However, there are numerous online school payment systems available, each with varying capabilities, and a range of impressive benefits and additional functionality that you may not be aware of.
To help you navigate the market and find the best online school payment system, we’ve put together this blog that will walk you through the key things to consider when shopping for a new one.
It has all the necessary functionality.
When replacing a system, ensure the new one matches the features you use so you don’t lose any functionality. You should also consider what additional features you would like. For example, some payment systems are included as part of a parent app, such as Bromcom’s Parent Payment System, which helps schools manage payments from parents and guardians using the MyChildAtSchool app (MCAS).
MCAS also offers a wide range of additional features beyond making and managing payments, including enabling parents to view homework, behaviour, and their child’s timetables, as well as manage their child’s attendance.
It’s cost-effective.
With school budgets tighter than ever, looking for new, cheaper systems than your current one is a great way to save on spending. You should not only consider the overall cost but also value for money, especially if switching to one system means you can eliminate another that’s no longer required, such as the parent app in the example above.
MCAS is part of our Bromcom MIS One-Stop Shop package, allowing our customers to save money by eliminating their third-party payment provider.
It’s rated highly by users.
Whether you’re asking colleagues who have used different systems, asking neighbouring schools about what they use, or just searching the web for reviews, it’s always important to get feedback from actual users to ensure you get a top-quality, easy-to-use system that meets your needs.
Our MCAS app, for instance, is rated 4.4 stars on the Apple App Store based on over 83,000 reviews, making it one of the most highly rated parent apps on the market.
It’s easy and convenient for parents to use.
As parents and guardians will be the primary users of a payment system, you must consider their user experience with the system and ensure it is intuitive. The easier the system is to use, the more likely users are to make prompt payments.
A system that can be accessed via an app on their smartphones is especially convenient. MCAS can be accessed not only through a web browser but also via an app, allowing parents to manage payments (and more) from the convenience of their personal devices.
It streamlines your processes.
Most payment systems will offer features such as automated notifications to parents, reminders for payments, and receipts, saving your team time spent manually sending them out. You should also make sure you find a system that integrates with your MIS to ensure data transfers instantly and seamlessly, and save your team time moving data across two systems. With MCAS, for example, transactions can be directly linked to Bromcom MIS’ Finance module.
It offers clear and powerful financial reporting.
In addition to ensuring payments can be made easily, it’s essential that you can clearly see trends and insights into transactions across the entire establishment and conduct a deep dive into the data when required.
Learn more about MCAS and our Parents Payment System
MCAS is our award-winning online parent portal, accessible via web browser or app, and our Parents Payment System helps schools manage transactions made through it. Our feature-rich, secure process allows schools to have total control over their cashless system. Schools and parents/guardians can manage payments for clubs, trips, dinner money, the school shop, and wraparound care directly from the parent portal.
If you’re a One-Stop Shop customer and would like to start using MCAS, please contact your Customer Relations Manager. Or, if you’re not yet a Bromcom customer and would like to learn more about Bromcom MIS and MCAS, book a discovery call with our team.
