How to Select the Best Suited ERP Software for Colleges or Educational Institutions

The influence of the continuing pandemic, though felt on all industries and companies, has been much more harmful on the education sector. As colleges, schools and universities internationally shut down to restrict the spread of the virus, educationists and the administration heads discovered themselves facing a scenario they’d neither faced nor prepared for.

According to UNESCO, “One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, near half the world’s college students are nonetheless affected by partial or full college and school closures, and over 100 million further youngsters will fall beneath the minimal proficiency stage in studying on account of the well-being disaster.”

As the virus continued to ravage the world, it turned clear that a return to normalcy had become nothing but a dream and dwelling with the virus was now an accepted actuality. This is when academic institutions realized that the show must go on, however without physical classrooms.

Staying Afloat Amidst a Storm

Physical classrooms, playgrounds, libraries and being part of a bigger group of scholars is what defines school life. The best attraction that pulls college students in the direction of schools and universities is the entire experience they get to stay, not simply the lectures. Therefore, when the pandemic resulted in lockdowns, restrictions and limited mobility, the very idea of learning in these academic institutions came beneath fire. It was a storm and there was no alternative but to face it and stay afloat, ready for the worst to move.

The Solution was Always there, however Never Optimally Utilized

Online classrooms and e-learning have been prevalent within the education realm for a few years. However, its potential was neither totally realized nor was it significantly explored by a majority of educational institutions until now. When the pandemic struck, the institutions that have been equipped with ERP software for academic institutes have been comparatively ready to face the brand new actuality. Although many needed to re-adjust their processes, the existence of an ERP software saved the day for them.

Institutions that had been relying on manual, non-digital processes have been caught unawares. They were forced to construct digital processes and deploy them on a war-footing. Lack of training among the many employees resulted in the non-usage or under-utilization of digital programs.

With the 2nd wave of COVID 19 and the looming threat of a 3rd wave, educationists have agreed that establishing robust digital processes for colleges, schools and universities is inevitable. This is where ERP for schools and colleges come into the image as they type the spine of digital processes.

Choosing the Best School ERP System in the Middle East

When we ask ourselves, how to select the perfect educational ERP software in the Middle East, we should always first understand and accept the following new realities of the post-COVID world. Understanding them within the context of digital processes would allow you to zero in on the main components that will affect your selection of ERP software.

Online Classes are here to Stay!

Schools must equip themselves with the right digital infrastructure to make online classes a norm. It would require them to train their employees, allow monitoring processes, guarantee attendance and so on. The sooner this actuality is accepted, the faster your school might bounce again to efficiency. Medical specialists and scientists have warned that even with vaccination, social distancing couldn’t be fully done away with. As faculty college students are extra susceptible to the virus, it’s unlikely that physical classrooms can be resumed. Even in the event that they do resume, it will be with limited capability. The conclusion: online classes are here to stay!

Collaboration is the Key!

All the employee’s meetings, formal or casual, are actually moved to talk groups, phone calls and video calls. For the employees, working from the home brings personal challenges. The lack of physical interplay is leading to elevated work stress amongst staff internationally. Teachers and professors usually are not proof against it. Therefore, strong mechanisms must be constructed to ensure there’s easy communication between the employees so that work collaboration doesn’t endure.

Digital Resources for Teaching and Learning

Are you offering your employees the digital assets they should fulfil their duties? Do they’ve access to e-libraries, presentation instruments, cloud storage etc.? Is there a process in place to centrally retailer all data so that essential information could be simply accessed? These are a few of the urgent questions it is best to ask your self as a proprietor or administrator of an academic institution.

Students additionally require entry to those digital assets in order that they aren’t disenchanted as a result of a lack of help from their college or school.

What must you Look for in Educational ERP Software in the Middle East?

In the next, we talk about the principal elements to look for when selecting an ERP for colleges, schools and universities within the Middle East. Combined collectively, these elements would allow you to get the most out of the ERP application.

Applicant Management and Online Fee Processing

Enable students to use for courses at your college or school online. Integrate your website with a safe database the place all information might be saved and entry with ease. The finance administration module of a tailored ERP for colleges would permit you to combine a cost gateway along with your web portal for fast and seamless fee payments.

Data Management

A next-gen ERP software for colleges and schools would ease all of your worries associated with information administration. It would handle the data effectively despite its high quantity, save it in opposition to potential leaks and give you quick access without compromising on safety. You might define numerous ranges of data access in order that specific members of your administration and employees might enter the information they need for his or her respective duties.

Securing student information on a single database would additionally assist the administration in taking the necessary decisions as they might have a bird’s eye view of what’s happening on the college or school, its present monetary standing and operations.

Course Scheduling and Timetables

With a custom-made ERP for educational institutions, you’d not have to fret concerning the advanced task after all scheduling and timetables. The ERP software for colleges and schools would assist you to put together class-specific, teacher-specific and subject-specific timetables while making certain there aren’t any scheduling conflicts.

Apart from scheduling, it will additionally automate attendance. Your employees wouldn’t sift via spreadsheets to search out the attendance of a specific student, for a specific month or subject. All data can be accessed at the click of a button, within the type of simply readable reports.

Inbuilt CRM for Communication and EdTech Integration

Modern ERP solutions are geared up with inbuilt CRM applications that will help you disseminate information to college students, parents and employees. You might send mass SMS and emails relating to necessary info akin to examination dates, class rescheduling, price alerts etc. The CRM would additionally allow you to combine with Apagen systems (ERP for educational institutions) and third-party applications for optimum utilization.

Fixed Assets Management

Pandemic or no pandemic, your institution would all the time require a system to effectively manage its mounted assets. With ERP software for colleges fixed asset administration module, you might monitor and handle all of your college buildings together with different assets. You could additionally schedule upkeep operations to delay the asset life. The module would additionally calculate deprecation automatically, based on the kind and phrases of deprecation you define.

Expert Advice is only a Click Away!

Apagen solutions is likely one of the most trusted providers of the finest ERP software for colleges within the Middle East. We have enabled many educational institutions with superior digital solutions. Our ERP solutions have gained numerous awards all through the years and are utilized by over one million customers worldwide.

If you want professional recommendations relating to which ERP system to decide on and what modules to pick out to manage your college or school, simply fill the form and we might get in contact.