Transforming Student Housing Connectivity During Unprecedented Times -
Nationwide
Campus Technologies, or CTI, is a student housing wired and wireless internet partner at its core. They have been operating in one form or another since the 1990s, making them the oldest dedicated student housing internet partner in the US. Campus Technologies boasts a strong portfolio of partners and properties across the United States, and they are committed to offering exceptional wired and wireless networks tailored to the unique needs of their partners. Their expertise extends beyond network management; integrating advanced technologies and a deep understanding of student life to provide customized, secure internet services for off-campus housing.
Rob Collins, Vice President of Engineering, has played a crucial role in this evolution for 17 years, progressing from a junior systems administrator to his current position. In this customer success story, Rob provides insights into how EnGenius has transformed Campus Technologies’ connectivity solutions, particularly during the challenges of the pandemic. Explore how this partnership has improved their operational efficiency and upheld their dedication to providing outstanding student housing experiences.
Rob Collins
Vice President of Engineering, Campus Technologies
The Need
Campus Technologies, a thought leader in off-campus housing technology faced specific challenges related to the need for reliable, high-speed internet in student housing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the increased demand for remote learning and collaboration platforms like Zoom many of Campus Technologies partners wanted to upgrade their wireless infrastructure. Unfortunately, due to issues with shipping and manufacturing during the pandemic Campus Technologies was having a hard time finding enterprise grade Wi-Fi equipment.
Before trying EnGenius, Campus Technologies primarily relied on other networking companies for their needs, however the pandemic significantly impacted hardware supply with lead times for new equipment extending from six months to a year and a half. This shortage of resources made it impossible to meet the urgent needs of their clients and partners.
“We were facing a real crisis. The long waiting times for new equipment made it impossible to keep up with our properties’ urgent needs. We had to explore alternatives that could provide immediate availability without sacrificing performance,” said Collins.
Due to this, Campus Technologies had to seek alternative solutions that could offer immediate availability without sacrificing performance and reliability. Campus Technologies gave priority to product availability to meet immediate needs and to performance and reliability to guarantee a stable network for students during the increased demands of remote learning. They were also looking for a solution that offered easy deployment, scalability for future growth, and cost-effectiveness to maximize value without compromising quality. They were ready to move to a cloud-powered platform but were concerned about an over-complicated learning curve.
The Solution
Throughout the hardware crisis, Campus Technologies explored different options and tested products from multiple vendors. However, EnGenius stood out due to its combination of performance, availability, and enterprise-grade features.
“EnGenius’s solutions hit all the marks we needed. Their products were not only available but also offered the robust performance and feature set we were looking for,” Collins added.
The first project was at a property in Philadelphia called The Simon on Founders Row, where students attend several schools close by, including the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton Business School. Campus Technologies signed an NDA to test the upcoming EnGenius access points (APs). Despite an initial wait for these APs, their availability and performance during the trial phase were impressive, leading Campus Tech to proceed with EnGenius for the entire property.
The Simon at Founders Row in Philadelphia needed around 100 EnGenius APs. The early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to obtain hardware and presented unique challenges in how schools utilized connectivity on campus, as well as hybrid and remote learning, to support students’ continued education during these unprecedented times.
Rob Collins
Vice President of Engineering, Campus Technologies
Key Features Utilized
Reliability: The deployment of EnGenius ECW215 APs proved to be highly dependable, with minimal issues reported during both testing and full-scale deployment. This reliability was crucial for maintaining a stable and consistent network, especially as students increasingly relied on online and video platforms such as Zoom for their education. The robust performance of these access points ensured uninterrupted connectivity, supporting the increased demand for bandwidth and network stability.
Cost-Effectiveness: EnGenius products offer competitive pricing, making them a cost-effective alternative to legacy vendors. With a focus on reliability and a wealth of advanced and efficient features, these solutions provide Campus Technologies with exceptional value, ensuring high-quality connectivity without compromising on quality to provide high density deployment while staying within budget constraints.
The Results
The deployment for The Simon at Founders Row was highly successful. Implementing EnGenius wireless solutions resulted in minimal issues, and the few challenges that did arise were promptly addressed with support from the EnGenius team. This successful rollout has paved the way for further adoption and even faster installations of EnGenius solutions across additional properties nationwide by demonstrating a robust and reliable set of solutions catered at addressing Campus Technologies’ challenges.
Streamlined Management: The centralized management platform has simplified network operations making it easier for the engineering team to oversee and control networks across multiple properties. This efficiency allowed for better coordination and quicker response times to any network issues, contributing to smoother overall management.
Scalability: EnGenius designed its solutions to scale effortlessly, accommodating Campus Technologies’ growing needs without introducing significant complexity. This scalability allowed the company to smoothly expand its network infrastructure across multiple properties, adapting to varying demands and ensuring each location could effectively handle its specific connectivity requirements.
Competitive Advantage: EnGenius’s solutions offer high performance and reliability at a competitive price. This cost-effectiveness ensured Campus Technologies could remain competitive while providing top-notch connectivity, staying within budget, and optimizing financial and operational resources.
Rob Collins
Vice President of Engineering, Campus Technologies
Campus Technologies highly values its strong partnership with EnGenius, which goes beyond simply providing products. The feedback loop established between the two organizations has been instrumental in refining and enhancing the solutions to meet Campus Technologies’ needs better. EnGenius’s dedication to customer support and responsiveness has been a critical differentiator. The ability to promptly address concerns and adapt to evolving requirements has strengthened Campus Technologies’ confidence in EnGenius as a reliable and supportive partner.
“Our residents have noticed a big difference. The enhanced connectivity has made a significant impact on their ability to participate in remote learning effectively. Scalability was another key factor and EnGenius made it easy to expand our network as needed without introducing unnecessary complexity,” said Collins.
Campus Technologies has successfully integrated EnGenius solutions, improving connectivity, reliability, and ease of management. By addressing the initial challenge of hardware availability during the pandemic, Campus Technologies has continued to deliver excellent service to its student residents. The strong partnership with EnGenius, supported by dedicated assistance and reliable products, has positioned Campus Technologies to meet future demands and confidently expand its network infrastructure. Throughout their partnership with EnGenius, Campus Technologies has acquired 2,800 EnGenius Cloud Access Points, highlighting the ongoing success of our collaboration.
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To get in touch with Campus Technologies:
Phone: (888) 288-2587
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.campustechnologies.com
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