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Title : University of Birmingham
Requirements : Copy and Print Payment On Line Solution
Market : Education
Service/Product : Print & Photocopying
Reseller/Distributor : Integrated Card Solutions Ltd
Client
Location – Birmingham, England
Client profile – A diverse and stimulating learning community, attracting students across a wide range of disciplines both nationally and internationally.
Contact – Will Cooper – Information Services
Number of sites - 1
Number of terminals – 27 MB20, 5 paystations, 1 registration station, 7 card reader keyboards, 2 print release stations.
Users – 30,000 students, 2,700 Academic Staff, 2,500 Support Staff
The Challenge
Improve the printing and photocopy service provided to students and staff in the Main Library, making it easier, quicker and more secure to use.
To enable Birmingham University to manage, control and monitor their print and copy output, reducing paper wastage and user misuse.
Reduce costs to a minimum, given that the existing provision is a disposable paper magnetic stripe high security card, that currently costs the University GBP 13,000 per year. The existing system is outdated, expensive to maintain and difficult to operate.
Integrate printing and photocopying control to utilise the existing student ID Card, of which there were 2 types, magnetic stripe card and Mifare contactless Smart Cards.
Pre-exisiting paper disposable cards were of poor quality, being thin and easily destroyed if they came into contact with other magnetic stripe cards. The new cards needed to be tough, durable, rechargeable and secure.
Card readers were previously not networked therefore the collection of data was time consuming and labour intensive. This also meant that lost or stolen cards could not be blocked from the system.
The pre existing print system meant that card readers were hard wired into the printers and was not dedicated to the card holder – this led to abuse of the system.
Install a complete on line management control system that would enable staff to monitor and control the cost and usage of printing and photocopying resourcefully.
Allocate card ownership that allows students to monitor their print and copy usage.
Managed and maintained remotely with ease.
The Solution
Upgraded the print and photocopy control system to consist of
27 MB20 terminals, 5 pay stations, 1 registration station, 7 card reader keyboards and 2 print release stations to all communicate with Monitor’s Supervisor net management software and third party print management software. The entire system has been integrated with the staff and student ID cards. The installation was fully operational in September 2003.
The Result
Print management software gives total accountability and accurate assessment of print volumes and cost savings through the elimination of paper wastage and misuse.
The printing user interface is much easier to use for students as it details what the user has to print, how many pages will be printed, the cost of the print job and the remaining balance.
Users pay for photocopying with either Magnetic stripe card or Mifare card to activate the photocopier. The card reader shows their balance on the card.
Card is secure in that it defines each user and any lost or stolen cards can be blocked and the existing balance transferred to a new card.
Students can top up their cards using self service paystations to reload value to their card, which are located around the Main Library.
The print and photocopy system is now networked which has made it easier for staff to manage and control the system and monitor overall paper usage and cost.
The Future
Intend to integrate this solution into other departments within the University with the main aim of making the whole system cashless with the possibility of payment by the web.
Quote
”The University of Birmingham has benefited from excellent support from ICS and is extremely pleased with how easy the system is to operate; the solution does especially well in providing a high standard of service to the end user.” Will Cooper |
