Ricoh and Southern University uncover cost savings and deliver improved experiences with auxiliary services

EXTON, Pa., Nov. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced its work with Southern University and A&M College to deliver digital services and information management technologies that help improve student, faculty and staff experiences. Through this collaboration, Southern can now offer more intuitive experiences in its new mail center by proactively notifying recipients when mail arrives. In addition, its production print center has been outfitted with new printing and finishing equipment to improve quality and efficiency, so they can now produce recruitment materials and other high-end print applications in house. And, the university has streamlined its campus print technologies, leveraging Ricoh's insights and expertise to deliver excellent information-sharing options with fewer than 200 devices across the two million-square-foot campus.

This collaboration was a result of the mandate by Southern's president to introduce more automation to university processes to drive improved efficiency, reliability and convenience. The university turned to Ricoh to help uncover opportunities to deliver better experiences, and the company collaborated closely with stakeholders to design, implement and support a suite of improvements.

"Ricoh did a phenomenal job, starting with its initial analysis," said Benjamin Pugh, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Southern University and A&M College. "Right off the bat, it was clear Ricoh was not coming to us with a one-size-fits-all solution. They wanted to work with us to understand our processes and show us how they could help us improve. Ricoh focuses on your needs, designs solutions around them, and executes, reliably and effectively. As a result, we're printing applications faster, better and more cost-effectively than outsourcing; we're meeting information sharing needs more efficiently; and we're providing a modern, enjoyable mail center experience."

The Ricoh team worked with Southern decision makers to replace aging, key-operated P.O. boxes with high-density mailboxes. Automated delivery notifications replaced the old system of regularly, manually checking P.O. boxes for any mail. Students can verify their identity with a tap of their ID badge. Additionally, the mail room was transformed into a revenue center for the university, with packaging and mailing materials available for sale onsite, reducing the need for students to go off campus to buy them. The new mail center also provides quotes for shipping via FedEx, UPS and USPS, so students can compare prices quickly and easily.

Previously, Southern had outsourced much of its high-end print work, including recruiting, flyers, business cards and more, and were eager to bring them in house for cost savings, faster turn times, enhanced print quality and increased agility. By implementing the RICOH Pro C71100SX, RICOH Pro 8110Se and RICOH Pro L4130, Southern was able to meet their goals – and begin printing pandemic-related health and safety signage in-house.

Meanwhile, Ricoh also worked with Southern to eliminate unnecessary or inefficient equipment to right-size its fleet of multifunction printers (MFPs). This approach empowered campus community members to scan, print and share information from a variety of locations on campus, with the fleet's design based on actual usage data, to help allocate resources where they would be most useful.

"Southern is such an incredible, historic institution. We are honored to partner with them to modernize and optimize some of their services to help deliver better experiences," said Jennifer Wood, Partner Executive, Client Strategy, Ricoh USA, Inc. "The broad-spectrum approach that Southern has taken to drive improvements for its campus community is impressive. It has been wonderful to see the cost savings, new revenue streams, and enhanced student experiences for Southern."

Read more about Ricoh's work with Southern in this case study. For more information on Ricoh's overall higher education offerings, please visit https://www.ricoh-usa.com/en/industries/higher-education, or follow the company's social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Southern University

For more than 100 years, Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge has been the flagship of the Southern University System, and part of the nation's only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) system. The University System also boasts campuses in Shreveport and New Orleans. The main campus is home to more than 1,500 administrative staff and more than 7,000 students. With six degree-granting colleges, and a law school and an Agricultural Research and Extension Center on campus, the University offers bachelor's, graduate, professional, and doctoral doctorate degree programs.