IUT Valence Enhances Device Access with FUYL Smart Lockers

IUT Valence needed to keep shared technology available for students and teachers without asking its IT team to manage every device handoff. The institute introduced two ForwardPass Smart Lockers for short-term equipment loans and secure charging for students’ own devices. Students and teachers can collect shared equipment when they need it, while students can also leave a personal laptop or other small device in a locked bay to charge.

How IUT Valence uses its smart lockers:

  • Two smart lockers support equipment loans and personal-device charging.
  • Students and teachers can collect shared equipment without IT handling every handoff.
  • RFID badge authentication lets IT trace each locker interaction to a specific person.

Background

IUT Valence is part of Grenoble Alpes University and serves more than 1,100 students. Its teaching community includes 60 full-time teachers, including 30 teacher-researchers, across four Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie (BUT) specialties.

Technology is part of both teaching and day-to-day campus operations. IUT Valence has dedicated facilities for computing, networks and telecommunications, and multimedia, as well as a Centre de Ressources Informatiques (CRI), or computing resources center.

 

The challenge: Keeping devices available without adding more IT handoffs

Before the smart lockers were installed, IUT Valence relied heavily on manual processes to manage mobile devices. For the IT team, that meant spending time on routine device access instead of broader support work: handing over shared equipment, making sure devices were charged, and keeping track of what moved between users.

IUT Valence needed to:

  • Keep shared equipment available and charged for students and teachers.
  • Reduce the number of routine device exchanges that required IT staff.
  • Know which users had accessed devices and accessories.

Keeping devices charged added another task for the IT team. Charging had to be managed alongside lending and returns.

Read more: See how SUNY Fredonia uses smart lockers for 24/7 self-service laptop lending.

 

The solution: Two smart lockers for loans and charging

IUT Valence purchased two ForwardPass Smart Lockers in June 2021 and set them up for two different workflows: short-term equipment lending and self-service storage and charging.

For short-term equipment lending, shared equipment could be placed in locker bays for students or teachers to collect when needed. IT no longer had to be available for every routine pickup.

For self-service storage and charging, students could place their own laptops or other small devices in a secure bay and return later to collect them. Each bay provided a standard power outlet and a 36W USB-C Power Delivery port, so the device could charge while locked inside.

Users authenticated at the locker with an RFID badge before accessing a bay. Each handoff was recorded automatically, and IT could monitor activity and available bays from the cloud dashboard.

 

The results: Easier device access and less routine handling for IT

Within the first year, IUT Valence saw growing demand for the services available through its smart lockers. Students and teachers had an easier way to access shared equipment, while students also had a secure place to charge their own devices.

The new setup changed day-to-day device access in three practical ways:

  • Two services from one locker setup: Separate workflows let the CRI support short-term equipment loans and personal-device charging without creating two different staffed processes.
  • Fewer IT touchpoints in routine access: Because users could authenticate and complete the interaction themselves, device pickup and charging no longer depended on an IT staff member being available at the time.
  • A stronger record for asset follow-up: RFID-linked access records gave the CRI a traceable history of locker use, making it easier to identify who had accessed shared equipment when IT needed to investigate a missing device or accessory.

See how higher education device management solutions can support similar access, charging, and equipment workflows across campus.

 

Looking ahead: Supporting a wider technical environment

After moving routine equipment pickup and charging to self-service, the CRI can spend less time on individual handoffs and more time supporting the institute’s servers, networks, and teaching technology.

Its role now extends beyond device access. IUT Valence’s current Informatics program uses CRI-managed training servers for web development, GitLab, and databases. Its Networks and Telecommunications program continues to rely on dedicated technical facilities and professional equipment.

Want to give students easier access to shared equipment without adding another staffed service point? Book a Discovery to talk through your campus setup.