Card, mobile credential, payment and security
In this episode of CampusIDNews Chats, Dave McQuillin, co-founder and VP of Sales and Marketing for Atrium Campus, shares how new technologies are reshaping campus dining and retail operations.
McQuillin says colleges are turning to semi-autonomous and fully autonomous solutions to meet evolving student needs and overcome staffing shortages. “Students these days really expect to have great food options available 24-7 because that’s how they live,” he explains. Traditional hours no longer meet expectations, and it’s increasingly difficult to staff late-night or off-hour locations.
At UGA, Atrium worked with AiFi to deliver a fully autonomous retail store that doubled sales and reduced shrinkage from high double digits to less than 2%.
Atrium’s partner ecosystem includes semi-autonomous solutions like Mashgin, which uses AI and computer vision to scan items instantly. “You grab what you want, you put it on a tray, you hit pay, and it uses AI algorithms and cameras to ring that check up very quickly,” McQuillin says. Average transaction times are just 12.5 seconds—significantly faster than manual self-checkout—and shrinkage is reduced.
Atrium also supports fully autonomous retail, integrating with technologies like Zippin and AiFi. The University of Georgia’s AiFi store, for example, “doubled sales, reduced shrinkage from high double digits to less than 2%, and students are super happy,” McQuillin reports.
To watch the full interview, click the image at the top of this page.
TRANSCRIPT
Atrium is an a la carte, cloud-native campus card program that supports mobile credentials, meal plan management, and the full suite of one-card offerings.
One of the trends we're definitely seeing in higher ed is a shift to semi-autonomous and fully-autonomous dining in retail.
Why is that important?
Students these days really expect to have great food options available 24-7 because that's how they live.
Locations that are just staffed from 8 to 5 p.m. just don't cut it. Staffing shortages also have been a driver for this. It's increasingly hard to find staff that will work the hours that are required. But more than anything, it's about improving the student experience.
Some of the solutions that we have been bringing to market through our partner program include Mashgin, which is a semi-autonomous solution.
You grab what you want, you put it on a tray, you hit pay, and it uses AI algorithms and cameras to ring that check up very quickly.
In fact, Mashgin talks about an average transaction time of 12 and a half seconds, much faster than self-barcoding items.
The other advantage of that technology is it reduces shrinkage. A lot of universities are struggling with this when they have unattended self-serve checkouts, which rely on the integrity of the students to barcode every item.
In addition to Mashgin, we have integrated with services like Farmer's Fridge, Just Baked, Costa Coffee, Vicky the AI-powered vending machine, and Robo Burger. It seems like almost every other week there's a new robot-driven vending machine that's coming to market, and we are able to onboard those services very, very quickly.
Now, the other category in that area is fully autonomous.
Our first foray into that was to integrate with Zippin at Towson University. In addition to Towson, we have UNLV that also has a Zippin store.
But true to our roots, we want to give clients lots of options, so we just recently integrated with AiFi, which is another leader in the fully autonomous store space. We had a very successful opening of the AiFi store at University of Georgia.
They report that sales doubled, shrinkage dropped from high double digits to less than 2%, and students are super happy.
They're so happy with the results that they've already released a PO to Atrium to open a second AiFi, fully-autonomous store in their student center.
As we've discussed, there's a lot of change in the air.
Clients are looking at end-of-life with their campus card system, or their point of sale, or their access control.
They're looking to elevate the student experience.
What we would like is to have a conversation with those clients. Give us a call. Give us an opportunity to talk with you. I think you'll find that Atrium could be a very good fit for your campus.
VandyCart is Vanderbilt Campus Dining’s new mobile grocery ordering program designed to give students a fast, convenient way to buy groceries on campus.
Using the Transact Mobile Ordering app and Vanderbilt’s single sign-on, students can choose from more than 150 products and place an order for pickup at several convenient on-campus locations. Products include fresh produce, frozen food, and common kitchen staples.
The service provides flexibility for students to use their meal plan for items they can use to eat or prepare meals at home.
They can spend up to three meal swipes per transaction. Each swipe is valued at $12. They can also use Commodore Cash, Meal Money, or a debit/credit card. Students are limited to six meal swipes per week through VandyCart.
VandyCart is a great example of how an institution can expand the use of things they already have in place – dining facilities and mobile ordering tech – to add new services for students.
Other common non-food convenience store items are also available, but meal swipes cannot be used for these purchases. In this case, Commodore Cash, Meal Money, and debit/credit cards are accepted.
Orders can be picked up during four specific two-hour time windows each day. The windows are 9-11 am, 1-3 pm, 5-7 pm, and 9-11 pm. Students select their pickup window and must arrive during that timeframe. If they do not, their groceries are removed to make room for the next round of orders.
Pickup is offered at four campus locations, including Vanderbilt’s three Muchie Mart grab-and-go markets and its Rand Dining Center.
VandyCart is also making it easier for students to order a healthy meal when they’re sick and not able to visit their dining hall. Campus Dining’s popular Get Well Meals program is now available via VandyCart on the Transact Mobile Ordering app.
Students can order a nourishing meal that can be picked up by a friend or roommate.
Each Get Well Meal kit is designed with health in mind. Breakfast includes Oatmeal, fruit, Gatorade, and a protein bar. Lunch and Dinner feature Soup (vegan or non-vegan), fruit, Gatorade, and a protein bar.
VandyCart is already seeing an average of 400 orders per week and serving 200 unique users per week.
Orders can be paid for using a meal swipe, Commodore Cash, Meal Money, or debit/credit cards. Orders can be picked up at one of four dining locations.
VandyCart is a great example of how an institution can expand the use of things they already have in place to add new services for students.
Through creative utilization of existing kitchens for food prep, dining halls for pickup, and c-stores for basic items, the service required no additional facilities. By adding this new feature to the institution’s already deployed Transact Mobile Ordering app, additional tech investment was not required.
Grocery pickup provides a new service to boost the student experience, and it provides added value to the meal plan offering.
Though new, it is already showing promise.
According to an article in the Vanderbilt Hustler, Campus Dining reports that VandyCart is seeing an average of 400 orders per week and serving 200 unique users per week.
Modern identity cards and credentials rely on encryption for security. It is what separates a smart card, high-frequency contactless card, or mobile credential from older insecure technology such as low-frequency proximity cards, magstripes, and barcodes.
But what is encryption and how does it work in the credential world?
At the heart of this question is the encryption key, a string of data used to encode and decode information. In most card systems, there is a secret key that is shared between the card and reader enabling secure transactions to occur within the system.
Each concept is applicable to both cards and mobile credentials, and understanding them is key to making informed decisions for your campus card program.
“You can think of it as the variable in an equation – the equation stays the same, but the variable can change,” says David Stallsmith, ColorID’s Director of Product Management. “The credential and the readers must know the correct secret key to encrypt and decrypt the identity data.”
Only then will they communicate to open doors or conduct transactions. That's why encryption is the key to security.
Traditionally, most manufacturers have used their own standard encryption key in all their clients’ readers and cards.
Of late, however, there has been a push by some end users – including some campuses – for custom keys. Rather than using the manufacturer’s standard keys, these clients have requested dedicated keys unique to their system.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches.
Standard or non-custom keys make ordering and provisioning of new cards and readers easier, faster, and sometimes cheaper. That is because the manufacturer does not need to customize them for the individual client.
But that positive also comes with a negative. Using the manufacturer’s standard key ties you to that manufacturer for cards and readers. The ability to order from multiple suppliers is reduced or even eliminated.
People that owned their custom keys during the pandemic had more options for card stock suppliers, but since the supply chain bounced back, that benefit has pretty much evaporated.
Another drawback of non-custom keys is that if the manufacturer’s standard key is compromised, it could impact all client sites. This could require replacement or reprogramming of all cards and readers.
Protection against a compromise at the manufacturer level is a benefit of custom keys. If it were to happen, end users with custom keys would not be impacted. It is important to remember, however, that custom keys are not immune to compromise. If not properly protected, they are arguably as vulnerable as non-custom keys.
“Depending on what type of card it is and how you manage that custom key, it can give you the ability to do other things,” says Todd Brooks, Vice President of Products and Technology at ColorID. “It can provide a bit of freedom as far as how you get your cards and how you encode the cards.”
For example, with custom keys the end user can program cards on their own rather than relying on the manufacturer do it. This allows them to buy cards from multiple suppliers.
“People that owned their custom keys during the pandemic had more options for card stock suppliers,” says Stallsmith. “This cut months off their lead time for card orders, but since the supply chain bounced back, that benefit has pretty much evaporated.”
Determining whether you want custom or non-custom keys is just the first decision. Next you need to decide if you’ll have your manufacturer hold those keys on your behalf or if you want to hold your keys within the institution.
At face value, holding your own keys – what some industry vendors call ‘owning your keys’ – seems like the obvious choice. Again, however, complexities arise.
Managing the keys yourself can be expensive and if not done properly can leave you vulnerable.
Most campuses wanting the benefits of custom keys have determined that they are not ready for the responsibility and liability of managing those keys on their own.
“When the manufacturer is holding the custom keys for you, there's security in that,” explains Brooks. “Managing the keys yourself can be very expensive and if not done properly can leave you vulnerable.”
Though far from the norm, he says, a small number of campuses have opted to manage their own keys, control their entire ecosystem, and decide how they're going to make their cards work on the different reader models they wish to use. It takes a more effort and more IT expertise, but it can be done.
Whether an institution uses custom keys or not, data needs to be encoded on the cards.
“Generally, cards are pre-programmed by a manufacturer like an HID or Allegion even if the end user has a custom key,” says Brooks. “In some cases, however, the campus will do it themselves either in the card printer using ID software or with a desktop device or USB reader.”
The idea of holding your own keys so you have total control of your system is attractive, but the practical application is limited.
To accomplish this, a Secure Access Module (SAM) that is purpose-built to securely stores keys is used.
“Whether it's a USB device or it's in the printer, it's basically the same SAM module,” says Brooks.
Very few campuses have taken on the responsibility to own or hold their own custom keys, so it is difficult to measure the value of doing so. Conceptually there are benefits, but they may just be conceptual at this point.
“The idea of holding your own keys so you have total control of your system is attractive, but the practical application is limited,” says Stallsmith.
He uses the example of a campus holding the custom keys for their DESfire cards. If the institution decides to change their access control reader manufacturer, it is true that holding keys could streamline the process. But there are only a few reader manufacturers to choose from, and ripping and replacing one access control reader for another is not an attractive or common decision.
“Sure, you can hold your own keys, but it's not like all of a sudden your world is going to dramatically change,” he says. “But if you have a very specific use, then then I guess it could be helpful.”
Encryption keys and transaction system providersIt is a common question: If I have custom keys or if I hold my own custom keys, does it make it easy to switch from one transaction system provider to another? The real question is more nuanced. You are really asking: Could I switch providers but continue to use my existing cards and readers?
In theory, you could because DESFire and other modern contactless credentials can store multiple applications on the same card. In most cases, however, the prior application will not work in the other transaction system provider’s readers and system.
“Just because you own your key doesn't mean that application you create using it will work on the different readers,” says Brooks. “It may require you to put two, three, or four different applications on the card itself to work with the reader infrastructure from the different transaction system providers.”
Think of it this way. You have an application on your card that is used in transaction system vendor #1’s platform. You replace vendor #1 for vendor #2. Just because you hold the encryption key and that key was used to create the first application does not mean it will work in vendor #2’s platform. The data, the format, and other elements would likely make them incompatible.
Of course, with modern multi-application cards, you could reprogram the cards to add a new application that supports vendor #2’s system, but that is easier said than done. It would require you to touch every existing card to add the new application. In a campus environment with thousands or tens of thousands of individual users, it just is not a realistic ask.
Stallsmith states it this way: “In a university setting, you don't get cards back.”
Though it garners a lot of discussion, it is rare for higher ed institutions to own or hold their own encryption keys. It can be costly, and it requires solid IT capability and commitment.
“I would say the key ownership discussion so far is largely theoretical,” says Stallsmith. “We've helped a number of customers get custom keys from manufacturers, which is often not easy because they haven't had to do it much.”
With OSDP you can centrally roll keys and not have to go from reader to reader to make changes. That makes the conversation around custom keys a lot more interesting.
This may change as access control readers move from using the older Wiegand protocol to the new OSDP protocol in greater numbers.
With the Wiegand protocol, the access control system can receive data like card numbers from the reader, but it cannot send information to the reader. The OSDP protocol, on the other hand, facilitates two-way communication between readers and the access control system. This enables the system to send new encryption keys to readers remotely without requiring a human to visit each reader for manual updates.
“With OSDP you can centrally roll keys and not have to go from reader to reader to make changes,” says Stallsmith. “At that point the conversation around custom keys is going to get a lot more interesting."
For most campuses, that's years away. For those with the means to do it now, however, there are more options.
The large card and reader manufacturers have been creating credentials with secure encryption keys for decades now.
While security breach and system compromise should always be top of mind, neither Stallsmith nor Brooks could point to a single instance of card or credential compromise at a systemwide encryption key level. This is true for both manufacturer’s standard keys and end user custom keys.
So, while real, to this point the threat is likely overblown.
Traditional large manufacturers are incredibly consistent at programming and delivering readers and cards. Another manufacturer may give you a custom key, but they may have a devil of time making cards on time.
This leads Stallsmith to point out that there's another side to the custom key discussion. He says that the traditional large manufacturers are incredibly consistent in their ability to program, update, and deliver readers and cards that work together.
“You just buy their readers, and you buy their cards, and everything works,” he says. “You can go with another manufacturer, they'll give you a custom key, but they may have a devil of time making cards on time.”
Perhaps the lesson is that it's not just the concept of the custom key that should determine what readers and cards a campus elects to use.
Like most decisions, there are many factors at play. In this series of articles, we addressed three of the most important – chips, formats, and encryption. Evaluating each of these concepts can help you make the best decisions for your campus.
Genius, a unified Point-of-Sale solution from Global Payments, is now available for colleges and universities through TouchNet, A Global Payments company. Genius helps drive commerce and simplify back-end processes for higher education by integrating with existing campus systems, centralizing payment operations, and delivering real-time transaction data.
Data protection is a central component of the Genius solution. The system uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to protect payment information and maintain compliance with PCI standards.
With Genius, institutions can accept campus card tenders, credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, and gift cards, both in store and on the go.
For campus dining, the solution supports mobile and kiosk ordering, digital menus, and meal plan management. This allows institutions to efficiently manage the spectrum of different transaction types expected by modern students
Global Payments recently expanded the Genius POS solution specifically for the higher education market. The solution provides a unified payment experience across campus facilities, including bookstores, dining services, recreation centers, and student organizations.
For campus retail and food service environments, key benefits include:
By integrating with student information and financial systems, Genius allows institutions to coordinate payments across departments while maintaining consistent reporting and security standards. Introducing a unified Point-of-Sale solution for higher education is designed to consolidate previously fragmented systems, reduce reliance on cash, and improve payment efficiency across campus.
Foodservice directors are quietly transforming a major cost center into a strategic advantage. The line item? Takeout containers and food packaging.
Across North America, campuses spend tens of thousands of dollars on disposable packaging for dining programs. Rising costs, zero-waste mandates, and student expectations around sustainability are prompting foodservice teams to reconsider the logic behind all that trash.
One model is standing out: managed reusable container programs, powered by new technology.
Instead of purchasing thousands of single-use containers each month, schools are adopting systems where guests check out with reusable containers and return them later. While the concept of reusable packaging isn’t new, what has changed is the technology making it practical, scalable, and trackable—without adding operational friction.
With no app or token required, signup friction is reduced. Instead, students can use their campus card from Transact + CBORD, TouchNet, and Atrium.
At Reusables.com, we are driving this shift offering North America’s leading reuse platform that provides the hardware, software, and logistics to run a closed-loop container program. Reusables.com is already live at more than 15 campuses in the US and Canada, including UCLA, Pomona College, UC Riverside and the Rochester Institute of Technology.
With Reusables.com, guests simply tap their campus card or credit card to borrow a container. No app download is required. Containers are returned to smart bins that track usage, send return reminders, and keep staff updated in real time.
Reusables.com supports an array of container options
Other reusable container programs failed in the past due to low return rates, poor guest experience, and staff overload. New systems like Reusables.com have solved for these problems with:
This modern approach helps foodservice teams pilot quickly, scale efficiently, and unlock savings without needing new headcount.
One mid-sized university processed 150,000 checkouts with a 99% return rate
Reusables.com is now in use at US institutions including UCLA, Pomona College, UC Riverside, RIT, as well as Canadian schools like the University of Guelph.
At UCLA, the system integrates directly with student cards and allows for credit/debit accountability as well. Students tap their ID or credit card and skip any extra app setup. At UC Riverside, the dining and sustainability offices implemented Reusables.com as part of their broader climate strategy.
Schools using Reusables.com report packaging cost savings of 30 to 50 percent annually. Because containers are reused hundreds of times, campuses cut costs, reduce landfill waste, and avoid the hassle of managing deposits, tokens, or manually tracked systems.
Another campus saw a 50% drop in disposable packaging spend, fewer stockouts, and higher student satisfaction.
One mid-sized university processed 150,000 checkouts and reported:
Another school reported a 50% drop in disposable packaging spend, fewer stockouts, and higher student satisfaction.
Self-service stations make it easy to checkout reusable containers
At the University of Guelph, the dining team integrated Reusables.com to support its zero-waste goals.
With Reusables.com, we have real-time insights into our container program and clear sustainability metrics,” says Brooke Gregoire, Manager of Hospitality Services. “Returns process smoothly, and our team no longer spends time chasing containers.”
Guelph now runs 15 smart return stations across campus. Their system gives students five days to return containers before applying a refundable $7 fee. The dining team reported less time spent managing inventory and a drop in waste and supply costs.
Reusables.com Container Return Station
Mainstream news outlets are paying attention to this trend. In September 2025, The Wall Street Journal profiled the shift in its piece, “That Single-Use Coffee Cup Could Be on the Way Out.” The article spotlighted how institutions are evolving from small pilots to permanent infrastructure in response to regulatory and financial pressure. Reuse, the Journal noted, is emerging as a cost-saving and compliance-ready strategy.
Several trends are pushing campuses toward reuse:
For many institutions, reuse is no longer just a sustainability talking point. It is a financial and operational priority.
At Reusables.com, we view ourselves as a technology partner, not a container company. Thus, our role is to help foodservice teams launch and scale reuse without friction.
Reusables.com’s Waste Nothing Guarantee assures a 99% return rate, savings of at least 30% and $5,000 in new revenue during the first semester — with no up-front cost.
Book a demo now to get a free ROI estimate for your school’s container program.
In this CampusIDNews Chat episode, we talked with Tim Nyblom, HID Global’s Director of End User Development for Higher Education. He outlined three key innovations shaping campus identity and security.
One of the most transformative changes is the expansion of mobile credential options. “The tech giants engaging in this space and are now opening up different channels, different partners, and different integrations,” says Nyblom. “[With this,] different companies will be coming into this space to be able to offer wallet-based solutions.”
Apple and Google are now opening up different channels, and this will enable new companies to offer wallet-based credentials.
This will give institutions the ability to adopt mobile access in ways that best fit their environment.
Nyblom also points to biometrics as a major area of progress. HID recently introduced a new facial biometric reader called Amico, designed to enhance campus security.
“Universities have been asking for this for a long time,” he explains. “There are different use cases on campus, from recreation centers, athletic buildings, server labs, data centers, medical campuses — anywhere you want that extra layer of security.”
Another key development centers on HID’s Mercury controllers, the long-standing backbone of many access systems. Their open architecture controller gives institutions freedom to integrate new solutions and providers without costly hardware replacement. “You have the ability to pick and choose your partners and not have to rip-and-replace readers,” Nyblom says.
With so many advancements converging, Nyblom says the current environment in higher education identity and security is “ever-changing and exciting.”
To watch the full interview, click the image at the top of this page.
TRANSCRIPT
It's an exciting time in the higher education industry. There's so much happening, so much innovation, so much new technology entering this space. There’s more flexibility, more choices for universities than ever before.
One example is obviously mobile credentials. It has been a huge topic over the last couple of years and what's really exciting is there's now going to be more choices than ever.
The tech giants have been engaging in this space and are now opening up different channels, different partners, and different integrations.
Different companies will be coming into this space to be able to offer wallet-based solutions and mobile access-based solutions using an app as well like we've been doing for a very long time. There's just a lot more choice and flexibility that universities now are going to be able to take advantage of.
Another example is innovation in the biometric arena. We have a new facial biometric reader called the Amico that we're super excited about. Universities have been asking for this for a long time. There are different use cases on campus, from recreation centers, athletic buildings, server labs, data centers, medical campuses – anywhere where you want that extra layer of security.
Another example on the innovation side is around our Mercury controllers. It's been the leading controller in the industry for a very long time.
One of the greatest things about Mercury is that it is an open architecture platform where you have the ability to pick and choose your partners and not have to rip and replace hardware.
Recently we just introduced the latest line, the Blackboards as they're referred to or seen on the MP controller side. It really gives universities a ton of flexibility. As systems are going end of life, universities are now being able to take control of that hardware and protect themselves on all future investments.
We are talking a lot about this, we're getting a lot of questions, our partners are bringing a ton of opportunities around the Mercury controller and it's a really exciting time.
These are just a few examples of what's happening in this space, it is a great time to be in this industry, it is ever-changing, there's so much excitement and passion right now and, our team is here. If you ever need us, please feel free to reach out.
We want to be that trusted advisor and make sure that you are making the best decisions for your institution.
When many think of Allegion, they picture locks and hardware. But Jeff Koziol, the company’s business leader for higher education, emphasizes that Allegion is also focused on mobile credentials.
“A lot of people think of us as a hardware supplier, an electronic lock provider, but we also do mobile credentials,” he explains. The company not only manufactures devices that work with its own mobile IDs, but it also ensures compatibility with other providers including Transact and HID.
Partnerships are key to that strategy.
With Google recently announcing Wallet credentials for TouchNet and Atrium campuses, Allegion can support both iOS and Android users, even offering Google Wear compatibility.
“One of the things that Allegion has been very aggressive about – especially in higher education – is making sure that we have established partnerships that address all use cases for mobile credentials to mimic what’s happening with the campus card,” says Koziol.
That includes collaboration with vendors in areas such as vending, laundry, printing, and point of sale.
To date, Allegion’s mobile solutions have been widely deployed with CBORD, but the company is broadening its reach.
“Our credentials now work with TouchNet’s OneCard access system and Atrium as well,” Koziol notes. With Google recently announcing Wallet credentials for TouchNet and Atrium campuses, Allegion can support both iOS and Android users, even offering Google Wear compatibility.
To watch the full interview, click the image at the top of this page.
TRANSCRIPT
In this episode of CampusIDNews Chats, we spoke with Jeff Koziol, Allegion’s business leader for higher education. He discusses the company’s approach to mobile credentials, including ensuring their access control readers support both their own credential as well as credentials issued by other mobile credential providers.
Here is what he had to say:
Hi I am Jeff Koziol. I am the business leader for higher education and wanted to give you some updates on where we're at with our business and our portfolio.
A lot of people think of Allegion as a hardware supplier, an electronic lock provider, but we also do mobile credentials.
We manufacture devices that work with our credentials, and we manufacture devices that work with other people's credentials in the industry.
Specifically in higher ed, these would be companies like Transact and the HID wallet type of solutions.
One of the things that Allegion has been very aggressive about, especially in higher education, is making sure that we have established partnerships so that we can address all use cases of where mobile credentials can be used to mimic what's happening with the campus card.
That means getting outside of what we do.
That means working with companies that manufacture vending readers, readers that are going into copy print applications, laundry applications, library, bookstore, and point of sale.
We realize we can't do it by ourselves with our own portfolio, so we've got a nice network of partners.
Many of our mobile installations to date have been with CBORD and CS Gold and such, but not every campus is not on Gold.
We have a lot of hardware on Transact's credentials, but again, not every campus is Transact either, so we have rounded out our portfolio a little bit in 2025.
Our credentials now work with Touchnet's OneCard access system and Atrium as well.
So many of you have seen the release recently about a new Google Wallet credential that's going to be specifically for TouchNet and for Atrium campuses.
We have the ability to work with Apple Watch with Apple Wallet credentials, but what's unique about it is it will allow us to offer a Google Wear credential as well with Google devices.
If people are looking to get a hold of us, if they want to talk and discuss where they may want to go, they can always reach out to us.allegion.com. They can find case studies, and they can find articles that we've done. You can look at our portfolio.
Or please feel free to email me directly at jeffrey.koziol at allegion.com.
Happy to have that conversation.
Transact + CBORD’s latest version of the Transact IDX® cloud-based transaction system includes integration with the company’s popular mobile credential offering. The update is available now, and clients can leverage these enhancements without additional hardware investments or complex migrations.
The first institution to rollout mobile ID with IDX is Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC). In just the first two weeks, nearly 40% of the students adopted the new credential.
"We jumped at the chance to be the first school to launch [mobile credential] on the IDX platform," said Chris Murphy, Vice President of Finance at Northeast Mississippi Community College. "Transact + CBORD worked closely with us to scale and adapt the system to fit our needs and resources, ensuring our students could benefit from the same innovative mobile credential technology used at much larger universities."
It was always our intention to offer mobile credential in IDX, but we needed to ensure it was delivered in the appropriate priority for clients.
Prior to this release, IDX supported an array of physical credentials, but it did not support a mobile option. Now, however, students at institutions using IDX can add their campus ID directly to Apple and Google Wallets.
“The journey we took with IDX was to identify key functionality and place it in priority order to serve the most clients with the most features in a logical progression,” says Kent Pawlak, Sr. Director, Product Strategy, Transact + CBORD.
He says the development team first created a solid foundation for managing cardholders and credentials with stored value accounts. Next, they added enhanced meal plan functionality.
“It was always our intention to offer mobile credential in IDX,” explains Pawlak. “But we needed to ensure it was delivered in the appropriate priority for clients to achieve the best value.”
In addition to mobile ID integration, the update also includes new features designed to reduce administrative overhead, improve campus services, and give students a better experience.
One major upgrade is the incorporation of Transact’s popular eAccounts mobile app for iOS and Android. eAccounts provides one place for students to check balances, make deposits, provision credentials, and report lost cards.
Other key upgrades include:
A Transact + CBORD announcement says the NEMCC deployment positions the company, “as the leading provider currently serving community colleges with live mobile credential solutions.”
This is the seventh community college to adopt the technology.
It proves that mobile credentials can be scaled for institutions of any size, with or without large residential populations.
"It proves that advanced mobile credential technology can be successfully scaled for institutions of any size, with or without large residential populations," says Rasheed Behrooznia, EVP and GM of Campus ID and Commerce for Transact + CBORD.
According to the company, future updates to IDX will add features like AI assistance, advanced reporting, guest deposits, and entitlement tools.
When Apple released iOS 26 last week, a highly anticipated feature – the ability to add U.S. passports to the Wallet app – was notably absent from the update.
However, Apple has since updated its website to provide clarification regarding the timeline for this functionality stating, “digital ID will be coming later this year with U.S. passports only.”
This suggests that the feature may be introduced with either iOS 26.1, expected in late October, or iOS 26.2, anticipated for early to mid-December, says 9to5mac.com.
They could use Wallet as their ID at any mobile-enabled airport checkpoint across the country and even in some retail locations for age verification. They will not, however, be able to use it for international travel.
According to Apple’s description of the new iOS version, users can, “create a digital ID in Wallet using your U.S. passport. It can be used at TSA checkpoints, in apps, and in person.”
Digital ID has been part of the Apple Wallet ecosystem for years, but implementation has been slow. This is because state governments must get on board with digital driver’s licenses. Many states have found the effort to make bring this to fruition is immense, and the desire to see it through has often waned.
Currently, only about a dozen states and territories in the United States offer digital IDs through Apple Wallet.
The addition of passport support, however, represents a significant expansion of digital ID for Americans. Once launched, any iPhone user running iOS 26 and holding a valid U.S. passport will be able to add it as a digital ID in the Wallet app.
This means they could use Wallet as their ID at any mobile-enabled airport checkpoint across the country and even in some retail locations for age verification. At this point, however, they will not be able to use it for international travel.
Still, it is a first step – though a significant one – toward digital ID in the U.S.
In this episode of CampusIDNews Chats, Rob Stanford, the IT Manager for Facilities explains how Auburn University uses the DAX software solution from Detrios to simplify and automate critical campus processes.
Auburn relies on a complex network of systems, including Lenel OnGuard for access control, scheduling tools like Mazevo and Ad Astra, and StarRez for housing. In the past, these systems did not communicate effectively, forcing staff to manually update each one.
I could come up with a very high return on investment from a numbers standpoint, but just from a usability and efficiency standpoint, we've seen a huge return on investment.
As a single integration point, DAX connects the multiple scheduling platforms, the housing management system, and the access control system. Now, updates made in DAX automatically sync across all platforms, ensuring doors unlock when needed and access permissions are accurate.
“It started with a single building where we wanted students to access study rooms only if they’d reserved the space,” says Stanford. “From there, we’ve grown the system as more needs arose.”
The DAX solution has proven especially valuable during complex events, such as move-in day for student housing or unexpected weather closures. Instead of staff manually making adjustments in multiple systems, they can manage everything from one interface.
Stanford highlights how this automation has significantly reduced human error.
“You used to have to key something in one system, then go into another to apply access or pass it off to another department,” he explains. “When it’s all tied in, you’re making it more efficient and avoiding typos or miscommunication.”
This streamlined approach has allowed staff to focus on higher-priority work rather than repetitive administrative tasks. According to Stanford, the return on investment is clear—not just in cost savings but also in time, effort, and user satisfaction.
Beyond the technology itself, Stanford values the partnership with Detrios. When issues arise, he can reach out directly for fast, reliable support. This peace of mind is critical, particularly during high-pressure times like housing move-in.
For campuses looking to better connect their systems, Stanford offers a clear recommendation: “If you have a scheduling system and an access control system that don’t talk, you need DAX – or something like it.”
To watch the full interview, click the image at the top of this page.
TRANSCRIPT
At Auburn we have Lenel OnGuard as our access control system, and we have various different scheduling applications.
We have Mazevo, we have Ad Astra, we use Office 365, we have Calendars and Outlook, we also have a housing system, StarRez.
With all of those, we're trying to integrate. When you have certain events or things going on, you want those to be reflected in your access control system, make sure doors are unlocked, and people have the access they need.
We've been able to accomplish that using DAX and Detrios, it's been a really big hit.
It all started when we had some study rooms that people wanted to reserve. We already had the [system] on campus for them to do that, but we wanted them to only have access if they’d booked that space.
It started out in one small building, and we grew from there.
And so that's kind of the room booking kind of reservation type thing.
After that we had another situation where people wanted to control the hours their building was open because it was changing a lot. They wanted to have access to the access control system just for that one little purpose, but we didn’t want to do that.
We decided to try using a Microsoft Outlet calendar.
We said why don't you try it out and see how it goes. It worked great for them, and we've grown it from there.
In both cases, we started with one specific example and then grew as other needs came.
For our housing situation, we just went all in on that. Over a summer we prepped it and when the big move in came for the fall, we had everything set in place and the students had a different experience.
Utilizing DAX from Detrios, we're able to take our schedules from Ad Astra, Mazevo, Office 365, things like that and that's one module that they have.
They have, those integrations already built.
At Auburn, we're able to go in their web configuration module and turn things on and fill out a few fields and it just works.
That's one of the modules they have that handles the unlocking of doors and the creating access for certain periods of time.
Then their housing module is a separate thing, but all within the same web module where we were able to set up our StarRez integration.
Again, they've done all the integration, and we're just configuring it. We're mapping that if you're in this room of this residence hall in StarRez, you have this access level in our OnGuard access control system.
We do that and then it's set it and forget it. We haven't had any issues with that at all.
They have those two different functions all within the same configuration tool.
It doesn't snow much in the south, but we did have a weather day. They have the ability to ignore the events. There were all these calendar events that were coming up where the doors should be unlocked or people should be granted access, but it was decided that we were closing the school down this day.
Rather than having to go into the different scheduling softwares and get rid of [calendar events] or make adjustments, we just had to log into their system and set it to ignore all that stuff. Then we were able to let the access control system and take over, which is where we made the regular adjustments.
No doubt, there are a lot of people working in various different places on campus that don't have to do things anymore that they used to.
I'm sure if I were to sit down and do an analysis, I could come up with a very high return on investment from a numbers standpoint. But just from an effort, usability, efficiency standpoint, the feel that you get is that you got a huge return on investment.
People are very happy; there are tasks they don't have to do any more that they used to have to do. They can focus more on their real job, instead of doing these other things, because the system automatically does it.
It's also helped on mistakes. You used to have to key something in one system, like your scheduling system or StarRez, and then you would either have to go into another system to apply access or change schedules or you would pass it on to another department for them to do. Certainly, you're going to have mistakes when that happens. There's going to be a typo or miscommunication. When it's all tied in, you're making it more efficient, so people don't have to type it in multiple systems and multiple groups aren't having to deal with it.
If you don't have DAX from Detrios, and you have a scheduling system and an access control system that don't talk, you need it or you need something like it. I don't know of anyone else doing the exact thing. They are experts in the arena, and they work well to have the systems communicate with each other in a proper and professional manner using good security techniques, good coding skills, proper APIs, and they maintain that over time.
When you invest in this, you know that it's going to work on this version, I have all the confidence in the world that five years from now, it will continue to work.
If you have a homegrown system, and you think ‘I'm good, it works for me,’ you're going to have to maintain it, and things that are going to change.
That gives me peace of mind, and then, quite honestly, they're really great to work with as well.
It's easy to submit a ticket, and if there is an issue, they will resolve it.
We have a relationship with the company, and that's very important to me. Particularly when we're doing housing stuff, if that's not working and people are trying to move in and they can't get access, that's a big deal.
Knowing that I can pick up the phone and call them or put in a support ticket and get that response is very comforting.
