Leveraging Web Services in SIU Mailrooms

Southern Illinois University continues to use the StarRez Web Services to provide specific access to components of the StarRez solution to users who otherwise wouldn't have access. This presentation highlights the use case of mailrooms on the SIU Carbondale campus.

Presented at the StarRez 2012 User Conference in San Diego, CA.

Transcript

1. Leveraging Web Services in SIU Mailrooms Daniel Reedy, Assistant Manager of IT SIU Carbondale University Housing
2. Hello, My Name Is _______ • Daniel Reedy, Assistant Manager of Information Technology ‣ Server Administration ‣ Application Development ‣ Policies & Audits ‣ Computer Lab Admin ‣ PCI Compliance ‣ Cable TV ‣ General Tech Support ‣ And more…
3. SIU Carbondale Salukis
4. SIU Carbondale University Housing • 3,830 Residence Hall Spaces • 868 Apartment Spaces • 3 Commons Buildings
5. StarRez History RFP Process 2003 StarRez Conversion Spring 2010 StarCom Install Fall 2003 Went Live & First Check-out Spring 2004 Maintenance Module Fall 2008 First Move-in with StarRez Fall 2010 Live with StarAppWeb for Contracts Fall 2004 Front Desk Module Spring 2012
6. Living on the Web • StarRez Web Serices: ‣ Accounts API ‣ Reporting API ‣ REST API • Ruby Wrapper http://www.github.com/danreedy/StarRezApi
7. Which API to Use? • Accounts API ‣ When dealing with dollars • Reporting API ‣ When pulling information from many tables • REST API ‣ When working with a single record
8. Use Case: Mailrooms
9. Package Delivery at SIU • 3 Dedicated Mailrooms & 2 Front Desks • Student Staff • Multiple Carriers on Multiple Schedules • All tracked with pen & paper! ‣ Tracking numbers being written 3 times!
10. A “Slow” Day
11. Package Noti cation Card
12. Goals for the Transition • Simplify and Expedite Receipt of Packages • Eliminate the need to write anything • Improve package tracking & eliminate inter-office transfers • Expedite Issuing of Packages
13. Front Desk Module • Parcels - Visitors - Resources • Caution: It’s New! Still being actively developed • Provides a great foundation for tracking • Worked great for receiving packages • Not quite what we wanted for issuing them...
14. Receiving Packages • StarRez desktop client • Bar Code Scanner • Process: ‣ Search for Resident ‣ Add a Parcel ‣ Complete the Wizard
15. Parcel Receipt Wizard Letter Package Oversized Poster etc... UPS USPS FEDEX etc... Mailroom
16. Parcel Receipt Wizard
17. Resident Noti cation • Replace notification card with print-out • Report Generator + Dymo LabelWriter 450 • Placed in their Mailbox • Add Image of printed label
18. Issuing Packages • Touchscreen Monitors at Mailroom Windows • USB Magstripe Readers at All Locations • Housing Portal + Reporting API + REST API
19. Housing Portal Login
20. “Pick-up” Screen
21. ID Search - Ruby Wrapper
22. API Call URL https://server/StarRezWebServices/services/ getreportbyname/PackageSearch.xml? Dawgtag=850012345
23. Raw Response 850012345
24. Converted to a Ruby Hash 850012345
25. Unissued Package Report
26. Issuing Ruby Code
27. API Call URL https://server/StarRezWebServices/services/ update/EntryParcel/123? ElectronicIdentityTypeID=1&ElectronicIdentity=850012345 &IssueDate=2012-05-25%2016:14&ParcelStatusEnum=1
28. “Pick-up” Screen
29. Demo Time
30. Implementation Results • Began February 17, 2012 in one mailroom • Added two additional mailrooms and two front desks • Issued 6,092 packages 2/17 through 5/19
31. The ToDo List • Email Notification • Web application to check package delivery status • Eliminate notification card (go paperless) • Expand to Graduate & Family Apartments • See what StarRez does next...
32. Questions?
33. Product List • USB Barcode Scanner w/ Stand • USB Magnetic Stripe Reader • ELO Touchscreen Monitor w/ Magstripe Reader • Dymo LabelWriter 450
34. Get in Contact • Daniel Reedy Assistant Manager of Information Technology University Housing, SIU Carbondale • Email: dreedy@housing.siu.edu • Twitter: @reedy • Voice: 618.453.2301