6 Important Features of School ERP to Look out for

According to a statistical report published by NASACT’s 2012 “Challenge of Change” and GFOA’s “Real Impact of ERP Systems in Public Sector”, on the shortcomings of ERP implementation, 60% of organizations under the survey reported disappointment with their ERP system.

This is a common problem when it comes to adoption of ERP system, more specifically when it’s about ERP in school. Education institutions always have the pressure of maximizing performance with the least resources available. An ERP is what can help institution cope up with the demanding situation. ERP in schools is the road to an easy management of a whole lot of organizational issues, leading to a lot of saving of time and money. Accelerating an institution’s operations is a smart move to save time and invest it in what’s more important- educating the students. In our last article, we had talked about the advantages and limitations of an education ERP. Today, we will see what are the characteristics that should be considered while choosing an ERP for an institution.

Important features of school ERP system

Choosing an ERP for education institution is not easy and should not be done in a haste. Proper research work on the characteristics is important before taking the next step. We bring you 6 important points to look out for in a school ERP:

1. A good ERP should be complete

Now, what do you mean by a ‘complete’ ERP system? First of all, you should be sure of all the requirements you have from an ERP system for your institution. An all-inclusive ERP system for an education system should be able to take charge of almost all of the functions of an institution. If an ERP is not able to fulfil the required promises and most of the functions have to be done manually, it’s surely a big ‘no-no’ for this kind of ERP in school.

2. Scalability

Most educational institutions cannot afford constant upgradation of the software. ERP in schools must be scalable and can be scaled up or down according to the demands of the institution.

3. A stable support system

While choosing a school ERP, it’s highly important that the ERP provider company assures a good support system, mainly after the system is successfully installed in the institution. Constant upgradation and the timely updates are what makes part of a good support system.

4. Easy to adapt

The report by GFOA and NASACT, 2012 on the pain points of ERP implementation says that 62% of end-users had a problem with the adoption of the software and usage. School authorities or administrators might not be highly fluent in the technical front and hence, complicated systems will come with the unfamiliarity and uncomfortability quotient with them.

5. Cost-effective and ROI benefits

The cost of ERP in schools is not just about the purchasing and implementation cost, but it also includes the expenses in the future for maintenance, upgradation, etc. An ERP system should offer a very clear picture of the expenses involved, minus any hidden cost which affects the targeted ROI of the institution.

6. A widely accepted school ERP

A widely accepted ERP would ensure adequate resources for implementation and support. Certified customers and partners stand as a guarantee for its authenticity and thus, offers maximum effective use. The more the number of customers, the greater the chances of the effectiveness of the ERP.

There are quite a number of names in the industry to lure you with great offers and perks. But when it comes to your educational institution, you shouldn’t take chances and a proper research work is always recommended. Always go for an ERP in school that consummate your institution’s needs and essentials.