AI-Driven Success: Forsyth Technical Community College's 12% Enrollment Surge with Element451

About Forsyth Technical Community College

• Public community college in Winston Salem, North Carolina
• Serves a diverse population of 22,000 students
• One of the largest in the North Carolina Community College System

Most loved features

• Automated workflows for student communications.
• AI-powered chatbot, BoltBot
• AI assistant, Bolt Copilot, for intelligent content creation and task management.
• Unlimited two-way text messaging
  
  

Since implementing BoltBot from Element451

• 24% drop in incoming calls.
• 79% of student inquiries resolved with intelligent chatbot. Answer rates increased from 53% in January 2023 to 85% in January 2024.
• Staff saved over 36,600 minutes in responding to redundant inquiries.
• With BoltBot, managed 3,234 conversations independently.
• Enrollment rose by 6% in fall 2022, 12% in spring 2023, and 10% in spring 2024!
• Achieved a 17% click-through rate on over 30,000 text messages.
• Engaged with nearly 18,000 students through active automated workflows.
• Achieved a 11% click-through rate on nearly 215,000 emails.

Forsyth Technical Community College (FTCC), nestled in Winston Salem, North Carolina, serves over 22,000 students, from ambitious 14-year-old dual enrollees to dedicated adult learners seeking secondary degrees. 

But beneath FTCC’s vibrancy lay challenges that hindered the college's capacity to fulfill its mission effectively. Modern learners demand swift, personalized interactions and seamless educational experiences, challenging the traditional academic model. This significant shift compelled FTCC to reimagine its approach to student engagement and administrative efficiency.

The Challenge

FTCC's biggest hurdle was the absence of a centralized system, which resulted in disjointed communication efforts, inefficient data management, and a strain on already limited resources.

This gap in technology meant that the college was navigating the complex waters of modern education with outdated tools. 

The college also faced staff shortages. This shortage was not just a numerical issue; it was about having staff equipped with the right skills in a landscape increasingly defined by digital sophistication. The lack of skilled staff made it hard for the college to effectively connect with its large and diverse student body, resulting in missed opportunities for engagement.

Plus, the college's inability to gain insightful ROI on student engagement further exacerbated the situation. Without concrete data and analytics, FTCC was essentially flying blind, unable to uncover what strategies worked and where resources should be channeled for maximum impact.

The right solution would not only address these challenges head-on but also propel the college into a new era of educational excellence and student-centric service. 

The Solution

Enter Element451’s AI-Powered Student Engagement Platform

The adoption of Element451's AI-powered CRM tools was a game-changer for the college, leading to notable enhancements in productivity and communication, and a substantial rise in enrollment, with a 6% increase in the fall 2022, a 12% increase in the spring of 2023 and a 10% increase in spring 2024!

BoltBot: AI-Powered 24/7 Chatbot

By leveraging tools like BoltBot, Element451’s AI powered chatbot, Forsyth Tech began addressing student inquiries more efficiently and effectively on their website. BoltBot became a crucial team member, handling various queries and reducing call volumes by 14% in the first week of implementation alone. 

Due to BoltBot’s AI-powered responsiveness, FTCC’s answer rate even increased from 53% in January 2023 to 85% in January 2024.

BoltBot not only improved response times but also communicated in multiple languages, ensuring inclusivity and broader reach. 

Bolt Copilot: AI Assistant and Content Creation

Bolt Copilot, Element451’s integrated, AI-driven assistant has also served as an invaluable tool in refining Forsyth Tech’s messaging, ensuring that communications are not only effective but also resonate with their diverse audience. 

Bolt Copilot’s AI-powered content creation capabilities helped craft complete, multi-step email and SMS campaigns that followed industry best practices and looked professionally designed with the click of a button. 

One of the key advantages of Bolt Copilot is its capability to assist in A/B testing for communications. This feature allowed FTCC to craft messages in various styles and formats, testing different subject lines and content approaches to determine what most effectively engaged their audience.

Bolt Copilot's multilingual capabilities have also been beneficial in reaching Forsyth Tech's diverse student body. 

With Element45’s suite of AI-powered tools, FTCC has been able to streamline their marketing and communication processes, while ensuring that their messaging is inclusive, diverse, and highly effective.

The Benefits
Streamlined Recruitment Processes

Element451 significantly streamlined Forsyth Tech's recruitment processes. The platform's AI capabilities played a pivotal role in reducing the workload on the Student Care Team by handling general information inquiries. This led to a considerable reduction in staff pressure, as BoltBot answered questions directly on the website. 

The implementation of automated workflows facilitated a smoother conversion of prospects into applicants, with a 25% conversion rate within the first three weeks. 

This automation contributed to a 7.5% increase in enrollment since its implementation and an 11.7% increase from 2019 to fall 2023 —  the highest level since spring 2014 — illustrating the platform's effectiveness in enhancing recruitment efforts and driving enrollment growth.

Enhanced Data Management and Analysis

Forsyth Tech's decision to adopt Element451 brought about a transformation in their data management and analysis, too. 

The ability to track and measure the performance of communications and digital marketing strategies provided valuable insights into student engagement. This data-driven approach enabled Forsyth Tech to refine their communication strategies, leading to increased student engagement. 

The implementation of texting strategies, based on data showing higher engagement rates compared to emails, is just one example of the shift towards a more informed approach. 

Additionally, Element451 allowed Forsyth Tech to experiment with innovative marketing strategies while providing concrete data to assess their effectiveness, further illustrating the platform's impact on improving data-driven decision-making.

Event Marketing Optimization

Element451 played a crucial role in optimizing Forsyth Tech's event marketing efforts. 

By integrating the platform with their new website, the college could embed necessary forms directly onto landing pages, streamlining the data collection process. This integration proved invaluable for managing events, allowing the creation of RSVP landing pages and tracking attendance. 

This optimization of event marketing not only enhanced the student experience but also significantly reduced the workload for Forsyth Tech's staff.

Automated workflows and automatic reminders for events like their annual "Rock and Roll Enrollment Festival” allowed the team to engage with nearly 18,000 students. More engagement has given way to higher attendance, making event management more efficient. 

Empowering Staff

Element451 also empowered staff by automating routine tasks and freeing up time for more critical work. 

This empowerment was evident in how the platform managed resources, allowing staff to focus on tasks that required a human touch, such as relationship building and student advising. 

The new automated workflows, communication strategy, and AI-tools quickly reduced manual workload, enabling staff to concentrate on providing a better service to students. 

For example, in mere months, BoltBot saved 36,624 minutes of staff time, handling 79% of all student inquiries independently, leaving ample time for staff to focus on more strategic tasks.

Embracing AI Innovation Proves Successful for FTCC

Forsyth Technical Community College's journey from its pre-Element451 era to the present day marks a story of transformation and triumph. 

Prior to Element451, FTCC grappled with disjointed communication systems, overwhelming call volumes, and stagnant enrollment rates. The introduction of Element451, particularly BoltBot, revolutionized their approach. 

This transition to an AI-driven communication strategy not only streamlined operations but also led to an impressive enrollment increase of 6% in fall 2022, 12% in spring 2023, and 10% in spring 2024!

FTCC’s remarkable journey toward enrollment increases, highlights the immense potential and importance of integrating innovative, AI-powered tools in shaping the future of higher education.

Results and Impact

• Increased Enrollment: 6% in fall 2022, 12% in spring 2023, and 10% in spring 2024!
• Reduced Call Volume: 14% decrease due to BoltBot’s efficient handling of inquiries.
• Time Efficiency: BoltBot saved 36,624 minutes of staff time, handling 79% of all inquiries independently.
• High Engagement: 17% click-through rate on 30k text messages and 11% on 215k emails.
• Effective Outreach: Reached nearly 18,000 students with active workflows.