These resulting stakeholder meetings are a core tenet to ColorID’s efforts on campuses and act as the foundation for an effective Identity Roadmap.

“Through these discussions, it quickly becomes evident that collaboration will be needed for innovation to take place,” says Smith. “If done correctly the discussions lead to the creation of a strategy for considering future changes to the card program and the overall campus identity landscape. This strategy is core to the roadmap.”

Typically the identity roadmap is based on a number of variables: existing infrastructure, political structures, campus IT strategies, government regulations, and more. “That’s why stakeholder buy-in is so important,” says Smith. “Everyone has to row the boat in the same direction.”

ColorID often plays a consultative role in helping institutions with their roadmap process. “By sharing insights gained through our work with hundreds of other institutions, we can help highlight the strengths and weaknesses in a campus’ existing issuance environment,” says Smith. “From those strengths and weaknesses, we can identify the areas where a campus should focus its identity efforts going forward.”

The importance of having a plan

Institutions that lack a clear vision for the future often find themselves making knee-jerk decisions when more calculated planning is required. Smith points to the still significant number of campuses deploying mag stripe and prox cards as an example of this pitfall.

People know what’s happening in their department, but rarely have insight into what other departments are grappling with.

“The biggest obstacle that you face is lack of education and awareness,” he says. “People know what’s happening in their department, but they rarely have insight into what other departments are grappling with.”

The campus card touches a wide range of services and departments at any institution. And a disjointed relationship between these relevant stakeholders can be a detriment to plotting a course for a card office’s future.

The goal for ColorID’s Identity Roadmap is to move away from siloed thinking, and instead bring relevant departments on campus together to tackle identity challenges together as a unit. Campus IT, for instance, might have concerns over their data and connectivity, but they may not have perspective on how those concerns overlap with the card office or campus security. These are common disconnects that occur on campuses all across the country.

“The stakeholder meetings open lines of conversation that bring everyone to the table, and get everyone on board with collectively managing identity on campus,” Smith says. “A lot of times when we’re on campus for these meetings, we have upwards of ten departments and stakeholders involved. Often times these folks haven’t collaborated in the past, and sometimes they haven’t even met before.”