The Challenge
With the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown, the University of Salford faced a critical challenge: ensuring all students had the necessary digital tools to continue their education remotely. The closure of physical campus spaces and libraries exposed significant disparities in digital access, risking student engagement and academic progress. The university identified an urgent need for a streamlined and secure system to accept, process, and fulfil high volumes of student requests for technology support, while ensuring compliance, data accuracy, and timely coordination with suppliers.
The Solution
Recognising the urgency and scale of the problem, the University of Salford partnered with Crimson, a specialist in education technology and Microsoft solutions. After evaluating possible approaches, the university selected Crimson's expertise in deploying Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 for rapid, low-code delivery and robust data integration. Crimson developed and deployed a secure portal that enabled students to apply for devices, automating eligibility checks, application management, supplier liaison, and reporting. This end-to-end solution provided real-time visibility and control over the distribution process. As Nasrin Fazal from the University of Salford shared: 'The collaboration between the University and Crimson has been excellent. Thanks to the technology fund and our partnership, the University has been able to increase digital inclusion for our students and remove barriers to education.'
The Results
The implementation delivered measurable impact at pace. Within eight weeks, the Power Platform portal and Dynamics 365 integration were fully operational, supporting the distribution of laptops to 1,186 students across level 3 and above during the 2020–2021 academic year. The technology fund directly addressed digital inequality, enabling students to participate fully in remote learning and safeguarding academic outcomes. The University's rapid response was recognised as a best practice in student support and digital inclusion, with positive feedback from both staff and students. The partnership between the University of Salford and Crimson demonstrated the power of agile, technology-driven transformation in higher education.
