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“LeadSquared’s automation capabilities mean our counsellors spend more time providing a personalized, intimate student experience rather than handling tedious tasks. It’s transformative for both our students and our team.”
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Founded over 70 years ago, the University of the Southwest (USW) is a unique private, Christian institution located in New Mexico. It stands out as the only private Christian higher education university within the state, serving a diverse student population of approximately 1,500. Over the past 15 years, the university has seen significant growth, tripling its enrollment from around 500 students to its current numbers. USW caters to a wide demographic, including traditional undergraduate students, particularly student-athletes who make up a significant portion of the campus population, as well as a global community of professionals enrolled in online graduate and doctoral programs. The institution emphasizes a personalized education approach, fostering a sense of community and individual attention.
“We’re the only private Christian higher education institution in New Mexico, with a diverse student population spanning from traditional undergraduate students to global professionals pursuing advanced degrees.” – Ryan Tipton, President, USW
Before implementing LeadSquared, USW utilized a CRM initially designed for the mortgage industry. Adopted roughly 15 years ago due to a lack of higher education-specific options at the time, this CRM quickly became outdated as the institution expanded. The old system presented considerable operational inefficiencies, including significant manual data entry tasks that consumed valuable time for enrollment counselors and administrative staff. Automation features were virtually non-existent, severely limiting the university’s ability to manage its increasing number of leads and effectively streamline its enrollment processes.
The manual nature of the CRM required extensive data entry for each application, diverting enrollment counsellors from engaging prospective students personally. Such tedious processes diminished the overall student experience by reducing the counsellors’ ability to provide personalized support.
“Our previous CRM was outdated, very manual, and lacked the automation features necessary for a modern enrollment management process. It was intended for the mortgage industry, which wasn’t suitable for our dynamic needs in higher education.” – Ryan Tipton
USW discovered LeadSquared at a major higher education technology conference. President Ryan Tipton was immediately impressed by LeadSquared’s advanced capabilities, particularly its strong focus on automation and the flexibility of integrating seamlessly with USW’s existing systems, including various lead sources and their Student Information System (SIS). Unlike typical higher education-specific CRMs, which often required adherence to rigid, pre-defined integrations, LeadSquared offered the customizability and robustness that USW needed.
LeadSquared’s capacity to centralize and streamline lead management from multiple sources including organic web leads, targeted landing pages, third-party media campaigns, and direct recruitment efforts made it an ideal choice.
“LeadSquared offered a modern platform with strong automation and integration capabilities that aligned perfectly with our strategic goals. Its flexibility and robust features were exactly what we needed.” – Ryan Tipton
USW undertook an ambitious implementation strategy, integrating multiple diverse lead sources into LeadSquared over a ten-month period. This complex implementation involved connecting organic website leads, standalone landing pages from digital campaigns, third-party vendor-generated leads, and direct contact channels such as recruitment events and coaching interactions. These integrations also included real-time updates and data exchanges with external vendors to maintain efficiency and accuracy.
Dedicated support from LeadSquared’s implementation team, especially, Karthik, significantly smoothed this intricate process. Regular weekly update calls, comprehensive training sessions, and hands-on assistance facilitated a seamless transition, enabling staff to quickly adapt despite the complex integrations.
“The onboarding process was phenomenal. The dedication and continuous support from our LeadSquared manager made the complex integration achievable and smooth. Karthik felt like part of our team, fully committed to our success.” – Ryan Tipton
With LeadSquared now in operation, USW has successfully automated numerous previously manual processes. Enrollment counsellors are no longer burdened by extensive data entry, allowing more time for personalized interactions and improved student experiences. Automated processes now include critical tasks such as application handling, lead nurturing, and timely communication about financial aid and registration deadlines.
As the university moves forward, ongoing training ensures maximum utilization of LeadSquared’s extensive features. The continued refinement of automated workflows and integrations underscores the institution’s commitment to further enhancing operational efficiency and student engagement.
“LeadSquared’s automation capabilities mean our counsellors spend more time providing a personalized, intimate student experience rather than handling tedious tasks. It’s transformative for both our students and our team.” – Ryan Tipton
