SHI boot-checked, kitted, and shipped each device to an incoming student for remote learning.

As the COVID-19 pandemic set in, many organizations were forced to switch to remote work – universities included.

Challenge:

A large U.S. university with nearly 70,000 students began the 2020-21 school year remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To keep the Class of 2024 freshmen engaged with distance learning, the university wanted to leverage CARES Act funding to supply each student with a device. Once this funding was approved, the customer tasked SHI with selecting, deploying, and shipping 9,000 devices over a three-month span.

Solution:

After reviewing the parameters of the project, our experts assembled initial pricing with warranties, SHI services, and shipping for hardware from five different manufacturers. We then crafted a proposal laying out quantities, models, accessories, warranties, services, shipping, and insurance for each option.

Based on pricing through the OMNIA Partners, Public Sector contract, and the vendors' ability to ship the devices within the requested deadline, the customer selected Apple iPads with two years of AppleCare.

SHI’s Apple team ran multiple rounds of testing on mobile device management (MDM) enrollment solutions. After evaluating their options, the customer chose to go with Intune.

Outcome:

SHI’s Knox Integration Center team moved forward with boot checks, Apple School Manager (ASM) enrollment, kitting, and shipping to 9,000 unique student addresses. SHI’s Mobility Solutions team also worked closely with the Apple team to add custom drawstring bags featuring the logos of the university, SHI, and Apple for each kit.

SHI completed the project within the three-month timeframe, enabling the Class of 2024 to enjoy the university’s gift for their first day of classes.