Empowering Campus Stores: The Case for Joining the Campus Bundle Cooperative

In the dynamic landscape of higher education, campus stores play a crucial role in providing students with essential resources. One retail management system for college stores that has been growing recently is from Oracle NetSuite^®, offering a tailored Campus Store Bundle, and Campus Store Payment Framework (CSPF) to address the unique challenges faced by educational institutions. 

Post-implementation of the NetSuite platform, however, it can be challenging to maintain and update customized code.  However, since this challenge is shared by a growing number of campus stores, there is an opportunity to work toward a collaborative solution.

The Evolution of Campus Store Management with CSPF:

Both NetSuite’s CSPF, and  the Campus Bundle, have been critical for many independent campus stores to automate intricate processes such as textbook adoptions, rentals, inclusive access programs, student financial aid, split payments, and various scholarships.   The campus bundle has become integral to the seamless functioning of campus stores. The challenge lies in ensuring that this software evolves in tandem with the changing needs of educational institutions.

The Dilemma: Ownership, Updates, and Campus-Specific Challenges:

While NetSuite licenses its core software to campus customers, the ownership transfer of CSPF code to individual stores comes with a caveat. NetSuite is absolved of future obligations to update or fix the code – creating a situation where critical updates are not automatically accessible to existing customers (without re-engaging with NetSuite for additional work). This challenge is further exacerbated by the typical IT landscape of campus stores, where the need to handle complex software adjustments is yet another task for an IT staff that is already resource-constrained.

Watchman Payment Systems: Bridging the Gap for Continuous Improvement:

Enter Watchman Payment Systems, a company intimately familiar with the intricacies of the NetSuite software in this vertical. As experts in handling unique payment types within the college stores marketplace, Watchman has not only developed the expertise to manage and install the Campus Bundle, but also recognizes the long-term benefits of continuous access to feature updates and fixes.

We are also pleased to announce that VitalSource Technologies has agreed to become an organizing member of the Co-op, adding expertise and resources to this effort.

Advocating for a Cooperative Solution:

1. Economies of Scale and Cost-Efficiency:

• By forming a cooperative managed by Watchman, campus stores can pool resources, making continuous updates more cost-effective and accessible.

2. Increased Control over Strategic Direction of the Campus Bundle

• The cooperative plays a role in setting the priorities that guide future development of the Campus Bundle.

3. Shared Expertise and Collaborative Innovation:

• The cooperative creates a hub for knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving, enabling campus stores to benefit from each other’s experiences and expertise.

4. Streamlined Implementation and Unified Standards:

• Watchman’s role in managing the cooperative ensures efficient rollouts of updates, maintaining unified standards across participating stores and minimizing disruptions as the Coop adds features and fixes.

5. Vendor Independence and Continuous Improvement:

• By joining the cooperative, campus stores have more options for managing their custom code base, without relying solely on NetSuite’s availability for updates.

6. Enhanced Support and Networking Opportunities:

• The cooperative provides a structured support system, fostering networking opportunities among campus stores, and ensuring a collective approach to addressing challenges.

Conclusion: Unleashing the Long-Term Potential of Your Investment Through Collaboration:

In a rapidly changing educational landscape, the key to unlocking the full potential of the Campus Bundle and other higher-education vertical-specific modules lies in collaboration. Joining the cooperative managed by Watchman Payment Systems offers a compelling solution to the challenges faced by campus stores, ensuring continuous access to the latest fixes, shared expertise, and a collective voice in shaping the future of campus store management. Together, we can create an environment where campus stores thrive, adapting seamlessly to the evolving needs of higher education. It’s time to target a brighter, more efficient future for campus store management with the Campus Bundle Cooperative.