Raise your hand if your problem is too many people and too little work.  No hands raised? We are not surprised.

Across over 100 conversations with bursars and student accounts offices across the country we repeatedly hear that there is too much to do, too few people to do it, and too many manual processes in place to even imagine a day when the to-do list is done.  Current technology requires a lot of piecing things together and a lot of time to get things done.

And none of us have extra time to give.

The difference between manual processes and automated ones can make all the difference in the world: automation can save time, minimize errors, provide analytics, reduce costs, and improve the student experience: 

Save Time

Automation reduces the need for manual processing, allowing staff to focus on more strategic tasks rather than repetitive data entry and paperwork.

Example: It takes a lot of reminders to get students to pay a bill on time.  Designing a communications calendar that you can set and forget upfront will save staff who previously had to write the email, download a query and do a mailmerge hours each month.

Minimize Errors

Automated systems reduce the risk of human errors in data entry, leading to more accurate financial records and fewer issues to resolve.

Example: Every time a staff member needs to use a spreadsheet to calculate a balance or send students a reminder is a chance to line up the numbers wrong and communicate the wrong information.  Systems that can automatically pull a balance associated with a student reduce those very easy to make mistakes.

Enhance Reporting and Analytics

Automated payment solutions often come with robust reporting tools that provide real-time insights into financial data, helping bursars make informed decisions.

Example: Running reports to answer questions like: how are payments tracking compared to last year? can be frustrating at best and nearly impossible without hours of work in other cases. With automated reporting you can log in, grab a screenshot or download and report and focus less on finding the data and more on developing the insights and action plans.

Reduce Costs

By decreasing the need for paper-based processes and reducing the time spent on manual tasks, automation can lead to significant cost savings for the institution. Better utilizing the time of your staff is a cost saver too!

Example: Teams that do not have to spend time on querying an SIS have more time to provide support to students - without hiring additional people to do the work.

Improve the Student Experience

Streamlined payment processes can lead to quicker transaction times and fewer payment-related issues, automating and personalizing communications and using multiple channels allows schools to meet students where they are, all of this has the impact of improving the overall experience for students and their families.

Example: Students don’t open their emails because they are not relevant but when emails are more personalized, and schools use automation not manual work and sheer force of will to make it happen - then students are more likely to take action.

Implementing automated systems means your team can shift from tedious tasks to strategic initiatives, reducing errors and costs while enhancing student interactions. What are you waiting for?

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