.
Fit more into your day
In 2024, MBS System Sales Consultant Heather Gillespie shared with Foreword a blog post about what you can accomplish in just 20 minutes. Breaking tasks into smaller more manageable segments can help you focus on that specific task and accomplish more.
Read What Could You Accomplish in 20 Minutes.
Maximize your system functionality with training
With a rapidly changing retail and educational environment, already short-staffed stores must have a plan for how new employees can receive the level of training they need to be successful. New and existing employees benefit from additional training and system tutorials, ensuring efficiency in day-to-day tasks as well as tasks that are only completed once or twice a year. With the scope and depth of collegiate retail systems, your store may have access to functionality that isn’t being used or could be used in a more efficient manner.
Read about the MBS training opportunities to help you maximize your collegiate retail system.
Maybe your hardware is nearing its end-of-life date or maybe additional equipment would add efficiency to your store’s daily processes. Investing in the right technology now can significantly boost your productivity and efficiency throughout the year. Use your remaining funds in this year’s budget and/or allocate funds in your next budget for essential hardware.
Check out these college retail system upgrades that can give your campus store the best return on investment.
It is more important than ever to ensure your store has clear, effective and simple ways to drive both in-store and online traffic. The economy has a big impact on shopping behaviors. Look for ways to simplify customer interactions, proactively build customer relationships, add efficiency and utilize targeted marketing strategies. Having these essential tools in place helps your store give customers the personalized experience they want while also not taking too much time for store staff to effectively manage.
The MBS CRM, for example, expands college store marketing options and simplifies customer service. Through the tremendous amount of information at your fingertips in CRM, you can easily identify customers for your targeted marketing campaigns. With access to customer groups, transaction details, promo code usage, loyalty information, etc., you can create specific customer lists to send messages from your marketing platform of choice that truly speak to those customers.
Learn more about the MBS CRM.
Serve the campus community with a virtual bookstore
“The top benefit of our partnership with BNC Virtual is that it gives our students more options for purchasing their textbooks. They can order a physical textbook, rent textbooks, buy digital textbooks, and shop the marketplace. It is easy and convenient for students to find the correct materials needed by using their student ID. The students’ course schedules have been loaded into the BNC system, so all students have to do is type in their student ID number, and all their course materials will show up. From there, students can decide what type of textbook they wish to purchase. As a university store with only one full-time staff, this virtual program has made the textbook process much easier for everyone.
“The partnership has made my job much easier. The system is extremely easy to use. I get excellent support services, and it has made book buying easier for our students. Going virtual has made my job less physical, which I appreciate, also. No more hauling heavy boxes,” said Lori Solberg, Bookstore Manager, Dakota Wesleyan University Store.
Read more about Dakota Wesleyan University Store.
