Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/guidelines-for-evaluating-center-management-software/5023278/
Remember when you had to decide between 8-track and compact cassette systems for listening to music in your 1975 Mustang? Technologies have advanced to where these systems now only exist in museums.
Likewise, the use of technology to manage an early childhood program has evolved dramatically over the past decades. But center leaders are still faced with a plethora of choices when it comes to selecting the software package that will best meet their specific needs. This article, based on the insights from the software professionals listed at the end of the article, will offer some basic guidelines to consider in making a wise selection.
What Standard Features Should You Expect?
We have come a long way from the early days when center software simply tracked income and expenses. Now you should expect any management software option you select to include the following functions. You may not require all of these; focus on those functions that are critical for the management of your organization and that would make your life easier as a manager.
Accounting Functions
Tracking income and expenses
Accounts receivable management
Accounts payable management
Auto-billing for fees and online collection
Reporting Functions
Balance sheet
General ledger
Profit and loss
Up-to-the-minute attendance tracking/ratio calculations
State/federal mandated reports
Custom report creation
Child Tracking
Basic child data (birth date, immunization ...