How We Source Our Insights

Every tip starts with a real scenario we’ve encountered in Slate. From timesaving tricks to “wait, that actually worked” moments, we’re diligent about capturing it, analyzing it, and breaking it down so you can put our insights into action immediately.

EXAMPLE INSIGHTS

ENROLLMENT
TODAY’S TIME SAVING TIP
Stop editing branding in test first.
We see teams manually juggling new branding files between environments when the Branding Editor already handles previewing and publishing for you:

📥 Import current branding files.
✏️ Make edits.
🔎 Preview as a real record inside the Branding Editor.
🌎 When you’re ready, publish your new Branding for the world to see.

You still get to test thoughtfully in a controlled environment. You just remove extra file management steps by doing it all in Production, inside the Branding Editor. Fewer handoffs = Fewer chances to misplace something.
ENROLLMENT
FEATURE SPOTLIGHT
GUID Search for the win
What it does: This one’s a bit of a niche developer feature, but it’s pretty neat. Drop in any GUID (person, interaction, form, user, source format… anything) and instantly see all the tables where it appears.
 
Why it’s useful: This is helpful when you’re trying to figure out what something really is (for example, “Oh, it’s not the person page form, it’s the tab it’s displayed on”) or when you want to see everything someone has touched (like, “Ah, this user GUID shows up on a lot of field updates”).
GUID Search for the win
ADVANCEMENT
QUICK AUDIT
Are you respecting communication preferences?
There will always be some people who don’t want to hear from you anymore. Regular checks ensure your communications stay compliant and respectful.

✉️ Mind Your Solicitation Codes: Ensure that donor preferences (do not contact, do not solicit) are respected in emails and transactional messaging.

🚫 Respect Message Groups: Set up message groups to classify the kind of communication you’re sending (Event Invitations, Campus Updates, Solicitation), and then make sure you are setting a Message Group on every Deliver message.

🔍 Check Seasonal Addresses: Collect start and end dates for donor addresses, and give them the option to list seasonal addresses, so print pieces find their way to your donor’s mailbox.
ADVANCEMENT
COMMON MISBELIEF
People don’t avoid new tools, they avoid bad ones. For example, no one clung to flip phones once something better came along.  If a tool is clunky or creates extra work, adoption of said tool tanks. But when it’s powerful, intuitive, and actually makes life easier, people are inclined to embrace it quickly. 

That’s the opportunity we have with Slate: its flexibility means we can replace painful processes with smoother ones. And when that happens, adoption isn’t a fight, it’s a relief.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

"I believe good technology makes higher ed work better, and that a deep understanding of how higher ed operates (and what’s at stake) leads to better technology."

Jake D.
Jake D.
President & CEO

“Everyone is happier, and all systems work better, when there’s a clear set of datapoints for key groups to lean on and lean into.”

Chris V.
Chris V.
Senior Director, Slate Strategy

"A successful Slate implementation isn’t about trying to do everything at once. It’s about moving thoughtfully, one office, one process, and one milestone at a time to ensure a high-quality result."

Courtney M.
Courtney M.
Director, Enrollment Solutions