Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is a Higher Education CRM?
- Why do Higher Education Organizations need CRM Solutions?
- Role of a CRM in the Success of Higher Education Organizations
- Comparing Leading Higher Education CRM Solutions
- Selecting the Best CRM for Higher Education
- Tips for CRM Software Implementation in Higher-Ed
- Why is Meritto’s Higher-Education CRM, the Best Choice?
In this digital age, where everything is accessible within minutes, higher education organizations have realized that traditional enrollment methods are no longer relevant to this digitally savvy generation of students. Therefore, to stay ahead, educational organizations must leverage robust higher education CRM systems to scale enrollments effectively.
However, a myriad of CRM software for higher education is available in the industry, sharing common features. Therefore, deciding on the right higher education CRM depends on how an educational organization intends to utilize it, how well it optimizes the enrollment funnel, and the goals it wishes to achieve.
A higher education CRM is a dedicated software tool created to handle interactions and relationships with both prospective and current students. It surpasses conventional CRM systems by providing features specifically customized to address the distinct requirements of higher education organizations.
What is a Higher Education CRM?
A Higher Education CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is designed to streamline and optimize the traditionally fragmented admissions processes within educational organizations. By centralizing inquiries, automating application processing, and offering customizable post-application procedures, these systems address key challenges such as systemic disconnects, inefficiencies, and poor conversion rates.
With an integrated unified payment solution, a Higher Education CRM not only improves the enrollment process but also enhances the overall student experience. By providing a single platform for managing interactions and data, educational organizations can make data-driven decisions, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately scale their student enrollments.
Why do Higher Education Organizations need CRM Solutions?
A study by the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University reveals that as many as 40% of prospective students abandon their plans to attend college due to challenges encountered during the admissions process.
Similarly, two-thirds of high school students indicate that social media interactions influence their college enrollment decisions. This means that educational organizations that do not utilize social media for admissions miss out on enrolling many potential students.
Let’s delve into the reasons why CRM solutions are a must for higher education organizations:
CRM Integrates Data for a Comprehensive View
Many higher education institutions operate with outdated, fragmented systems, managing student interactions across a multitude of disconnected applications. On average, universities use around 35 different systems, and some institutions rely on over 70. This fragmentation hinders efficient data-driven decision-making and results in a fragmented student experience.
CRM software for higher education offers a unified platform that integrates data across recruitment, admissions, student experience, advancement, and marketing. This cohesive approach enhances collaboration and supports scalability, ensuring that every student receives a connected and personalized experience.
CRM Reduces Overall Costs
Utilizing an integrated CRM platform simplifies data management and reduces costs compared to maintaining multiple-point solutions. This cost efficiency results from eliminating expenses associated with additional training, outdated processes, and maintaining legacy systems.
CRM Enhances the Student Experience
CRM software for higher education improves the student experience by offering tools like proactive alerts and chatbots. Forrester’s research indicates that students are more likely to enroll and remain at a college that uses a unified platform for communication, information access, and support services.
Therefore, as education continues to evolve—through hybrid courses or new revenue streams—having a purpose-built higher education CRM platform is crucial for long-term success. This technology mindset enables educational organizations to shift from disconnected experiences to a cohesive, scalable approach that adapts to changing needs.
Role of a CRM in the Success of Higher Education Organizations
Higher education institutions utilize student recruitment and enrollment CRM solutions to achieve a wide range of objectives, enhancing both operational efficiency and student experience. Here are some key ways they leverage CRM solutions:
- Building Strong Relationships: The essence of the higher education experience lies in fostering a sense of community and strong relationships. CRM systems enable such organizations to connect with students from the moment they express interest, ensuring continuous engagement throughout their academic journey.
- Gaining Valuable Data Insights: Beyond social and academic interactions, institutional leaders must make strategic decisions regarding the school’s direction, technological investments, enrollment campaigns, and outreach efforts. CRMs provide a reliable source of data, facilitating informed decision-making and predictive analysis.
Comparing Leading Higher Education CRM Solutions
This in-depth comparison analyzes leading higher education CRM solutions, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and key features.
Meritto’s Higher-Education CRM
Meritto’s purpose-built CRM software for higher education stands out for its comprehensive features. Leading higher education institutions are turning to Meritto CRM to revolutionize their traditionally disjointed admissions processes. Meritto has emerged as a game-changer for organizations globally, transforming their admissions into a unified and streamlined operation.
With features enabling the centralization of all inquiries, automated application processing, customizable post-application procedures, and a swift enrollment process with an integrated unified payment solution, Meritto brings your teams onto a single platform. It not only increases efficiency but also improves the candidate’s experience, setting the stage for the future of higher education admissions.
Here’s a list of comprehensive features offered by this platform:
- A unified platform for managing the entire student lifecycle, from inquiry to enrollment and beyond.
- Advanced lead management capabilities, including lead centralization, automation, and distribution.
- 360° communication suite to hyper-personalize communications and engage students effectively across multiple channels.
- A user-friendly student portal empowering students to manage their applications and stay informed.
- Streamlined application and admission processes with automation and customization options.
- A unified payment stack for efficient fee collection and management.
- In-depth reporting and analytics to track performance and ensure data-driven decisions.
- A mobile app for on-the-go access and management.
Salesforce Education Cloud
Pros:
- Comprehensiveness: Robust solution encompassing various university departments and stakeholders.
- Improved Efficiency: Empowers students, faculty, and administration to work smarter with automation and centralized data access.
- Streamlined Student Lifecycle: Manages the entire student journey, ensuring a positive and well-supported experience.
Cons:
- Customization Complexity: This may require significant customization to meet specific regulations and needs.
- Higher Licensing Costs: Substantial cost, potentially inaccessible for various educational organizations.
- Implementation Challenges: Complex and resource-intensive implementation process.
PowerSchool Enrollment
Pros:
- Customization and Support: Tailored forms and supportive PowerSchool team.
- School Locator: Verifies student addresses within district boundaries.
- Enrollment Success: Effective in streamlining the enrollment process.
Cons:
- Limited Form Control: Modifications require submitting support tickets.
- Training Deficiencies: Lack of comprehensive training materials.
- Data Transfer Limitations: Challenges in data flow between PowerSchool Enrollment and the Student Information System (SIS).
Wisenet
Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy to learn for beginners.
- Customer Support: Responsive and helpful support team.
- Valuable Integrations: Integrates with NSI and Xero.
Cons:
- Search Function Changes: Recent updates to the learner search function are less efficient.
- Report Wizard Challenges: Cumbersome report creation process.
- Data Filtering Inconsistencies: Inconsistencies in data filtering create challenges.
- Licensing and Cost Concerns: Limitations on the number of licenses and ongoing price increases.
QuickSchools
Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design for educators and administrators.
- Comprehensive Feature Set: Tools for managing hybrid programs, admissions, transcripts, and more.
- Cost-Effective: Budget-friendly option compared to similar platforms.
- Professional Presentation: Creates a polished image for your school.
- Streamlined Application Process: Seamless integration of admissions/registration forms with your website.
Cons:
- Limited Reporting: Challenges in generating comprehensive report cards.
- Slow Feature Updates: Lack of significant upgrades in recent years.
- Technical Glitches: Data security and system stability concerns.
- Limited Support: Slow communication and limited support options.
- Data Entry Errors: Potential for mistakes due to the simple interface.
- Mobile App Limitations: Mobile app lacks functionality.
OpenApply
Pros:
- Organization and Tracking: Centralized repository for tracking applications and inquiries.
- Streamlined Communication: Communicate directly with applicants through the system.
- Detailed Applicant Profiles: Record comprehensive notes within individual application files.
Cons:
- Cluttered User Interface: Requires simplification for smoother workflows.
LeadSquared
Pros:
- Flexibility and Customization: Highly customizable solution.
- User-Friendly Automation: Custom automation workflows for lead management.
Cons:
- Implementation Challenges: Lengthy and troubled implementation process.
- Customer Service Concerns: Lack of responsiveness and manipulation over problem-solving.
- Ongoing User Issues: Continued struggles with the platform.
- Limited Custom Reporting: Requires paid support for creating custom reports or
dashboards.
Blackbaud Enrollment Management System
Pros:
- Centralized Information: Single login for student and parent information.
- Streamlined Processes: Features to enhance the enrollment experience.
- Responsive Customer Service: Generally helpful and friendly support team.
- Data Export Capabilities: Allows data export for follow-up activities and metric generation.
- Customizable Data Capture: Information from a variety of sources can be captured.
Cons:
- Non-Intuitive Interface: Requires additional training efforts.
- Limited Documentation: General documentation is insufficient to address specific needs.
- Limited Support: Difficulties in obtaining specific solutions.
- Ticketing System Limitations: Restricted access outside standard customer service hours.
Digistorm Funnel
Pros:
- Customer Service: Personalized support from representatives.
- Organized Lead Management: Tailored automation and forms for each school.
- Relevant Solution: Comprehensive capabilities for managing the admissions journey.
Cons:
- Data Organization Inconsistency: Inconsistencies due to frequent turnover in account representatives.
- Limited Bulk Actions: Manual unpublishing/deletion for each item.
- Check-In App Limitations: Limited functionality for bookings.
- Reporting Challenges: Generating reports across the organization is challenging.
- App Integration: Better integration between the web platform and mobile app is needed.
- Clunky User Interface Elements: Less-than-intuitive interface aspects.
Oracle Higher Education Cloud
Pros:
- Robust data security measures
- Adaptable to scalability requirements
- Efficient data backup and disaster recovery capabilities
- Effective cloud database management
- Oracle workload optimization
Cons:
- The learning curve for users
- Complexity in third-party integration
- Suboptimal user interface
- Reported customer support improvement needed
Zoho
Pros:
- Budget-friendly with a free plan option
- A comprehensive array of CRM features
- User-friendly interface
- Strong mobile application
- Wide range of third-party integrations
Cons:
- Outdated documentation
- Some features are exclusive to higher-tiered plans
- Occasional delays in customer support responsiveness
- Security concerns in specific aspects
- Navigational challenges within the software
Slate
Pros:
- Event management, communication, and other engagement practices
- Regular release of new features
- Real-time data management capabilities
- Guided tutorials for easy implementation
- End-to-end control of the product
Cons:
- Occasional delays in customer support response
- Some users reported a slight learning curve
- Interface complexity for certain users
- In comparison with its competitors, it may be more expensive
ExtraaEdge
Pros:
- Tech Support: Responsive tech support, crucial for implementation.
Cons:
- Limited Functionality: Potential functionality limitations or usability problems.
- Integration Issues: Poor API integration.
- Limited Lead Nurturing: Weak segmentation processes.
Tips for CRM Software Implementation in Higher-Ed
In order to implement the best CRM software for higher education, careful planning and execution are crucial. Here are essential steps to ensure a smooth transition:
Key Considerations
- Integration Support: Does the CRM support integration with your existing systems and applications? Effective integration is crucial for streamlining processes and ensuring data coherence.
- Customization Options: Can the CRM be tailored to meet the specific needs of your institution? Customizability ensures that the CRM adapts to your unique workflows and requirements.
- Setup and Maintenance: What is the process for implementing and maintaining the CRM? Evaluate the ease of setup and the ongoing maintenance needs to avoid future complications.
- User Experience and ROI: Does the CRM provide a positive user experience and deliver a solid return on investment? Look for reviews and case studies that demonstrate the CRM’s effectiveness and value.
- Customer Support: What level of customer support does the CRM offer? It’s crucial to have reliable support to resolve issues and maximize CRM’s potential.
- Scalability: Is the CRM designed to accommodate institutions of various sizes and capable of scaling with your institution’s growth?
Steps to Choose the Best CRM Software for Higher Education
- Identify Institutional Pain Points: Begin by pinpointing the challenges your education organization faces. Consider feedback from students, faculty, and staff to identify areas where current systems fall short. Document these pain points and outline your expectations for a higher education CRM solution.
- Inventory Current Systems and Future Needs: List all the platforms you currently use for tasks such as recruitment, admissions, student engagement, and alumni management. Assess how well these systems meet your needs and whether they will continue to do so as your institution evolves.
- Establish a Budget: Determine your budget for CRM investment. Compare platforms based on their cost, user count, and feature set. Evaluate the overall value, considering functionality, customer support, and ease of use.
- Compare Features and Support: Assess the features offered by each CRM and their alignment with your needs. Choose a provider that offers robust onboarding and support to ensure successful implementation and utilization.
- Check Customer References: Research feedback from institutions similar to yours. Look for reviews, testimonials, and community discussions to understand how well the CRM performs in real-world scenarios.
- Narrow Down Options: Start with a broad list of CRM providers and gradually narrow it down based on your evaluations. Once you have a shortlist, arrange for demonstrations and invite key stakeholders to test the platforms and provide their input.
Meritto’s higher education CRM is built upon these fundamental principles. By following these steps, any organization can leverage a CRM to streamline admissions, enhance student engagement, and drive enrollment growth.
Why is Meritto’s Higher-Education CRM, the Best Choice?
Meritto’s higher education CRM is a comprehensive platform that is purpose-built to empower growing educational organizations. Unlike ordinary B2B sales CRMs, it is purpose-built for education organizations and addresses all administrative aspects for them, whether it’s a K12 school, Study Abroad Consultancy, EdTech company, multi-level coaching center, or a higher education institution. From boosting team productivity and enhancing student experiences to optimizing marketing and increasing enrollments, Meritto empowers you to achieve it all on an all-in-one unified platform.
Furthermore, it features advanced lead management, personalized communication, streamlined admissions, robust analytics, and more, all designed to drive your organization’s enrollment success. Trusted by over 1000 educational organizations and powering over 1 billion student engagements annually, Meritto is highly rated on G2, Capterra, PlayStore, and App Store, delivering proven results. To explore more about our purpose-built CRM, feel free to schedule a 1:1 demo with our enrollment experts.
