Abodus and StarRez: A Partnership That Enhances Staff Efficiency and Student Accommodation Experiences
Key Highlights
98% of Students
Report a smooth and simple booking experience through Abodus’ StarRez portal.
30% Reduction
In student complaints due to new parcel and packaging management.
91% of Students
Reported being very satisfied with accommodation processes post-StarRez implementation.
65% of Staff Time
Reallocated to focus on student engagement, rather than manual processes.
Region
Industry
Beds
Active Since
Product Highlights
Integrations
Abodus is an award-winning, UK-based purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) provider founded in 2015. With locations across the UK and ambitious plans to expand further into the UK and Europe, they are experiencing remarkable growth. Even amidst this rapid expansion, their commitment to delivering exceptional student experiences remains unwavering. In fact, they consistently outperform the UK average in student satisfaction, demonstrating their ability to grow while exceeding expectations Abodus operate affordable, stylish, and quality student accommodation properties and have an outstanding reputation amongst residents. They partner with universities and student unions to ensure they provide the best student experience, which is why residents choose to return each year. They are led by a highly experienced executive team with decades of knowledge from investment sourcing and operators to asset development and facilities management.
Digitising Processes to Achieve Resident and Staff Satisfaction
In 2023, Katherine Austin, Head of Operations, shared her plans for the future and how they intend to transform the lives of their residents following their implementation of StarRez.
Prior to their implementation, property teams were overwhelmed with manual processes and lacked the tools to manage their workload effectively. Upon joining Abodus, Katherine Austin spent time with various team members across the business to understand what the biggest issues were. The biggest outcome revealed 80% of property teams faced operational challenges using outdated systems and consuming valuable time. They needed to reduce manual errors, automate student communications, and transition to automated and digital processes that aid in creating an enjoyable transition to campus life for students. It’s also one step closer to achieving their goal of committing to become completely paperless within a year, contributing to both operational efficiency and environmental sustainability
Increasing Resident Engagement and Improving Operational Excellence
By quickly introducing automation into essential tasks like check-ins and parcel management, staff now use that extra time to prioritise activities such as well-being checks, student concerns, and creating community-driven initiatives like gardening clubs. Abodus recognises that student needs to change from year to year. Teams are now able to respond to student requests 25% faster and have seen a 40% reduction in the number of duplicate incoming student queries chasing responses. These automated operational efficiencies have been critical in improving service delivery and allowed them to shift more of their focus onto student engagement initiatives and retention strategies.
“Our internal staff satisfaction has increased by 22% since implementingStarRez, with 94% of team members saying they find the platform easy to use.”
-Katherine Austin, Director of Operations, Abodus
Property Managers have gained 40% of their time back. Automating and streamlining processes has freed up their schedules significantly enabling them to focus on strategic property management and student engagement which has enhanced all Property Managers KPIs in the first year of implementing StarRez.
"With StarRez, we now have a platform that empowers both our staff and students. The engagement between students and our teams has increased dramatically. Thanks to StarRez's student portals, students can manage every aspect of their accommodation journey—from booking to maintenance requests—through a seamless interface, all while receiving timely communication from us.”
- Katherine Austin, Head of Operations, Abodus
Reducing Response Time to Increase Student Satisfaction
Beyond the booking process, Abodus has seen a 30% reduction in average response time to student queries, and student satisfaction has increased by 15% year-on-year. Operations are running far more smoothly and it’s reflected in students’ overall experience and wellness. In their most recent student satisfaction survey, 91% of students reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their accommodation process, a significant improvement from 78% prior to the StarRez implementation.
“StarRez revolutionised how we operate by reducing manual tasks and increasing automation, which has allowed our team to focus on providing a more personalised experience to students. This has resulted in higher student satisfaction, fewer booking errors, and a more responsive customer service model.”
– Katherine Austin, Head of Operations, Abodus
Operationally, the business has accomplished numerous game-changing achievements in the short time since implementing StarRez. The system has facilitated numerous improvements, including enhanced property management and tenant communication, and has allowed the organisation to plan for future growth and process optimisations.
Contact us to learn more about how you can elevate your resident experience.
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