Following on from Talking Higher Ed on Thursday 15th April, iLockerz looks back on a month of all things education as University Business publishes two articles explaining common challenges faced by colleges and universities and the ways these can be handled more effectively.
Originally scheduled for 24th March, Talking Higher Ed brought together leaders in higher education for a day of online networking, live discussions, and interviews. iLockerz exhibited at the virtual event and received a number of enquiries from IT Directors, Network Managers and Procurement professionals seeking the same solution – a way to automate the lending of digital devices to students.
Confirming the demand for laptop loans facilities is indeed on the rise - as mentioned in this last blog - HE providers across the UK are realising the value that intelligent locker systems can bring to both admin operations and student experiences.
The first iLockerz article published on University Business, Why edtech management demands a smarter solution, touched on the outdated sign-in and sign out processes involved with making devices accessible to students. As colleges and universities continue to invest in technology for more blended and hybrid learning models, many more laptops and tablets will need to be made accessible to students. This would entail a great deal of burden if being managed by a staff member or even a department of employees, and experience has shown that costly mistakes can easily occur.
iLockerz explains how laptop loans lockers offer a cost-effective solution which removes the possibility of human error, allowing admin to monitor and track all assets in real-time and access detailed data on user activity and system usage. Bringing visibility and accountability to HE, intelligent locker systems prevent devices from becoming lost or stolen and thereby saving unnecessary expense for replacing or repairing items.
Not only offering greater control to staff but to students, who can collect and return borrowed laptops using a contactless self-service system at a time that suits them. This convenient solution, along with its ability to charge stored devices, increases productivity and enhances student experiences.
Improving life on campus for learners is also forming a bigger role in planning for HE providers, as outlined in the most recent University Business article, Secure storage: why learning spaces need lockable charging points. Touching on the ‘new normal’ of studying and communicating online, the piece suggests the reliance on digital devices will increase in the years ahead and highlights the concerns over keeping such items secure.
Personal item storage effectively safeguards valuables like smartphones, iPads, and laptops which, as iLockerz explains, offers peace of mind to students, staff, and parents. Knowing costly belongings can be safely stowed away prevents damage, loss, and theft, minimising extra expense for repairs or replacement. Lockers with in-compartment charging can also eliminate health and safety risks posed by device power cables trailing across communal areas.
Safety and security are strengthened considerably by the implementation of an intelligent locker system, enhancing the learning spaces at universities and colleges whilst also optimising the experience of users who no longer have to trawl around cumbersome items across campuses. It can also help students become better prepared for the workforce of the future, as remote working and hot-desking has prompted organisations to adopt automated storage services for employees and visitors.
As higher education evolves to meet the needs and demands of modern and future learners, iLockerz expects all educational facilities will transition towards a more advanced, intuitive way of managing digital devices.
Intelligent lockers offer the most robust and versatile solution, and iLockerz systems also offer the most innovative software which can be seamlessly integrated and adapted to ensure requirements are always met… even as they change in the years ahead.
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