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De Montfort University to use CRM to attract students

Posted by Gary Flood on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 16:54
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The University is using a package called Agresso CRM, based on the Microsoft CRM platform, to introduce enquiries and applications through its main web site so they can be fully integrated into its back end (and also Agresso based) Student Record and Curriculum Management system.

“For the first time, using our integrated CRM and student systems, we’ll be able to track an enquiry or approach from a prospective student through to an application and ultimately on to enrolment,” John Shelton, head of the business systems group within Information Services and Systems for De Montfort, told PublicTechnology.Net.

The University plans to have this up and running by September in preparation for applications for the next academic year, he added.
 
However, it is already using CRM to develop local commercial contacts and manage requirements for disabled students as well as schools liaison. The University has saved money by cutting back reliance on outside marketing agencies and fulfilment houses through the CRM approach. 
 
“Students expect everything to be done online now; they don’t expect to be filling in pieces of paper, submitting forms through the post and so on, so we must provide systems that allow us to interact with those students as easily as possible and by linking up our website through to CRM to capture that information will be extremely important to us in attracting new students to the University”.
 
De Montfort University (DMU) has over 20,000 students located across two campuses in the city. The University offers a broad range of vocational courses combined with a strong research focus. 
 
Agresso, an ERP provider,is a combination of Dutch firm Unit 4, Sweden's Agresso and the UK's CODA, all of which were either merged or bought by the firm in the last few years.