Mike DiPietro, Lehigh’s Campus Mail and Print Manager, faced the challenge of moving his 12,000 square foot student mail services center to a much smaller space. He decided to take advantage of the move to radically improve mail services and redesign his operations workflow and footprint. He contacted his local Ricoh Campus Solutions team and initiated a benchmarking process to dramatically improve the department’s efficiency by introducing cutting-edge technology and equipment.
They drew up plans for a new facility in 1,989 square feet of existing space ideally situated in the middle of the campus square, the main hub of activity for the school’s 5,500 students.
Ricoh suggested using IOPC’s high density mail system with bar-coded student indexes and expandable mail slots to reduce the mail boxes footprint from 10,000 down to 105 square feet. Ricoh’s Ring Scanner technology was added to complete the system. Now, when mail arrives for a student, the bar code is scanned and an email message is instantly sent to notify the student. This same technology is also used for parcel notification. Students love the instant notifications and convenient access to the new mail services center.
Mike also installed Modular Millwork service counters in the lobby, and added self service kiosks to allow students to instantly claim mail and parcels, use outbound mailing services, buy stamps, order copy and print services and even purchase Lehigh school accessories.
The new mail center is so efficient and easy to use, it has been opened to the public. Says Mike, “Lehigh is a big part of Bethlehem and we wanted to embrace our local community by offering convenient and easy access mail and parcel services to the general public.” The Modular Millwork product was configured to meet the exact needs of the mailing facility, and it also has the advantage of being able to adapt to any future changes the center may encounter. Unlike built-in cabinets, Modular Millwork is easily adjusted and reuseable in a multitude of situations to keep pace with change, even those not yet anticipated.
Lehigh’s new mail and parcels center has emerged as one of the most efficient and user-friendly services on campus. The new facility allowed Mike to save the school money by minimizing expensive real estate while delivering previously unimagined convenience and cost effective services to students and the local community. Mike also installed Modular Millwork service counters in the lobby, and added self service kiosks to allow students to instantly claim mail and parcels, use outbound mailing services, buy stamps, order copy and print services and even purchase Lehigh school accessories.
