Faster, Convenient Mail with IST Kiosk & Smart Lockers

Faster, Convenient Mail with IST Kiosk & Smart Lockers

Introducing IST's Kiosk Application to NU

The Kiosk Application enhanced Northeastern University's mailroom operations by equipping workers with the capability to serve multiple students simultaneously, reducing wait times for mail pickup. Before implementing this technology, mailroom processes required manual information entry to assist one student at a time. This linear process created a more significant margin of error and longer wait times for customers. IST's Kiosk Application integrates Northeastern University IDs with our proprietary Mail Sort/Package Track (MSPT) System, replacing the task of manually entering information. 

When mail arrives, students receive an email notification directing them to the mailroom. Students enter their NU ID in a Self-Check-In Kiosk, and a ticket is printed for the worker to retrieve any package tied to that specific ID number. By assuming the initial service task, workers can take multiple tickets simultaneously, optimizing their previous capabilities for a more efficient service. Once all packages are acquired, a screen displays the student's name and station to receive their mail, where the student will scan their NU ID once more to confirm the transaction.

The Kiosk Application ensures mailroom operations are reliable and structured from daily service through high traffic times, like the beginning of the semester. Onsite Manager Adirio Christian Almeida says of the Kiosk Application, "as soon as we implemented the kiosks, we went from helping one student, taking anywhere from one to five minutes, to doing it under a minute for every student." This service is easily adaptable to any mailroom operation and intuitive for the user, enhancing processes effortlessly.

Offsetting Mailroom Operations with Smart Lockers

The Smart Locker provides an alternative option for package pickup by delivering packages to a secure storage locker throughout Northeastern's campus. IST's MSPT system finds the nearest Smart Locker to the recipient's address, attached to their NU ID. The corresponding locker unlocks as the mailroom worker approaches the Smart Locker and scans the IST package label. Once the package is securely in the locker, the student receives an email notification containing the location of the locker and a QR code and alternate pin, which unlocks it when nearby. As the student retrieves their package and closes the locker, a notification is sent to the worker signaling the completion of service, readying the locker for the next delivery. This error-proof system helps reduce traffic in the mailroom and is convenient for students by delivering packages closer to their dorms or shared common spaces.

Changing the Mailroom Game

The reception of the Kiosk Application and Smart Locker show that these technology enhancements are here to stay. Almeida says, "Before changing our system, the lines were out the door. And then, after using the Kiosk Application and Smart Locker in January, you could see the emails and hear the students' praises saying, 'This was incredible. I was in and out of there within 30 seconds.', so they love it."

Advancing mailroom capabilities doesn't have to disrupt your entire operation. The Kiosk Application and Smart Locker intuitively improve existing processes for workers and those expecting mail for any volume of traffic in a scalable solution. If demand increases, campuses can install additional Kiosks and Smart Lockers to maintain service. IST Management is now working on an app that will notify students of their delivered mail, open lockers, and record service history. The Kiosk Application and Smart Locker are essential tools for optimizing mailroom efficiencies for any University or institution, taking existing processes and boosting their capabilities to serve a growing operation best.