AFD Software helps over 100 Universities ensure their student Address, Email, and Phone data is accurate at the point of entry and bulk cleanses student contact databases.

Address validation and cleansing services offer significant benefits to universities across various aspects of their operations, from administrative efficiency to student services. Here are some key benefits:

• Meeting HESA requirements: “Throughout the collection process, providers should quality assure (QA) contact details to ensure their robustness, accuracy and validity. This should include a thorough data cleansing exercise prior to submission in the provider portal and the identification and removal of all duplicated contact details, where there is not a genuine reason for there being shared contact details.” AFD’s Address lookup ensures only accurate addresses can be entered by staff and students. AFD’s Address cleansing solution provides bulk data cleansing of all student contact data, ensuring it is accurate and valid.
  
  
• Enhanced Student Services: Accurate address data is crucial for providing timely information to students, especially for distance learning materials, financial aid documents, and emergency contacts. It ensures students receive the necessary resources and information without delays, enhancing their educational experience.
  
  
• Data Quality and Management: High-quality address data is vital for maintaining an accurate and up-to-date database of students, alumni, and donors. Address validation helps in cleansing and standardising address data, which is essential for analytics, reporting, and strategic planning.
  
  
• Enhanced Communication with Alumni and Donors: Accurate addresses are critical for engaging with alumni and donors, whether it’s for fundraising campaigns, event invitations, or sharing university updates. Address validation ensures these stakeholders remain connected to the university, supporting continued involvement and contributions.

Email and phone validation ensures all email addresses and phone numbers entered by staff or students are confirmed as accurate and “live” (currently in use). Feedback from some of the 100+ Universities that rely on AFD for accurate data have shared the following benefits:

• Meeting HESA requirements: “Throughout the collection process, providers should quality assure (QA) contact details to ensure their robustness, accuracy and validity. This should include a thorough data cleansing exercise prior to submission in the provider portal and the identification and removal of all duplicated contact details, where there is not a genuine reason for there being shared contact details.” AFD’s Address lookup ensures only accurate addresses can be entered by staff and students. AFD’s Address cleansing solution provides bulk data cleansing of all student contact data, ensuring it is accurate and valid.
  
  
• Improved Communication with Students and Staff: Validating email addresses and phone numbers ensures that communications reach their intended recipients. This is essential for sending out important information such as enrolment details, course updates, exam schedules, and emergency notifications, thereby improving the overall communication flow within the university community.
  
  
• Enhanced Marketing and Recruitment Efforts: For recruitment and marketing campaigns, having validated email addresses and phone numbers enables universities to effectively reach prospective students. This not only improves the success rate of such campaigns but also ensures a positive first impression of the university’s communication efforts.
  
  
• Increased Efficiency and Cost Savings: By eliminating invalid or outdated contact information, universities can avoid wasting resources on undeliverable emails and unsuccessful phone calls. This not only saves money but also reduces the workload on administrative staff, allowing them to focus on more productive tasks.

Incorporating email and phone validation into their data management practices allows universities to enhance their operational efficiency, improve their communication strategies, and maintain strong relationships with all members of their community, from current students to alumni and staff.

To find out how these solutions can benefit your institution, contact Jonathan.stocks@afd.co.uk or call 01624 811711.