Nowadays, school management software is an essential tool for schools and all other educational institutions. It helps school management to run the activities more smoothly and efficiently. Schools always seek better tools for their resources and boost student success. Developing an eLearning app for adults that fits their specific needs is becoming more popular. Here is a complete guide to you about all the necessary points of School Management Software Development It’s Cost & Key Features in 2024.
If you’re thinking about adding or updating this kind of software for your school then you are probably concerned about how much it will cost to develop. However, the cost of school management software development can vary greatly. It mainly depends on factors like features, complexity, and the development approach.
In this detailed guide, we’ll explore all the factors that affect the cost of creating School Management Software and trends in education industry. We’ll look at everything from the initial design and development to ongoing maintenance and updates. Understanding these financial details is important to make smart choices for your institution/school.
What is School Management Software?
A school management app is software created to automate different administrative tasks in a school. It acts as a central platform that smooths communication, manages data efficiently, and simplifies processes. Based on our experience, these apps greatly boost productivity, cut down on manual mistakes, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency in schools.
As technology advances, almost all educational institutions are using school management apps for easy and smooth operations. These apps offer a variety of features specially designed to meet the specific needs of educational institutions, schools, universities, and colleges. A major advantage of school management apps is:-
- The school management will get all the important details in one place.
- No, more manual record-keeping is required.
- It lowers the risk of losing or duplicating data.
- Teachers, administrators, and parents can use the app from any device with internet access.
- The school management software accessibility allows users to access crucial details. This eases the life of everyone involved by simplifying and improving information.
Market Stats of School Management Software
- The School Management Software market was valued at USD 10.17 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to USD 30.45 billion by 2030. It is expected to increase with an annual growth rate of 14.76% from 2022 year to 2030 year.
- The expected revenue growth rate from 2023 to 2027 is 10.38% per year. This will lead to a market size of $4.23 billion.
- By 2027 year, it’s expected that there will be 57 million online learners.
- By 2023 year, the biggest source of revenue in China is expected to be $41.73 billion.
- China is predicted to have the highest share in the Online Learning Platforms Market with a projected rate of 21.7%.
What are the Main Benefits of School Management Software Development?
The School Management Software provides several benefits designed for different users. The system is specially created for students, parents, and school administrators. We’ll look at how the school management system ERP helps each of these groups.
Saves Time and Money
This helps teachers save time otherwise they would spend on paperwork. Automating daily tasks like making schedules, tracking attendance, and communicating with parents is one way to do this. School directors can also save time with features like generating payslips and collecting fees online.
Increases Transparency
A school management system boosts transparency in schools. Parents can easily access their children’s report cards, check attendance, and read teachers’ comments on their children’s progress. This increased transparency builds trust between parents and the school. This is a strong reason for schools to consider developing School Management System Software.
Accurate Student Data Reporting
One great advantage of the best school management software is the range of reports it can produce for administrators and directors. It offers graphical reports, summary reports, and chart reports. You can also quickly access age group reports, lists, and detailed reports with just a single click.
Simplifies Fee Management
Parents get bored standing the long lines and waiting for longer hours to pay school fees. SMS services simplify this procedure. Administrators can receive secure payments online just like parents can.
Automates Management
A good school management system can simplify the complexities of running a school by automating them. The role of AI inlearning plays a great role as it automates tasks, provides insights, and enhances engagement in school management software. For instance, s like taking attendance and sending out mass notifications. This usually takes a lot of time so it can be handled automatically with this software.
Tracks Attendance
Using school management software can handle attendance easily. This software records students’ attendance and makes it visible to everyone. Parents, teachers and students can all check the attendance and take action if there are any issues. With this system, parents and teachers can quickly address attendance problems and check if students attending the classes regularly or not.
How Much Does it Cost to Build School Management Software?
If you want to build a school management software then usually it will cost between $10,000 and $120,000. In case you decide to develop a mobile app for the same purpose may range from $25,000 to $70,000. These estimates are general. For a more accurate budget, schools should contact a reliable company like eBizneeds which specializes in school management software.
The exact cost of school management software development may depend on the skills and type of custom development company you choose. Integrating enterprise resource planning (ERP) software with existing systems can usually be done smoothly.
Factors That Influence the Cost of School Management Software Development
Before hiring a School Management Software Development company, it’s important to consider the costs involved. The final cost depends on several factors. We’ll outline some of the key factors that significantly impact the overall cost of developing school management software.
Features and Customization
The cost depends on the features and how much you customize the software. Basic features like attendance tracking, student data, and grade management would be cost-effective. However, adding advanced features like online learning, library management and custom reports will make the software more expensive. Customizing the software to fit your school’s needs will also add to the cost. If you have a low budget, it’s a good idea to choose a trustworthy school management software company and start with just the essential features.
User Interface and Experience Design
An attractive and easy-to-use interface is key for getting people to use the software. The cost of educational software development can go up if the design is complicated or needs to work well on different devices. Additionally, expenses may rise based on user testing and feedback.
Hosting Costs
For large-scale software products, there is an additional hosting fee which you might not be aware of. Before contracting with the software development company, schools should ask the company about the hosting costs for their custom ERP software designed specifically for school management.
Technology and Platform
Choosing the right school management software development platform and technology is very important. The cost of building software for mobile or web can differ based on the programming languages, frameworks, and databases used. Using cross-platform development can help lower costs because it lets the software work on different devices.
Integration with Current Systems
Several educational institutions already use various systems for different reasons. If you want to add school management software development to these existing systems like Student Information Systems or Financial software, it’s important to hire skilled developers for the job. Integrating new software can be costly, so you need to think about how to transfer data and ensure everything works well together.
Scalability and Performance
It’s crucial that the software can handle the growth of your institution and manage more data as required frequently. Designing the software to be scalable and perform well might increase the development cost in case of anticipating the school expansion.
Data Security and Compliance
Schools deal with sensitive information related to all the students and staff. Adding strong data security features to school management software such as encryption, user-access controls and following data protection laws like GDPR. Adding the overall security features may lead to a rise in the school management software development cost.
Developer Location
The cost of school management software development for educational institutions is closely connected with the hourly rates of the developers. Companies in developed regions like North America and Europe typically charge 3-5 times more per hour compared to those in developing countries like India.
Despite the lower cost, you can still find high-quality and reliable software development companies in India. Some clients worry that outsourcing might mean their project won’t get enough attention because developers are working on multiple projects. To address this problem, many Indian companies offer dedicated developers who focus solely on the client’s project and their requirements.
Ongoing Maintenance and Support
Once the initial development procedure is done, ongoing maintenance and support are crucial. This includes fixing bugs, updating the software and adjusting to new changes, needs, or rules. These services are usually offered through annual maintenance contracts.
Top 5 School Management Software Options
If are you planning to build a new school management system then you should know the similar products that are out there and what makes them special. To help you, we’ve listed some of the top school management systems.
Alma
Alma is a modern school management tool designed to handle the administrative needs of schools and institutions. It helps you embrace a tech-driven approach, also make decisions based on data, and save time for your admin team. The system has advanced features like scheduling keeping records, managing enrollment history, and tracking assessments.
MyClassCampus
MyClassCampus was created to make school management software more modern and advanced for everyone. Parents can check their child’s profile from anywhere and at any time. This smart online platform lets you create ID cards, result cards, and so on. This tool saves time and effort for both parents and students. You can also plan the academic year using a shared calendar and handle admissions online.
Rediker
Rediker is a popular school management software that’s been around for 40 years. The system worked with popular educational tools like OneNote and Google Classroom. It offers an all-in-one solution for managing your school. With Rediker, you can access videos, webinars, and demos along with the training, documentation and support to help you get the most out of the software.
Schoolbic
Schoolbic is a software that provides student’s information. It helps you keep all your student data in one place. All the details such as attendance records, performance reports, personal details, and certifications are recorded carefully by this popular school management software. The software is highly recommended due to its useful automation tools.
Gradelink
Gradelink is an excellent school management system. It helps schools share information with parents and keep track of student data. You’ll get personalized support and training to learn how to use the program. This software is very efficient, also saves time, and reduces the cost of administrative and management operations. It offers features like daily online attendance reports, tracking student performance, advanced scheduling, integration options, communication tools, and more.
Essential Features School Management Software Development
Before schools start school management software development, they need to add the basic features to let their app look appealing as well as useful. Here are a few essential features to consider for an educational management system.
SMS and Email Integration
To provide the best experience for customers, the ERP solution should be connected with SMS and email. This integration helps schools run more smoothly as they are the ones using the system.
Improved Admission Process
The ERP solution must include a module to manage the whole admissions process. As the students play a great role in any school so the admission procedure must run smoothly. An online admissions portal makes it simpler for both school staff and parents to handle admissions smoothly. This digital approach makes it easier to access records and is safer and more secure compared to ERP solutions must include the old paper-based methods.
Ensure Correct Academic Behavior
Each academic session year includes many activities like sports days, annual events, youth festivals, and exams. To manage these activities smoothly and effectively, school management software should have planning and management tools. This software helps schools keep track of everything going on. However, adding these features to the software might increase its development cost.
Internal Communication
The school management ERP software makes it easy for schools to communicate within their teams. This feature is important because it boosts productivity and simplifies operations.
Attendance Tracking System
Schools and other educational institutions will only accept students who attend classes slightly more than the minimum requirement. Teachers or staff would need to put in a lot of effort to track this manually but advanced ERP school management software can handle it easily. This software not only tracks student attendance from start to finish but also helps school management keep track of employee attendance details.
Check out other basic features of the SMS tool listed below:-
| Parent’s Panel | Teacher’s panel | Student panel |
| Easy Signup | Communication | Safe Login |
| Student’s Performance Update | Study Material | Access Study Tips |
| Check Student’s Records and Results | Uploading Assignments | Download Lecture Notes |
| Pay Institution/ School Fee Online | Online Lecture | Read School Newsletters and E-magazines |
| View School Calendar | Pre-Recording Lectures | Check and Submit Homework |
| Get Notifications for Exams | View Attendance and Reports Online | View Course Details |
| Communication with Teachers | Manage Class Schedules and Assignment | Push notifications and Instant Alerts for Exams |
How to Develop a School Management System
Building a school management software is difficult as it takes time and effort. It involves market research and careful planning to develop every milestone with focusing on coding and features. Here are the essential steps for creating school management software.
Idea Creation and Market Research
The idea is the beginning stage. When you think about creating a school management system then you should begin planning how to turn it into a product and what steps are needed to align it with your business goals. This planning might involve looking at existing school management software in the market and choosing the best features for your product. It also includes understanding the needs of key stakeholders like teachers, staff, students, and parents.
Planning Budget
Creating a software solution costs money and you need a plan to cover these expenses. If you want to develop a school management mobile app then it’s essential to make a budget. Alisha Ban
Choose the Best Software Development Company
Many software agencies are out there that can help you create a top-notch solution. By picking the right partner, you can save money and ensure you get a high-quality product. Find a top software development company to build a school management system tailored to your needs. If you have a unique idea then share it with the partnered team and get a free consultation.
Select the Right Team and Work Approach
After selecting the best software development company, the next step is to talk about how the project will be carried out. Top IT companies like eBizneeds provide many choices for building your team. You can hire developers in teams based on your needs. Some models even let you pick specific developers from the team, so you get the best programmers to focus on your project.
Design and User Experience
After hiring the software development teams for a school management app, start the project with a basic wireframe to visualize how the final product will appear and function. Once you have a few mock-ups, you can focus on the detailed user interface design created by skilled designers. Choosing a well-known mobile app development company ensures that your UI will be visually appealing and well-organized for the best user experience.
Quality Assurance and Testing
After creating the initial wireframes, the next step in building a school management system is to start the core development phase. Here, skilled app developers write code to make the user interface interactive and functional. The backend is built with standard code. Picking the right technology for your school management system helps your development team create a custom solution to automate and simplify school operations. Once the prototype is finished, it goes through quality checks with testing tools.
Release the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
It’s good to start with a minimal viable product (MVP) to save time and money. This means you’ll first release a basic version of your product with just the essential features. Later, based on feedback needs, you can develop the full version more quickly and affordably. Launching an MVP for the school management system will help you see how the product is performing and guide future improvements.
Product Marketing
Once the product is live on the chosen platform or network now it’s time to promote it effectively. The marketing strategy depends on your goals or project scope. This might involve internal marketing to school staff, parents, and students or external marketing if you’re developing school management software as a business. Regardless of the approach, promoting and informing others about E-learning software is essential.
Ongoing Maintenance and Support
Building a great school management system is just the start. It’s important to keep it running smoothly with minimal downtime. By partnering with top school software development companies, you can get maintenance and support contracts along with your software development plan. With a monthly or yearly maintenance contract, you’ll receive regular updates and bug fixes to keep your system working well.
Technology Used for the School Management System
In today’s world, technology is expanding education beyond traditional classrooms. Choosing the right technology is crucial for the success of a school management system. Schools that want to create the best school management app can hire a school management software development company to help select the right technology. Here we have suggested the right tech stack for developing a school management system.
- Back End:- Java, Laravel, Node.JS
- Front End: Swift, HTML, Angular, React
- DevOps:- Jenkins, Android Studio, Amazon Cloud Watch
- Cloud:- AWS and Google Cloud
- Database:- MongoDB, SQL Server, PostgreSQL
- Payment Gateway:- PayPal, Braintree
Different Ways to Reduce Development Costs
Cutting development costs doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality or features. Here are some strategies to think about:-
Pre-Development Planning
Carefully planning the app’s features and needs before starting development helps to minimize the expenses later on. In the planning phase, it’s important to do thorough market research to understand your target audience and their requirements. This helps developers focus on the most important features and avoid spending time on unnecessary things. Also, creating a clear project timeline with specific milestones can keep the development process on track. This approach helps manage resources better and reduces the chances of unexpected delays or going over budget.
Choose the Right Development Team
Choose an authorized school management development company with experience creating school management apps like WeSoftYou. Skilled developers can use resources wisely and keep development costs low while maintaining quality. If you seek a development team then it’s important to look at their experience and success in competing projects within timeframe and budget. Conducting interviews and checking their portfolios can give you a good idea of their skills and reliability. Moreover, working closely with the development team throughout the project is key. Regular communication and feedback help spot potential problems early allowing fixing issues and avoiding costly re-work.
Focus on the Essential Features
Always start by focusing on the most important features and gradually add improvements based on user feedback and needs. This approach helps keep development costs and timelines manageable.
During the development process, new ideas, features and update requests often come up. However adding every suggestion can instantly increase the costs and delay the project. By prioritizing the essential features, developers can deliver a working product within the budget.
A good strategy is to launch a minimum viable product (MVP) first. An MVP includes only the core features needed for the app to function. This allows for early user testing and feedback which avoids unnecessary expenses. Using open-source libraries and frameworks can also reduce development costs. These pre-built components offer ready-made solutions for common functions that save both time and cost in coding from scratch.
Conclusion
The cost of building school management software can differ a lot depending on things like features, complexity, and the development company you pick. To get a good deal that fits your needs, it’s essential to pick a reliable company that knows how to develop educational software. By choosing wisely, you can find a balance between cost and quality for your school management software development project.
FAQs
Creating school management software requires:
Planning
Design
Coding
Testing
Deployment.
To build a user-friendly and efficient solution that fits your school’s requirements, you are required to hire a skilled development team with experience in education.
The time required for school management software development varies based on the project’s complexity, and features. Typically, it can take anywhere from 3-5 months to a year or more. It usually depends on the development team’s skills and your project needs.
It’s tough to give an exact cost for school management software development but it can range from $30,000 to $250,000. The price will vary depending on factors like features, design, complexity, development team’s experience, and so on. The cost can also change based on where the development teams are located.
The key features in creating an effective management system include coming up with a product idea and choosing the best school software development company. Hiring the best developers based on their engagement models, designing and developing the product, deploying it and finally marketing and maintaining it. Moreover, building a management system requires a solid understanding of the school’s workflow, departments and operation procedures.
Naveen Khanna is the CEO of eBizneeds, a company renowned for its bespoke web and mobile app development. By delivering high-end modern solutions all over the globe, Naveen takes pleasure in sharing his rich experiences and views on emerging technological trends. He has worked in many domains, from education, entertainment, banking, manufacturing, healthcare, and real estate, sharing rich experience in delivering innovative solutions.
