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Category: Cloud ERP

Solving Student Data Fragmentation in Gulf Universities Through Cloud-Based SIS

Posted on by Anurag Gupta

Introduction: The Fragmentation Dilemma in Gulf Universities

In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, higher education institutions are experiencing rapid growth and diversification. However, many universities still rely on outdated, siloed systems to manage student data. This fragmentation leads to inefficiencies, data inconsistencies, and challenges in decision-making. A recent study highlighted that many institutions in the region operate with traditional, disconnected systems—spreadsheets for enrollment, siloed databases for finance, manual attendance tracking, and fragmented reporting tools.

Why Fragmented Student Data is a Major Concern

In Gulf universities, fragmented student data is a significant challenge that hampers operational efficiency, decision-making, and compliance. Here’s how:

Administrative Inefficiencies

Disparate systems and manual processes lead to delays, errors, and wasted time. Administrative staff often duplicate efforts, entering the same data into multiple systems, which increases the risk of inconsistencies and reduces productivity. A report from Higher Ed Dive highlights that 43% of organizations cite an increasingly distributed and remote user base as a key driver of this shift, yet struggle with integrating and standardizing insights Higher Ed Dive.

Inconsistent Data Across Departments

When different departments use separate systems, it becomes challenging to maintain a unified view of student information. This fragmentation leads to misaligned decision-making and poor collaboration among departments. According to SnapLogic, data silos in higher education institutions create inefficiencies and hinder decision-making.

https://www.snaplogic.com/blog/higher-education-data-challenges-and-modernization-tips?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Compliance & Reporting Challenges

Accurate and timely reporting is crucial for accreditation and government compliance. Fragmented data makes it difficult to generate consistent reports, risking non-compliance and potential funding issues.

The International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building (IIHEd) notes that a fragmented data infrastructure significantly constrains policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.

https://www.iesalc.unesco.org/en/articles/bridging-data-gap-higher-education-policymaking-challenges-and-opportunities-evidence-based?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Addressing these challenges requires a unified approach to student data management, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and compliance across all departments.

How Cloud-Based Student Information Systems Solve the Problem

A cloud-based Student Information System (SIS) is a modern digital platform that centralizes all student data—academic records, attendance, fees, grades, and more—on a secure, cloud-hosted system. Unlike traditional on-premises or siloed solutions, a cloud-based SIS allows universities to access and manage information anytime, anywhere, without relying on disconnected spreadsheets or multiple software systems. For Gulf universities struggling with fragmented student data, this technology offers a seamless, unified approach to information management.

Here’s how a cloud-based SIS addresses the core challenges:

  • Centralized Data Management – All student information is stored in a single system, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and eliminating duplication. Departments no longer operate in silos, and administrators can rely on a single source of truth for all reporting needs.
  • Real-Time Access – Faculty, staff, and administrators can instantly access up-to-date information, enabling faster decision-making and timely interventions for students. This is especially critical for multi-campus universities in the Gulf region.
  • Enhanced Collaboration – A cloud-based SIS connects different departments, fostering better communication and collaboration. Academic, administrative, and finance teams can work together efficiently without data delays or errors.
  • Scalability – Cloud infrastructure grows with the university. Whether student enrollment increases or new campuses open, the system adapts without the need for costly hardware upgrades or complicated migrations.
  • Cost-Effectiveness – By reducing the need for on-premises servers, IT maintenance, and manual processes, a cloud-based SIS helps universities optimize operational costs while improving overall efficiency.

By implementing a cloud-based Student Information System, Gulf universities can overcome data fragmentation, streamline administrative workflows, and provide a better experience for students, faculty, and leadership alike.

Data-Driven Insights

According to a report by Strategic Market Research, the global Student Information System market is projected to reach $16.1 billion by 2030, driven by the increasing demand for streamlined administrative processes and enhanced data security. Strategic Market Research

Read the full report here:

https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/market-report/student-information-system-market?utm_source=chatgpt.com

In the GCC region, national education digitization programs are pushing SIS adoption. Many private schools in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia now operate fully cloud-based SIS systems with bilingual support, reflecting a regional shift towards digital solutions. Strategic Market Research

Embracing the Future of Student Data Management

Fragmented student data has long challenged Gulf universities, causing inefficiencies, inconsistent information, and compliance risks. Cloud-based Student Information Systems (SIS) offer a unified solution, centralizing data, enabling real-time access, and fostering collaboration across departments.

By adopting a cloud-based SIS, institutions can streamline operations, improve decision-making, and enhance the overall student experience. As higher education continues to evolve in the Gulf, embracing this digital transformation is no longer optional—it’s essential for maintaining competitiveness and achieving long-term success.


Discover how your institution can leverage digital transformation with Academia SIS. Contact us today to learn more.

10 Signs Your Institution Is Ready for a Digital Campus Upgrade

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

A staggering 73% of higher education institutions report that their current technology infrastructure significantly hampers their ability to deliver quality education and administrative services. 

This isn’t just a number—it’s a wake-up call echoing through campus corridors worldwide.

Imagine a scenario of registration and new admissions week at an institution. Students queue for hours outside the registrar’s office, clutching paper forms while frantically refreshing their phones to check if their preferred courses are still available. 

Meanwhile, faculty members juggle multiple disconnected systems to track attendance, submit grades, and communicate with students. The IT department works overtime, manually syncing data between outdated systems that seem to speak different languages.

This scenario isn’t fiction—it’s the daily reality for countless institutions still operating on legacy systems. However, the institutions thriving in today’s competitive landscape share one common trait: they’ve recognized such signs and, without any second thought, embraced a robust Student Information System. 

The Digital Transformation Imperative in Higher Education

 

Before diving into the telltale signs, it’s crucial to understand why digital transformation has become non-negotiable in higher education. Modern students arrive on campus expecting the same level of convenience, personalization, and instant access they experience with today’s leading digital platforms.

Institutions are increasingly under pressure to boost operational efficiency while delivering better student outcomes. According to EDUCAUSE’s annual IT issues survey, digital transformation consistently ranks among the top three priorities for higher education leaders.

1. Student Complaints About Outdated Systems Are Increasing

When student satisfaction surveys repeatedly highlight frustrations with course registration, grade access, or communication systems, it’s time to listen. Today’s students, predominantly digital natives, quickly become frustrated with clunky interfaces and slow response times.

If your student services team spends more time troubleshooting system issues than actually helping students, this indicates that your current infrastructure is becoming a barrier rather than an enabler.

2. Administrative Processes Still Rely Heavily on Paper

 

In an era where most industries have gone paperless, the education sector is still heavily dependent on physical documents and ultimately faces significant inefficiencies. From admission applications to faculty evaluations, paper-based processes create bottlenecks, increase error rates, and consume valuable staff time.

Furthermore, paper-heavy processes make data analysis and reporting extremely challenging, limiting your institution’s ability to make data-driven decisions.

3. Data Silos Prevent Comprehensive Student Insights

 

One of the most telling signs is when different departments maintain separate databases that don’t communicate with each other. The admissions office, registrar, financial aid, and student services each have pieces of the student puzzle, but no one has the complete picture.

This fragmentation prevents Institutions from providing personalized student experiences and identifying at-risk students who might benefit from early intervention programs.

4. Faculty Resistance to Technology Has Decreased

 

Interestingly, faculty acceptance of technology has dramatically increased, particularly post-pandemic. If your professors are actively requesting better digital tools for course management, online collaboration, and student engagement, they’re essentially advocating for a digital upgrade.

When faculty members start exploring third-party solutions independently because institutional tools are inadequate, it’s a clear signal that your current systems aren’t meeting their needs.

5. Manual Reporting Consumes Excessive Staff Time

Does your team spend days or even weeks compiling reports that should take hours? Manual data extraction and report generation not only waste valuable human resources but also increase the likelihood of errors.

Modern ERP systems can automate routine reporting tasks, freeing staff to focus on analysis and strategic initiatives rather than data compilation.

6. Integration Challenges Create Operational Bottlenecks

 

If adding a new software tool requires extensive IT resources and custom development work, your current infrastructure lacks the flexibility needed for modern operations. Institutions today need systems that can easily integrate with new technologies and adapt to changing requirements.

The inability to quickly deploy new solutions or connect existing systems creates competitive disadvantages in an increasingly digital landscape.

7. Student Engagement Metrics Show Declining Trends

 

When students struggle to access information, communicate with faculty, or complete administrative tasks efficiently, their overall engagement with the institution suffers. Low usage rates of existing digital platforms often indicate that these tools aren’t meeting user needs effectively.

Modern students expect mobile-responsive, intuitive interfaces that facilitate rather than hinder their academic journey.

8. Compliance and Security Concerns Are Mounting

 

Older systems often struggle to meet evolving compliance requirements and security standards. With increasing regulations around student data privacy and growing cybersecurity threats, Institutions need robust, up-to-date systems that prioritize data protection.

If your IT team expresses concerns about meeting compliance requirements or securing sensitive information with current systems, upgrading becomes a critical priority.

9. Scalability Issues Limit Growth Opportunities

Institutions experiencing growth—whether in enrollment, program offerings, or research activities—often find that legacy systems can’t scale effectively. If system performance degrades during peak usage periods or if adding new users requires significant infrastructure investments, your current setup is constraining institutional growth.

10. Competitor Analysis Reveals Technology Gaps

 

Finally, if peer institutions are offering superior digital experiences to students, faculty, and staff, the competitive gap will only widen over time. Institutions that delay digital transformation risk losing top talent and prospective students to more technologically advanced competitors.

Research from McKinsey & Company demonstrates that institutions with comprehensive digital strategies consistently outperform their peers in student satisfaction and operational efficiency metrics.

Making the Digital Leap: Your Path Forward

 

Recognizing these signs is just the beginning. The key to successful digital transformation lies in choosing a comprehensive ERP solution that addresses your institution’s specific needs while providing the flexibility to evolve with changing requirements.

A modern educational ERP system eliminates data silos, streamlines administrative processes, and creates seamless experiences for students and faculty alike. Most importantly, it positions your institution to compete effectively in an increasingly digital educational landscape.

The institutions thriving today aren’t necessarily the ones with the largest budgets—they’re the ones that recognized these signs early and took decisive action. The question isn’t whether your institution needs a digital upgrade; it’s how quickly you can implement one to serve your campus community better.

Ready to transform your campus operations? Our educational ERP experts are standing by to discuss how a comprehensive digital solution can address your institution’s specific challenges. 

Book a personalized demo today and discover how leading Institutions are leveraging technology to enhance student experiences while streamlining administrative operations. 

Cloud-Based ERP vs On-Premise: Which Education ERP Is Right for Your Institution?

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

“Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers is transformational.” 

This quote by George Couros perfectly captures the delicate balance educational institutions must strike today. 

As institutions and universities strive to offer exceptional learning experiences, managing administrative and operational tasks efficiently becomes just as critical. 

Enter ERP systems—vital tools that can either be hosted on the cloud or run on-premises. 

But how do you decide which model suits your institution best?

Let’s walk through a story many education leaders know all too well. Imagine a mid-sized university struggling with fragmented software—student records stored in one database, financials in another, and scheduling handled manually. 

The inefficiencies are glaring: delays in reporting, data errors, and staff being overburdened with too many responsibilities to keep everything running smoothly.

Did You Know?

Based on surveys of over 6,000 university staff, those exposed to “very high” psychosocial risk increased from 26.6% in 2020 to 39.6% in 2024, highlighting skyrocketing burnout and stress

aihs.org.au/university-staff-psychosocial-safety

The leadership team knows it’s time to embrace a competent student information system, but faces a classic dilemma: 

Should they move to a cloud-based ERP or stick with a traditional on-premise system?

 

Understanding the Basics: Cloud ERP for Education vs On-Premise ERP

 

Before diving into the comparison, it’s important to clarify what each system entails. A cloud-based education ERP stores your institution’s software and data on secure, vendor-managed servers, accessible anytime via the internet. 

On the flip side, an on-premise ERP sits locally on your institution’s own servers, maintained by your IT team.

 

What Makes Cloud ERP Attractive to Educational Institutions?

 

Cloud ERP systems have gained traction for the exceptional level of flexibility and scalability they offer. 

For example, a growing school district doesn’t have to worry about upgrading hardware or juggling software updates—these happen behind the scenes by the service provider. Moreover, cloud solutions often come with robust security protocols and disaster recovery plans, which can be a relief for institutions lacking dedicated IT resources.

What else? Accessibility. Educators and administrators can access systems from anywhere—whether they’re working remotely, on campus, or even in the field. This is especially relevant in today’s hybrid learning environments, where agility is key.

The Case for On-Premise Education ERP

 

On-premise ERP systems, while considered “traditional,” still hold significant value. Institutions with strict data privacy requirements or regulatory concerns may prefer keeping sensitive information in-house. 

Having full control over the system means customizations can be made without waiting for vendor timelines, and performance isn’t dependent on internet connectivity.

On-Premise vs Cloud Student Information Systems (SIS): What’s the Difference?

 

Student Information Systems are often a core part of an educational ERP. Comparing on-premise vs cloud-based student database management systems brings into sharper focus the practical implications of each approach.

With a cloud-based Student Information System, updates roll out seamlessly, ensuring your institution benefits from the latest features without disruption. 

However, some institutions remain concerned about meeting local data residency requirements. On-premise SIS, housed internally, can be tailored precisely to meet these legal requirements, but the responsibility for managing and securing the data squarely rests on the institution.

Moreover, managing an on-premise system demands a skilled IT team ready to handle maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting—a resource not every institution can afford or prioritize.

And that’s not all, during any urgency, the decision-makers often fail to take quick decisions due to a lack of access to the data and insights when not present on the premises. 

Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks: Education ERP Comparison

 

Let’s break down the decision through some real-world considerations:

  • Cost: Cloud ERP typically offers subscription-based pricing, lowering upfront costs and smoothing budgeting. In contrast, on-premise systems demand a high upfront investment in hardware and licensing, plus continuous maintenance costs.

 

  • Scalability: Cloud systems can easily accommodate growth or fluctuations in user numbers, while on-premise scaling might involve costly hardware upgrades and a major portion of your time. 

 

  • Security: While cloud providers prioritize strong security measures, some institutions still opt for on-premise solutions to maintain direct control over their data security.

 

  • Customization: On-premise allows deeper customization; cloud vendors offer configurability but may have limits based on their architecture.

 

  • Implementation Speed: Cloud ERP systems are typically faster to deploy since they don’t require hardware installation—ideal for institutions seeking rapid digital transformation.

Making the Choice: Factors to Consider for Your Institution

 

Every educational institution is unique, and your ERP decision should reflect your specific needs. Ask yourself:

  • How robust is your IT team? Can they manage on-premise infrastructure, or would cloud-based vendor support be more practical?
  • What are your data governance policies? Do any regulations mandate that data must remain on-site?
  • What’s your budget timeline? Do you prefer predictable monthly costs or a large upfront investment?
  • How important is system accessibility for your staff and students?
  • Do you anticipate rapid growth or changes that require flexible scaling?

Tip: According to the industry veterans, today’s ever-evolving challenges require institutions to be agile, flexible, customizable, secure, and updated on technological fronts. And cloud-based SIS platforms can handle all of this with ease.

Bringing It All Together: ERP That Supports Your Goals-

 

Choosing between cloud-based ERP and on-premise systems isn’t just a tech decision—it’s a strategic move that can redefine how your institution operates. 

Cloud ERP for education offers agility and ease, ideal for institutions embracing digital transformation without heavy IT overhead. Organizations that prioritize control and customization may find on-premise solutions more suitable.

Whatever path you choose, the right ERP system can unify your administrative processes, improve data accuracy, and free up your staff to focus on what matters most: education.

Ready to explore how an ERP system tailored to your institution’s needs can transform your operations? Book a demo with our experts today and take the first step toward smarter education management.

For more insights on educational technology trends, check out EDUCAUSE’s latest research and UNESCO’s reports on digital learning initiatives.

Get these 3 competitive advantages by using Cloud ERP for Higher-Ed

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Colleges and universities fight each day to compete with the decreasing pool of faculty, staff, and students. It is important to address academic competition that exists between colleges and universities to ensure a secure future for the organization. 

Cloud ERP systems can help institutions digitally transform and evolve to ensure a higher admission rate, student retention rate, improved employee experience, and other relative metrics of success in the education ecosystem. Most of all it allows an organization to address the changing social and economic standards of education to gain a competitive edge. And hence, technology becomes important to discuss and deploy. 

Technology provides a big competitive advantage to institutions. What most organizations fail to understand is, students and staff are technologically-evolved people. Technology is no longer a privilege but is now ingrained in everything a person does on a daily basis. 

Institutions that are still using outdated technology, or manually-intensive processes fail to engage their students and staff, and hence lose out to the competition. In the same context, we are here to discuss the three ways cloud ERP solutions provide you a major advantage in competition. 

3 Competitive Advantages of using Cloud ERP in higher education institutions 

  • Reallocate Resources

In many cases, the most competitive colleges appear to be those that have more money to spend on marketing and on the facilities at their institutions. Since smaller organizations rely solely on the tuition fee of the students, staying competitive becomes difficult. A cloud ERP can help institutions do both. 

Cloud-based campus management solutions comprise a variety of tools and features that help in better governance of an institute. They comprise admission management, attendance management, examination management, financial management, and other functionalities to improve the governance of the institute. They also automate various operations of the organization to free up the human resource to put to use in the areas where human intervention is most required. 

This blog may interest you:

Cloud ERP vs On-premise ERP Solutions: What is right for your education institute? 

Click here to learn more.
  • Hire and retain faculty and staff

For colleges and universities, being competitive is as much about enabling student success as it is about promoting internal growth and employee satisfaction. Hiring and retaining good faculty and staff also directly impacts the retention rate of students. 

Unfortunately, the manual work, traditional processes, tangled operations, and tiring routine activities demotivate faculty and staff to stay in the sector, given most qualified candidates are leaving the education sector to seek high-paying jobs in other sectors. 

Using a cloud ERP solution can help an organization retain its staff by offering an engaging experience in its institute. Modern ERP can help institutes save money on operating costs and invest it in the  faculty. Secondly, technology and cloud ERP solutions support academic and administrative processes in an institute to improve work experience in the organization. 

  • Recruit and retain best-fit students

Student retention rate is an important factor in evaluative criteria used to rank colleges, and universities locally and nationally. And since students consider ranks when applying at any institute, you need to strategize to draw students to campus and retain them. 

Modern cloud ERP solutions help colleges to recruit and retain students that are academically and culturally more aligned with the organization, hence making retention easier. Also, admission management, examination, student performance management, and analysis are some of the effective ways to improve the student experience at your institute while ensuring higher retention rates.

Conclusion:

Competition between colleges and universities never ceases to exist. But if you are willing to upgrade your institute to have a greater competitive advantage consider digital transformation through cloud ERP for colleges and universities. The handy tool end-to-end automates the processes in the institute and allows easier management and monitoring of the institute. It positively affects the working and experience of all stakeholders to ensure a higher retention rate. Reduced operational cost, efforts, and time are some other benefits of choosing a college ERP solution.

Cloud ERP vs On-premise ERP Solutions: What is right for your education institute?

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Custom ERP solutions for the education industry are very popular. Meanwhile, institutes widely focus on the features and functionalities of the applications, they miss out on the most important factor – deployment. 

Three of the most widely used deployment methods are – On-premise, Cloud, and Hybrid. In this blog, we would be discussing the difference between ERP on-premise vs cloud. Let’s start by defining both first. 

What are on-premise ERP solutions? 

On-premise ERP solutions are licensed software that is purchased and installed on your system and runs on your server. Everything is done internally, this includes maintenance, risk management, updates, etc. Hence the additional cost for power servers, database software, and operating systems are incurred by you. 

What are cloud-based ERP solutions? 

Cloud-based ERP solutions are deployed on cloud servers. The biggest difference between an on-premise and cloud-based ERP solution is the ownership. Meanwhile, on-premise solutions are deployed on your server, cloud-based ERP applications are deployed on the vendor server and you can access the software over the cloud using a web and mobile application.  

Current Scenario

Cloud-based ERP solutions are gaining great momentum. It requires no active management and thus is more effective for the institutes that do not want to invest in the resources. Also, cloud-based solutions are usually purchased on a subscription model which gives you pay-on-the-go flexibility. This includes the annual fee for the software, server maintenance, network management, software updates, etc. 

Questions to ask your service provider about security

Meanwhile, most of the cloud-based ERP solutions are deployed on a private cloud, there may be a chance that you are using an app on a shared cloud. This may be a red flag as it can compromise data security. 

Also, SaaS ERP solutions deployed on a private cloud are highly secure and flexible. Since they are hosted on a private cloud there are no shared resources, the data is very secure. Furthermore, if scalability is required you can opt for a bigger plan. Backup controls and upgrades are also very easy. 

Key Differences: Cloud-based ERP Solution and On-premise ERP Solution

  • Deployment 

One of the most significant differences between the two is that of deployment. Whereas with on-premise software, the company is responsible for maintaining the software solution and other relative operations, in cloud-hosted services you don’t have to worry about anything. Software is hosted on the vendor cloud and maintained by the service provider including the software maintenance and related processes. 

  • Control 

With an on-premise ERP environment, you have more control over things, but they do come at a high price. To ensure ownership and control, plus the measures you have to take for ensuring high-end security is going to be too costly. The more data you generate the more scalability you need and you would be looped into an endless cycle of continuous investment.

Although cloud-based software use vendor server, the evolving data policies and increasing adherence to global data security measures is a great assurance for small and big businesses. The cloud-based ERP solutions that provide data protection and encryption are good to go, they even use reliable third-party tools that follow security protocol and show adherence to data policies. 

  • Security 

Data security over servers is a great concern for many businesses. Since security is one of the most important things for businesses of all sizes and types, you may want to choose an on-premise security solution. Having said that, you would have to invest heftily in multiple avenues to guarantee security to its fullest. 

Talking about the cloud, reliable ERP solution providers such as Academia for education organizations can ensure high-end security. We follow security protocols for data protection. Furthermore, there are hardly any risks of hardware, software, and infrastructure malfunctions. And even if it happens there are protocols followed for multiple disasters and data redundancy protocols. With a reliable service provider like us, you can easily manage the security risks associated with cloud-based ERP solutions. 

On comparing… 

Factors Cloud-based ERP On-premise ERP
Accessibility Advantage Disadvantage
Affordability Advantage Disadvantage
Maintenance Advantage Disadvantage
Security Advantage Disadvantage
Deployment Advantage Disadvantage
Scalability Advantage Disadvantage
Control Disadvantage Advantage
Ownership Disadvantage Advantage
Connectivity Disadvantage Advantage

Most important discussion of all… The Cost: 

Given the initial investment along with product cost and infrastructure, an on-premise software solution might not be the right solution for a small institute or an organization that is just starting. Furthermore, you must consider maintenance and operational costs that are going to be a constant monetary burden. Even for big organizations scalability comes at a cost. And when more and more organizations are implementing modern technologies to reduce operational costs people are looking forward to moving to cloud-based ERP solutions. 

Cloud-based ERP solutions are more cost-effective as they are easy to set up and do not require any additional investment and effort on your end. A cloud-based solution from a reliable vendor is as efficient and secure as an on-premise solution. Plus, consider how much you are going to save on the resources.  

The cost of ownership, when distributed over the entire lifecycle of the system, is much less in the case of an on-premise solution. Hence, if you can manage to pay up for the initial set-up and maintenance, you can easily regulate the cost and achieve ownership at a lower cost as compared to a cloud solution. 

What is right for you? 

Cloud-based ERP solutions are taking the world by storm. In comparison, they fall short only on the aspect of ownership, meanwhile also providing you a major benefit of reduced cost and scalability. If you are a small-sized business and do not want to initially invest in the infrastructure and additional costs that you have to pay up-front and over time, cloud-based solutions are a good option. 

Also, more and more established companies are moving towards cloud-based ERP solutions. The reason is the availability of reliable vendors and the evolving dynamics of security protocols and strict adherence to them. Today, cloud-based ERP solutions are seen as a more viable option for big or small companies. You can connect with our technology experts to learn more about cloud-based education ERP solutions, and how Academia can help you in achieving your business goals. 

A Checklist To Safeguard Your Institution’s Data

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Today, data protection is one of the biggest challenges in the education sector with institutions being prone to vulnerabilities and frequently falling victim to massive data breaches. However, a checklist to safeguard data can help improve the overall security and prevent incidents of major data breaches from compromising their reputation.

Higher educational institutions and Schools are data treasure-troves as they often collect and process personal and confidential information about their prospective and enrolled students, alumni and staff. From personally sensitive information like addresses, health records and payment information, these institutions often run extensive networks across different campuses, with thousands of students and staff accessing their online portals through different devices at any time of the day or night. Hence, educational institutions are at high risk of having their data breached. In 2019 itself, Stanford University, education software developer Pearson and Georgia Tech have all suffered data breaches, with Georgia Tech alone having 1.3 million of their records exposed.

While educational institutions are required to take active measures to safeguard their data from unauthorized access, here is a checklist of how Academia can help institutions to protect their data and records.

– High scalability

Scalability in an ERP software is very crucial as it manages an institution’s growth by streamlining operational performance and maximizing productivity. Academia ERP (SIS/SMS/TMS) is highly scalable and can handle the increasing volume of data and the requirement of securely adding new users. The software is a robust solution meeting every expectation of a growing institute or chain of institutes.

This scalability offered by Academia solutions is beneficial for an institution as it allows the institute to focus on its growth and not the challenges associated including compromising on the security while handling huge volumes of sensitive and confidential data.

– Superior flexibility

Academia ERP(SIS/SMS/TMS) can be customised and configured as per the taxonomy of the institute. This allows for a personal touch to the terminology making it easier to interpret and allows even a non-technical person to operate the software easily without relying on technical help. The configuration features could also help to add extra functionalities as needed.

This superior flexibility from Academia makes an institute technologically advanced, future-ready and self-reliant. Academia SIS offers complete and detailed campus management solutions that improve an institution’s productivity, workflow efficiency and boost high ROI by streamlining administrative processes with automation. Academia’s MIS is highly configurable and scalable, aiding institutional growth. It provides data analytics with detailed reports for every department as required. 

The ease of use and familiarity of taxonomy results in lower incidents of human error, one of the major causes of security lapses.

– Diverse Reporting 

The diverse reporting in Academia ERP(SIS/SMS/TMS) offers dashboards for the administrators and for a range of user roles, which is extremely helpful to disseminate information faster from the existing data. It also offers visual aids with graphical representation like pie charts and bar graphs with consolidated data. With diverse reporting, it is easier to find student details year wise, their academic performances, extra-curricular activities, and all other activities. This helps in optimising time and resources while ensuring that reports are seamless and easily accessible in the most secure way. 

Academia’s diverse reporting helps to make more informed and data-driven decisions in the quickest and most hassle-free way. There is no time wasted in going through uncountable files for little details. It is a crucial tool to gain powerful insights into student data smartly and safely. 

– Cloud Enabled 

Cloud computing has become an essential aid for universities, colleges and schools for content delivery, communication and collaboration. The need for servers, storage and software have become essential to share resources, software and information, to computers and other devices.

Cloud computing also dramatically reduces the time, money and infrastructure that educational institutions need to reach out to new markets. The institutions achieve efficiency in operations with centralised control with students becoming more engaged with the available options and teachers focussing more on learner requirements instead of mundane admin tasks.

Academia’s products are cloud based, which helps to reduce risk and enhances data security. The cloud security not only helps the IT teams to recognise and remove risks in the system, but also enables them to create consistent security policies in all the branches of the institution.

Conclusion:

Finally, with the number of cyber attacks on the rise, data security has become a prime concern for educational institutes. Academia ERP software are built to work around huge volumes of data which are easily accessible by those who require to use them, yet with the tightest security possible. There are multi layers and types of information security control to combat abuses and breaches of security, at every level. To know more and learn about how Academia’s customised ERP solutions keep your data safe, among other benefits, please book a demo by clicking on ERP software for educational institutions.

6 Reasons Why School Should Use to Cloud Technology for Administrative Management

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

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Cloud technology has become the need for most of the organization. Whether it is a small, medium or large, they all need a system that can give them a single platform to process all the operations within the institution. Not only it benefits the employees but it also plays a significant advantage for all customers.

Education institutions are also growing at a high pace. This sector is expected to reach US$ 1.96 billion by 2021 with around 9.5 million users. This includes K12 and higher education. With this increment, institutions need to upgrade their system to manage the processes properly.

Higher education institutions are rapidly adopting the technology because of this millennial and generation Z and their expectation with the organization. Cloud is one of the technologies that is benefitting educators & learners around the world. Unlike higher education, schools are less inclined to shift their day to day processes into the cloud, and due to that, they are missing out on the key benefits of it.

Here are the reasons why schools should start shifting to cloud technology.

  • It brings collaboration6 Reasons Why Schools Should Use Cloud Technology

Schools have multiple departments that are handled by multiple people. Sometimes it becomes difficult to make the information flow without hurdles. With so many people involved, it increases the chance of error or miscommunication. However, with the help of Cloud-based software, this can be avoided. It provides collaboration as it centralizes the data in a single platform. Any authorized user can access the information whenever, wherever they want. For a school, the different users are parents, teachers, and students. With cloud-based ERP, a school can increase communication between parents and teachers. Parents across the globe can access their child’s academic records and progress from their mobile phones or laptops. Teachers will access the system regularly from school and occasionally from their homes. This became possible because of cloud technologies.

  • It gives a disaster recovery solution

If you are using the traditional method of administrative management in school, it is possible to lose data. Even if you are saving data in the computer or hard drive, data can be lost due to malware, hardware damage; which you can avoid if all the data is saved on the cloud. This is one of the key benefits of cloud-based school management software. The providers have the support system that can help institutes to recover data if they ever lose it. Therefore, you never have to worry about any documentation loss, ever.

  • It reduced capital expenditure

When schools think about shifting to cloud technology they usually get worried about the investment and high procurement costs. In contrary to that, the cloud is cheaper than they spend in IT & Hardware. Along with the licensing amount, to enable this technology you basically need high-speed internet and computer/ laptop. You can start and stop the services anytime you want. This technology also reduces the operational expenditure. As it reduces documentation storage costs, printing costs and maintenance costs.

  • It is flexible to work with

Solutions like cloud-based education ERP give a flexible approach for teachers and other stakeholders to work. Teachers can work in the school as well as from their home as and when required. Academia Student Information System also offers portals/ apps for teachers, administrators, parents and students by which they can operate via their mobile also. Parents can check their children’s updates from their portals. No need to stand in lines for long hours, no need to visit multiple departments to collect documents and no need to go to school to submit fees. They can go portal/ app and can do all that stuff with ease.

Know more about Academia Student App

  • It gives data security

In today’s era, everything is digital, so is the crime. If you are turning into a digital platform you can’t turn away your face from data theft. Although schools do not have extremely sensitive data but the loss of information of associated members can make a huge problem. The provider takes care of the security of the system. The information is highly encrypted and only the authorized users can access the information with credentials that he/she only knows.

  • It is scalable

All the organizations look for growth and it would be unfair if technology implementation hinders that growth. Thanks to the scalability of cloud computing it aids the growth of your school. It is the ability to upscale or downscale the software according to the demand for the solution. For instance one year you cross the target of admission rate, from 1000 to 2000. But you started with 1000 student admission. The software such as Academia SMS can be customized to manage the database of 2000 admissions without any manual intervention.

Know how the scalability of education ERP is good for the growth of your school.

Conclusion

These are just some of the benefits of implementing cloud-based ERP, there are many more. Digital transformation in school has become the primary need nowadays. If education leaders want to grow their institute and pace up the advancement in the school management system, they should start thinking about shifting to cloud tech.

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5 Tips for Cloud Implementation in Higher Education Institutes

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Shifting to a digital solution from on-premise software or from manual management; can seem a difficult switch at first for any educational institution. Education leaders and IT staff look for the solution that can minimize their workload and not make it complex with difficult to learn technology.

Whatever your reasons are to transform your institute digitally, it is always good to have some tips, information, and details that can guide you to make a well-informed decision.

In this article, you will know about the various aspects an ed-leader should consider before choosing a cloud-based management solution.

Configurability & scalability: Before choosing a cloud solution, it is important to check if it is configurable according to the needs of your institute and is it scalable to manage the increasing number of students in the future.

Cost-benefit analysis: Cost vs benefit analysis is no doubt an important factor before shifting to any new technology. The main objective is to do more with fewer resources and ensure cost-saving.

A good budget analysis is checking if investing in the software profitable in the long run, where and how you will be able to manage cost-saving and by what percentage it can benefit you.

Academia cloud-based solutions increase cost saving by upto 22%.

Communication: Better communication leads to better management.

There are cloud solutions that smoothen communication among stakeholders via multiple ways i.e. SMS/Email notification, messengers, mobile app, etc for better decisions and faster results.

Look for these features and check how it can help your institute on micro and macro levels.

Multi-user Accessibility: Single-user information access can make workflow complicated. If the respective user has access to relevant information, he/she can share it accordingly and it’ll also help him/her to stay updated.

This technology offers a feature by which you can give access to everyone with the privilege to see only limited and relevant information.

Proper Training for staff: Implementing technology without introducing it to your staff will only make it difficult to use and will serve no purpose whatsoever.

Staff and teachers might find it difficult to adjust to the change in IT. It becomes important to educate the staff about the opportunity with training and skill development for a move to the cloud.

Understand the needs of your institute

It is possible that you might end up buying a solution that is not serving a purpose as you skipped checking its feature details. Therefore it is important that you understand the exact need of your institute, and your reason for undergoing a digital transformation in management.

Bottom line

The cloud solution is the future of higher education. Institutes have already started using it for admissions, fees, student record management, course, examinations, etc. But following your peer blindly is not the solution. If you are shifting to a smart solution for your institute, you need to make a smart analysis before investing in it. Do use the above-mentioned 5 tips in your search for cloud-tech.

Academia ERP is a cloud-based solution to manage the complete student life cycle that ensures cost-saving, increases efficiency and enables 360° transformation in higher education. Know more with a free demo now.

Is cloud-based Education ERP safe for your institute?

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

This is the most common question that is asked by decision makers of education institutions, especially in higher education. Higher education institutions data is subjected to a data breach or data theft as it has all kinds of data from financial records, endless student records from all the years, important research papers, patents, and many more.

Let’s know what are the threats that are hovering over your data

  • Malware
  • Phishing
  • Obsolete/outdated technology
  • Unawareness towards the volubility of data
  • Human error

There many more in the line as threats are evolving with the technology as well.

What is the role of cloud-based education ERP?

Cloud-based Education ERP is a software solution for educational institutions for reorganizing institutions, standardizing business practices and alignment of technology to manage complete data management. It stores all the data on cloud by three types of services i.e. SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), On-premises and Hybrid.

Education ERP aka Student Information System fast-tracks the academic operations via automation and increase the productivity of the institutions.

Leaving all your data on a cloud-based Education ERP might feel risky as sometimes it tough to understand its functionalities. It should be noted that the cloud is a highly secure platform to store & manage your data but the security is a shared responsibility of vendors and institutions.

Here is how the cloud offers the security of data-

You get the control of all the data from the single platform

People who are fans of a cloud-based data management system, they love the control they have over their data. The admin can offer the privilege to any user with customizable access to functions to handle various departments. Cloud gives you the facility of encryption, multiple authentications, and access management via a single platform.

You get rid of human interventions in data management

The institutions which use their own server or they control the data physically. If you understand the processing of education world you know that the data created by institutions are endless and it is next to impossible to keep all the data with complete safety and immune to damage.

Many people have access to an on-campus data server. No matter how many types of securities (CCTV, multiple checkpoints for an identity check, etc. ) you install in to enter the data room; it is always prone to data breach and one humane mistake can cause the whole management system to halt causing loss of data, time and money.

The plus point with most cloud providers is that they back up the data to multiple locations that cease the chance of data loss. Moreover, the recovery of data from the cloud is quite easy and it minimizes the human error to zero.

Additional benefits of cloud-based Education ERP

24x7x365 connectivity and uptime of the system for the end user to make full use of the software.

Cloud-hosted server management is taken care of by experts and you need not worry about hiring server administrators and IT team to do so.

Server upkeep, maintenance, upgrades, patches are all taken care of by the Cloud Service provider.

Cloud-hosted servers configuration can be changed on demand as compared to fixed configurations for on-premise servers, giving endless flexibility with hardware configurations in case required in cloud hosting.

Managed backup services are better in Cloud hosting, which can give suitable disaster recovery options in case the servers fail due to hardware reasons.

Conclusion

Leaving all your important data to new technology can be overwhelming, but if you understand the technology thoroughly it can benefit you and your institute amazingly. Cloud-based Education ERP can reorganize and standardize administrative operations of educational institutions.

Do you know cloud-based solutions can give a high-value disaster recovery solution for data of your institute?

Learn more about the amazing benefits of cloud-based ERP solution by our experts. Schedule a free demo now.

 

ERP Solutions with Cloud Servers

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Cloud ERP systems are advanced enterprise resource planning software that run on a vendor’s cloud platform as opposed to being hosted to an on-premise network. Organizations can access cloud-hosted applications over a browser using any device. 

Since cloud ERP is gaining huge popularity, it is time that education leaders and authorities learn more about the efficiency of cloud-based ERP solutions. And make better decisions, depending on their needs and available resources, between on-premise or a cloud-based education ERP solution. 

Cloud-hosted Education ERP software

One of the biggest differences between on-premise and cloud-based solutions is in the access to applications. Since cloud-based software is hosted on the vendor’s cloud, an organization has to access the app over the internet. Hence making internet connection a very important key in the organization’s functioning. But this is a benefit in disguise. You see, since the apps are managed and maintained by the vendor, cloud-based apps have very few downsides and maintenance costs. These are two of the biggest disadvantages experienced by organizations using on-premise solutions. 

Cost Comparison

On-premises software are either bought or leased by organizations. The package includes enterprise-grade servers, networking, and storage to physically run and house the software and associated data for the functioning of the software. 

Organizations are required to pay an additional cost for maintenance, troubleshooting, supplementary software, updates, and customizations. Antivirus and security software and storage & server backups make up a hefty overhead expense. 

Since cloud-based ERP solutions are managed by the vendor, they are liable for application maintenance, data storage, underlying operations, servers, physical data center infrastructure, and installing security updates and feature upgrades. 

Hence, although an on-premise solution appears to be an economically viable solution at first, the hidden charges and overhead expenses make it a very expensive solution. This makes cloud-based ERP solutions a better option functionally and economically. 

Benefits of choosing Cloud ERP software

Added benefits of choosing Cloud ERP Software are:

  1. No upfront infrastructure and operating costs
  2. Faster implementation with ready-to-use software
  3. Access the applications over web browsers using any device and from any location
  4. Easily scalable and supports your needs throughout the business lifecycle
  5. Highly configurable software makes it easy to make quick customizations to the functioning of the software without the need for IT support
  6. Regular upgrades in the software allow you to access modern technology and stay up-to-date with technology.

Wrapping Up

Cloud-based education ERP is the need of the time. They are highly secure and scalable. Plus, if you are thinking about reducing the operational cost in your institute there cannot be a better option. 

Learn more about Academia ERP, a cloud-based education ERP software with 30+ modules to manage and monitor your business. Connect with our education ERP experts today. 

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