Dear Subscriber:

In this issue of e-Business Officer Update, we are focusing on electronic payments: what are the factors behind your constituents different payment patterns; how to increase the use of electronic payments over your institution's website; fielding primary research around e-payment usage.

Fact is, more consumers are turning to electronic payments every day for their recurring bills, yet there is still plenty of growth potential among your payers. We want to help you capitalize on this phenomenon and take advantage of the cost savings it offers your institution.

Sincerely,

Ruth Griggs Fontana

Principal, RC Communications

n MARKETING

How to Create Consumer Comfort around E-Payment and E-Billing

One of the greatest challenges in introducing e-billing services is how to best communicate to your constituents so they begin to use e-billing. While it may be difficult to grab your students’ attention online and get them to register for e-billing, at least most of them ARE online and are comfortable with interacting with electronic services. Parents can be a much greater challenge to reach and activate; consider the following marketing strategies on how to reach parents and encourage them to use your new e-billing services.

Ten Tips on How to Market E-Billing Services to Parents:

Start early. Three months in advance of your launch is not too early to begin notifying parents and encouraging them to change behavior.

- Read full article

n E-BILLING

E-Payments: The Latest Trends in Customer Preferences

In the June issue of e-Business Officer Update, we pointed out the fact that college campuses are leading the way in electronic payment usage. Higher education institutions report electronic payment usage rates of over 65%^1., well above the 49% average for electronic payment of recurring bills today.^2.

This is a development for business officers to be pleased with, but it does not tell the whole story. What business officers are actually experiencing is something that is quite different: their payers are using a wide range of payment methods (paper checks, credit card, debit card, ACH) and a wide range of payment channels (in-person, snail mail, IVR, live phone and online). This dichotomy is supported by two major studies on electronic payments discussed in this article. - Read Full Article

n RESEARCH

What E-Payment Methods are Working for Business Officers Today

Tell us how your institution deploys electronic payments, and prove to us that your institution is leading the way in electronic payment. Complete this simple, 1-minute survey about YOUR experiences with e-payments at your institution. We will share the research results with the e-Business Officer Update recipients in the next issue.

Complete 1-Minute Survey Now

n WHITE PAPER

In April 2006, RC Communications published the white paper, “Best Practices in Billing Communications: Increasing Collections, Reducing Costs and Improving Communications through Enhanced Billing Services”. The white paper offers an overview of best practices in paper and electronic billing and payment and the results that could be obtained by implementing them. Using the billing practices of leading financial services and utilities companies as a guide, the white paper demonstrates how to apply these state-of-the-art techniques in an organization to increase collections rates, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Primary research findings reveal the attitudes and usage preferences of payers when these new paper and electronic billing approaches are implemented. Secondary research findings from some of today’s top billers provide the basis of recommendations utilizing the latest in electronic bill presentment and payment techniques.

The white paper is the first of its kind to present a comprehensive study of paper and electronic billing and payment services for higher education institutions, and is a must-read for all administrators of higher education tuition management services.

Yes, I would like to receive a copy of the white paper
“Best Practices in Billing Communications”

n ABOUT RC COMMUNICATIONS

RC Communications provides online and offline marketing and communications consulting services to financial services, payment systems and higher education providers. The firm offers practical marketing solutions to help organizations improve communications, reduce costs and enhance relationships through strategically designed marketing programs.

RC Communications has a unique specialty in enhancing customer communications through the billing medium. We provide marketing insights to organizations with traditional paper or newer electronic billing processes. By delivering better communication through an organization’s highest response vehicle: the bill, organizations can enhance their customers’ experience, elicit positive action, and improve relationships.

How to Create Consumer Comfort around E-Payment and E-Billing

Ten Tips on How to Market E-Billing Services to Parents:

Start early. Three months in advance of your launch is not too early to begin notifying parents and encouraging them to change behavior. - Read full article

Start early. Three months in advance of your launch is not too early to begin notifying parents and encouraging them to change behavior.

- Read full article