Digital native students are comfortable online, but quick to disengage when faced with digital friction. Whether it’s a confusing application form, a glitchy course portal, or unclear steps in a financial aid process, even small hurdles can stall momentum. What they want is instant, intuitive support and a great digital experience. For many higher education institutions, delivering that level of digital collaboration feels out of reach, especially across legacy systems and siloed platforms. But it doesn’t have to be.
You don’t have to rebuild your tech stack to meet modern expectations. With co-browsing technology like Surfly, you can deliver responsive, real-time support inside your existing digital experience tools – no downloads, no code, no disruption.
Let’s explore how.
Digital-first students still want collaboration
From researching programs to registering for classes and managing tuition, students today do most of their university interactions online. But that doesn’t mean they want to do it alone.
When questions arise, or confusion sets in, they expect someone to be there. Right there.
Whether it’s:
- A prospective student stuck in the admissions portal
- A current student lost in their learning management system (LMS) interface
- A parent trying to understand the financial aid breakdown
They want real-time guidance via a digital experience solution, not a delayed response via email or a long phone queue.
The complexity behind the student journey
Higher education is layered. Every student’s path involves multiple steps, systems, and stakeholders:
- Admissions forms
- Course registration tools
- Learning management systems
- Tuition and aid platforms
- Career services portals
Each of these plays a critical role in student success and each one presents opportunities for confusion or frustration.
When digital friction sets in, students drop off. And when staff can’t see what students are seeing, they can’t help effectively.
This complexity is even more daunting for international students, who often face language barriers, unfamiliar processes, and time zone challenges. What might be a minor confusion for a local student can become a major obstacle for someone navigating systems in a second language. A co-browsing digital experience solution gives staff the ability to offer patient, visual guidance in real time, making interactions clearer, reducing anxiety, and helping international students feel supported and confident at every step.
Co-browsing: see what students see - instantly
This is where Surfly’s co-browsing digital experience comes in. With Surfly, advisors, admissions reps, and support staff can join a student’s session inside any web-based system, in real time. No screen sharing. No software installs. No security concerns.
- Guide students step by step through admissions, financial aid, or LMS navigation
- Highlight fields, click buttons, and co-complete forms with them
- Collaborate naturally using voice, video, and chat – all in the same session
Best of all, Surfly works on top of your existing platforms, including student portals, ERP systems, and LMSs – no integrations or development work required.
Seamless integration, zero disruption
Education IT teams are stretched thin. That’s why Surfly was built to slot into your current environment without adding complexity.
- No changes to your core systems
- No need to rebuild or re-code portals
- No exposure of staff desktops or sensitive applications
Students stay on your branded website or portal. You stay in control.
Improve engagement, reduce drop-off, boost outcomes
When students can get real-time support via a digital experience solution – right when and where they need it – they’re more likely to:
- Complete their applications
- Finalise enrollment
- Resolve tuition issues
- Stick with their courses
That’s not just good for students. It’s good for your institution’s retention, satisfaction, and success metrics.
Secure and private
Student data is sensitive. Surfly is built with privacy and compliance at its core, helping institutions meet local regulatory requirements.
- Sessions are fully encrypted
- No data is stored or transmitted externally
- Staff only see what the student chooses to share
Security and trust stay intact, without compromising usability.
Customer story: digital collaboration that transforms student support
The student services team at a leading Australian university turned to Surfly Universal Co-browsing – delivered by Voitec – to deliver faster, more personalised support for students navigating complex digital processes. By co-browsing in real time, staff were able to guide students through enrolment, course selection, and financial aid tasks with ease, resolving issues faster and reducing confusion.
The solution proved especially valuable in overcoming communication and language barriers with international students, eliminating the need for screen sharing or software downloads. With the ability to securely co-browse not just university systems but also external sites like Centrelink and MyGov, the team delivered a higher level of service and created a more human, connected digital experience.
It’s time to bring human support to digital education
Digital experience platforms are essential. But human connection and collaboration still matters – especially in education.
With Surfly’s co-browsing technology, you can make every online interaction more personal, supportive, and successful – without rewriting your tech stack.
Ready to create more meaningful digital experiences for your students and staff? Let’s talk.