ERP in Education: The pros and cons of ERP implementation in education

We live in a world where computers are omnipresent; technology has entirely changed the way we live, towards the better. And education is one such name where technology and the use of computers have changed the way it is delivered, completely different from what it used to be in the last decade. Other than various new learning techniques like online courses, smart classrooms; technology has equally simplified the management of educational institutions. ERP implementation has been revolutionizing institutional management for some time now, helping institutions to improve their operations, thus making them manageable and more transparent.

ERP in education is not a new concept; ERPs were in full-fledged use in major corporations in some of the biggest industries, to ease the management process. With the development of technology and widespread demand for computing, concepts have led to the increasing popularity of ERP solutions in other industries like educational institutes.

ERPs over a Traditional system of management

So, what gives educational ERP the edge over the traditional method of management? Definitely, its the time and efficiency factor that places the software ahead of the traditional methods. Managing funds in an institution and tracking them into a report almost sounds like rocket science if done manually. A lot of productive time goes into meeting this kind of specific requirements. Moreover, management of a lot of basic operations like inventory, HR, finance and other services at times appear a complex task. Educational ERP implementation can ensure an institution function at its maximum potential.

The benefits of an education ERP system

An education ERP definitely has a lot to offer, like-

1. Cost-effective

 Perhaps the most prominent advantage of using ERP in education is the costing factor. Saving on the number of man-hours let you save so much on finance. Basic campus management requires a lot of manpower to manage things like fee collection, the gruelling admission process, etc. When this management is done online, a lot is saved in the finance sector which can be used for other useful purposes.

2. Better organization of data

Organize your data the way you want. Education ERP gives you a lot of ways to organize data of your institution that would help in proper management of it. Data is managed well and available with a single click of a mouse.

3. Data is secured

Data or information stored on web servers are far more secure than those stored physically in shelves. Storing information and data stored by ERP software in servers have backup systems and thus, your information is preserved! Is it possible with physical storing of data and files?

4. More automated administration 

The entire administration which was otherwise managed using huge manpower, involving all possible flaws that are not tracked easily and managed. With education ERP, the point of flaws in managing important administration processes like fee collection, library books, admission list, etc is nearly minimal, unless there are some human errors in filling up information or technical glitches.

5. A quicker management process

Education ERP software quickens the entire process of institutional management to great extent, let’s say in a matter of seconds. All you need to wait for is the implementation of the ERP software and you are set for a faster management of your institution like never before. Be it the admission process of an entirely new batch of students or generating customized reports on a particular batch is a task done in minutes.

6. More focus on education

When most of the time is saved from taking one-to-one attendance in class or filling up the mark sheet after every exam, a lot of time is saved to be invested in what is more important- teaching!

The limitations of an education ERP system

Of course, there is another side of the coin too! Even if the management of your institution is available within the single click of a mouse, there are some limitations that prevent institutions to choose education ERP solutions for better management. Some of them being,

1. One failure of ERP in education can be measured in terms of achievement of Return on Investment (ROI). When the ERP implementation doesn’t yield enough ROI, it can be a failure.

2. The cost of ERP, its planning and implementation, customization, configuration, etc might be too much for lesser profit-driven schools.

3. Most ERPs are difficult to learn and use. With the complicated user interface that requires thorough user training, it requires the complete participation of users.

Time has come for all educational institutions to go the smarter way. Re-organize the management systems of your institutions to match the evolving technology in every aspect of life.