Gonzaga University is a private Jesuit institution with 7,400 students in Spokane, Washington. From club events to games, there is always something happening on campus.
However, until nine years ago there was no secure, hosted environment where students, staff, and visitors could purchase tickets to events with a credit or debit card.
“We also had students studying abroad who had the opportunity to do weekend trips, but there was no easy way for their parents to pay for trips from the U.S.,” says Linda Wilson, financial systems and services manager.
Wilson’s team searched for a wizard-based, e-commerce site that allowed finance staff to create digital storefronts and manage the system in house. “Our IT department was stretched very thin, and we wanted the ability to edit and maintain in the controller’s office,” she says.
PCI compliance was also crucial. CASHNet was the superior solution in every category, she says.
CASHNet eMarket allows finance departments to manage commerce operations for any group, club, or department on URLs, making it easy to find and purchase what you need. Photos, descriptions, and one-click payments contribute to a smooth consumer experience. Simple reporting and auditing make for a straightforward management process on the back end.
“We have the unlimited e-commerce license, so we have as many eMarkets as we need,” says Wilson.
The groups at Gonzaga have taken advantage of this opportunity. “We have 370 eMarkets,” says Wilson. “All of our clubs, plus off-campus housing and special events like Fall Family Weekend, use the secure way to take in revenue.”
Since the implementation of CASHNet, organizations have seen revenue increases. The theater department has been selling out shows prior to the performance, which seldom happened when there was no way to pay on the web, says Wilson.
The CASHNet mobile app for the iPad has been used by Gonzaga since it was introduced. “Students will be standing in line for an event, pay for it on their phone and then show their receipt at the door. They are in a hurry to get into an event and do not want to waste time standing at a box office.”
Having an app that provides quick and direct access to the desired eMarket has changed commerce at Gonzaga. “We can use QR codes to make processing even faster,” says Wilson “The theater can add a QR code to the posters that advertise shows that directs to their ticketing eMarket. A student can stand outside the theater, be taken directly to the right eMarket and purchase their tickets instantly.”
One member of Wilson’s staff manages the eMarkets full time. “She takes and prioritizes requests, edits and gets stores online and offline, and adds and deletes categories,” Wilson says.
Everyone on campus loves CASHNet and the mobile app, says Wilson. “The ease of it really is the biggest benefit.” She says. “Everyone wants the convenience of being able to shop with a debit or credit card at any time.”
This was produced for CASHNet by University Business. For more information, visit www.cashnet.com
