As campus stores continue to modernize their operations and adopt new strategies, technology is playing an increasingly important role in improving efficiency, access, and convenience. But even as automation transforms the retail experience, one factor remains critical to success: relationships.

While automated systems can streamline purchasing, communications, and adoption workflows, they cannot replace the personal connections that drive engagement and collaboration across campus. Campus stores are the institution's course material experts, acting as trusted liaisons between faculty, students, academic departments, and technology providers.

Store leaders must continue nurturing the relationships that support timely course material adoptions and student success.

Create Meaningful Outreach

As institutions embrace digital tools, it can be tempting to rely heavily on automated notifications and marketing campaigns. However, successful campus stores understand that meaningful outreach requires more than scheduled emails.

Store teams should maintain active partnerships with departments across campus, including faculty, academic leadership, and student success centers. These relationships help ensure that important information about course material adoption deadlines, bookstore openings, and affordability initiatives reaches the right audiences.

“Don’t rely only on automated messaging. Continue to work with campus partners to get the message out about course materials, whether adoptions or the online bookstore opening,” Ryan Miller, Campus Store Director, Alfred State College, said. “Work with the student success center to get the message out. Keep up relationships with departments and faculty because you will facilitate those relationships and adoptions.”

Regular communication also reinforces the campus store's role as a valuable resource rather than simply a transactional service.

Build Strong Faculty Partnerships

Faculty engagement remains one of the most important factors in securing timely course material adoptions. While technology can simplify the adoption process, personal communication often delivers better results.

When deadlines approach or adoption information is missing, a direct conversation can be far more effective than a series of email reminders. A quick phone call can resolve questions, confirm selections, and strengthen the relationship at the same time.

In some cases, making the process as simple as possible can significantly improve response rates.

“You can get more done in one phone call than in three or four emails. Sometimes I’ll send a screenshot of what they adopted previously and ask if they want to reuse it. It simplifies the process,” Miller said.

This personalized approach not only saves time but also demonstrates an understanding of faculty workloads and priorities.

Read more about Alfred State College Bookstore's experience with a hybrid course material model.  

Campus Stores are Strategic Partners

Campus stores are strategic partners who help connect technology, academic departments, and student support services. Automated tools can improve operations, but strong relationships create trust, encourage collaboration, and ultimately lead to better outcomes for students. The stores that thrive will be those that embrace innovation while continuing to invest in the relationships that make their campuses successful.