Case Study: AtlasRTX helps colleges close equity gaps in higher education with IBM watsonx Assistant

How digital assistants are closing equity gaps in higher education

AtlasRTX, an IBM Business Partner, worked with Rockhurst University and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management to solve a common higher-education challenge: many prospective students research and ask questions outside normal business hours, leaving them without timely support. Using IBM watsonx Assistant, AtlasRTX helped the schools provide 24/7 digital engagement for students balancing work and school demands.

IBM and AtlasRTX implemented AI-powered digital assistants that could answer FAQs, support multilingual conversations, and hand off later-stage interactions to staff across web, SMS, and messaging channels. The results were strong: Krannert’s assistant became its second-highest source of new applications, with prospect-to-applicant conversion up more than 5% and 52% of applicants who engaged with the assistant ultimately accepted; Rockhurst saved more than 260 employee hours per month, with 33% of web visitors starting a conversation and 67% of admissions-page visitors proactively engaging Kaycee.

AtlasRTX

Mike Bills

President