Hey there, savvy business owners! 👋 Are you in the higher education sector and feeling overwhelmed with managing student data, faculty details, and administrative tasks? Trust me, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: there’s a solution tailored just for you—CRM for higher education.
In this guide, we’ll dive deep into what it is, why you absolutely need one, and how to choose the best CRM for your higher education institutions. So, let’s get started!
What is CRM for Higher Education?
First things first, CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. But in the context of higher education, think of it as “Campus Relationship Management.”
It is a software designed to manage interactions with students, faculty, and even alumni. Imagine having a digital assistant that keeps track of everything from student admissions to alumni donations. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s a reality, and it’s about time you make it a part of yours.
What’s the Big Deal?
Think of a CRM as your all-in-one digital assistant. It keeps track of everything from student applications to alumni donations. Imagine not having to juggle multiple systems or sift through endless spreadsheets. A CRM puts all that info in one place, making it easier to manage.
Why “Customer” Relationship Management?
You might wonder why it’s called “Customer” Relationship Management when we’re talking about education. Well, in this context, your “customers” are your students, faculty, and alumni. They’re the people your institution serves, and a CRM helps you serve them better.
How Does It Work?
A CRM is like the ultimate organizer. It helps you keep track of student records, faculty details, courses, events, alumni relations, admissions process, and so much more. And the best part? It’s all digital. No more paper clutter or lost files. Everything you need is just a click away.
Why Should You Care?
If you’re in the business of education, a CRM system is a game-changer. It streamlines admin tasks, improves the experience throughout the student journey, and even helps with marketing and outreach. In short, it’s a tool that can help your institution run more smoothly and effectively.
Why Do You Need a CRM for Higher Education?
Hey there, decision-makers in the higher education sector! So, you’ve gotten the lowdown on what a CRM is. But let’s get to the meat of the matter: why do you actually need CRM for educational institutes? Trust me, it’s not just another piece of tech jargon; it’s a tool that can make your life a whole lot easier. Here’s why.
Streamline those Pesky Admin Tasks
Let’s be real. Paperwork is nobody’s idea of fun. But it’s a necessary evil in any educational institution. What if you could make it all go away?
Or at least, make it a lot less painful? That’s where a CRM comes in. It automates all those tedious tasks, from enrollment to scheduling to reporting. Imagine the time you could free up to focus on bigger and better things!
Convert Prospective Students
You want your prospective students to succeed, right? A CRM helps you do just that!
You can send them personalized messages on WhatsApp and Gmail, interact and understand their requirements via phone calls, and help them in the admission process from one central hub- CRM.
And when you personalize your attention, they feel a sense of connection and feel valued. This way, they will definitely become ‘enrolled students’ from ‘prospective students’.
Increase Positive Student Engagement
You want student complaints about the management to go away? Use CRM software.
In almost all higher education institutions, there’s always a truffle between the students and the management about not receiving updates on time.
With CRM software, the management can send all important updates quickly and efficiently. What’s more, it tracks a student’s journey from the moment they enroll to the day they graduate, i.e., the entire student lifecycle. So there’s always a record as to who’s right and who’s wrong.
Make Data-Driven Decisions
Data is king. But collecting it and making sense of it? That’s a whole different ballgame.
A higher education CRM not only gathers valuable data but also presents it in a way that’s easy to understand. Want to know which courses are filling up fast? Or how effective your latest outreach campaign was? Want to know about data on student retention? The answers are just a few clicks away.
Keep Everyone Connected
Communication is key in any organization, and higher educational institutions are no different. A higher education CRM serves as a central hub for all communications. Whether it’s sending out a newsletter, announcing a new course, or coordinating a fundraising event, a CRM makes it easy to reach the right people at the right time.
How to Choose the Best CRM for Higher Education?
Alright, so you’re sold on the idea of a CRM for higher education. But how do you pick the right one for your institution? It’s a big decision, and you want to get it right. Here are some key factors to consider.
Features You Really Need
First off, make a list of the features that are crucial for your institution. Are you more focused on student management, or are analytics your top priority? Knowing what you need will help you narrow down your options.
Can It Grow With You?
Your institution isn’t static; it’s growing and evolving. Make sure the CRM you choose can grow with you. Look for scalability features, like the ability to add more users or customizability in terms of features or integrate additional modules as needed.
What’s the Damage?
Budget is always a concern, right? CRMs come in various pricing models, from one-time fees to monthly subscriptions. Make sure to pick one that offers good value for your money.
Pro tip: If you are limited in budget and are looking for a costlier option, start with a small team, and then eventually add more users.
Is it Easy to Use?
You don’t want a CRM that requires a Ph.D. to operate. User-friendliness is key.
Check out demos or take advantage of free trials to get a feel for the user interface. The easier it is to use, the quicker your team will adapt to it.
What Are People Saying?
Last but not least, don’t just take the vendor’s word for it. Look for reviews and ask for recommendations. Real-world feedback can provide valuable insights into how the CRM performs in action.
The Best CRM for Higher Education in 2023
So, you’re ready to make the leap and invest in a CRM for your educational institution. But with so many options out there, which one should you choose? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s why TeleCRM’s Education CRM is the best CRM for Higher Education.
Education CRM by TeleCRM
With the rise of technology, interactions and communications have shifted to mobile phones. Today everything happens over phones, whether it’s sending important updates on WhatsApp or a friendly payment fee reminder over a call.
And if you are looking to find software that can adapt to this transition, then TeleCRM’s Education CRM is a no-brainer!
TeleCRM is India’s top mobile and cloud-based Telecalling CRM, equipped with fantastic sales automation features like auto-dialer, smart follow-ups, call recording, and easy integration with WhatsApp and other tools.
Besides educational institutions, TeleCRM is also the best CRM for education consultancy and coaching as well. They more or less have similar use cases and TeleCRM fits right into any education-based institution.
Let’s see how TeleCRM checks all the boxes when it comes to being the best CRM for higher education.
Quick Setup:
It’s plug-and-play from day one! The CRM is very simple and easy to use you can literally setup your workspace and get started with your entire team within 24 hours.
The best part is no technical knowledge is required either for you or your team. Anyone who uses WhatsApp can use this CRM for Education effortlessly. It’s a fantastic tool for managing your higher education processes.
Prompt Customer Support:
When you buy CRM software, your team might have constant doubts about how to customize, how to call and send messages, etc.
TeleCRM ensures that each and every query is solved so that no team member is left hanging.
Your team gets trained on how to use TeleCRM via Zoom meetings and call support. You can even access A dedicated WhatsApp group that stays active as long as you’re subscribed. The main benefits of WhatsApp support are:
Your team always has access to chat history for quick reference.
They can resolve recurring doubts by scrolling through past chats.
You don’t need to handle everything yourself – your team can seek resolutions independently.
Plus, being part of the group keeps you informed about your team’s challenges and our support team’s performance.
Beyond WhatsApp and calls, you can access tailored video tutorials, insightful blog content, and live chat on our website.
Central Data Management:
You are sure to make a lot of mistakes while managing huge chunks of data in Excel sheets and physical papers- You might send the wrong message to a prospect, your data could be incorrect, and there are high chances that you’ll make ill-informed decisions.
With TeleCRM, you don’t have to worry about that!
It automatically gathers leads/inquiries from various sources, including Facebook, your website, WhatsApp, Excel sheets, and more- all neatly organized in one central hub so you won’t have to worry and flip through multiple apps to find crucial information.
You can easily track essential metrics, analyze marketing campaign performance, fine-tune engagement strategies, and make informed decisions.
No more scrambling between apps to make important data-driven decisions when everything is in the palm of your hands with TeleCRM.
Customizability:
Your admission process might have 6 stages, some other university or college might have 5 stages. You might use specific terms in your enrollment process.
A CRM that does not adapt to how you do business is just going to be a hindrance- Your team will face difficulty in using it and you might even have to change your processes because of it.
But with a customizable CRM like TeleCRM, you can implement your own processes. Whether you have 6, 7, or even 10 stages- you can define as many as you want. The CRM can also be modified to use specific terms that are unique to your institution.
But that’s not all, TeleCRM is flexible. It grows with your institution. You’re expanding? You now have sub-stages in each stage of student enrollment?
No worries, TeleCRM will expand with you!
Telesales Management:
Your team manually dials the number of students every time they need to make a call, then updates the status of the call in Excel sheets, and then separately opens WhatsApp and Gmail to send messages- all this to interact with one prospect.
This is just time-consuming, inconvenient, and makes you lose a lot of opportunities. Plus, manual calling and data entry are always prone to errors.
TeleCRM eliminates all these inconveniences. It lets you manage all your Telecalling needs from one single platform- You can call, schedule call reminders, add call notes, record your calls, send WhatsApp messages and emails, etc.
It also takes the burden of manually transferring leads between different departments away from you. For example, if you wish to transfer leads to the admission support team after a student has enrolled, you can do it with the click of a finger.
Reporting and Team Management:
Are your team members making enough calls? Do they follow up on time? Are they actually solving their queries? or are they slacking off?
Without data on these metrics, you won’t who’s working, and who’s pretending, and will not be able to take corrective actions. So you need a higher education CRM for school that streamlines your enrollment process AND tracks all your team’s activities.
TeleCRM does both. It lets you zoom in on everything your team does- from their phone calls to the deals they successfully seal. It eliminates all the guesswork by presenting you with crystal-clear data about their actions and achievements.
You can even decide who gets to do what from the CRM itself- you can decide the roles and responsibilities, transfer leads, decide who can view and make edits to reports, etc.
WhatsApp Marketing:
Your team sends a huge number of messages to prospective students every single day. Many a times your team either forgets or send the wrong message to a prospect.
And because of this, you might end up losing an interested prospect.
TeleCRM ensures that no message is missed by scheduling reminders. This means you can plan and send messages automatically at the times specified by you. You complete your tasks on time and the prospects get what they need.
But that’s not all. You can also send bulk messages to multiple but selected prospects at once. Whether it’s announcements, updates, or promotions, TeleCRM makes it seamless to connect with a large audience effortlessly at the click of a finger.
Automation Features for Repetitive tasks:
Repetitive tasks hold your business down. You get too involved in doing them that you’re unable to focus on more crucial tasks like designing academic curriculums, handling campus management and event management, and actually enrolling students.
TeleCRM’s automation saves you the trouble of routine tasks- from scheduling follow-up reminders and updating prospect statuses to sending personalized bulk messages to important prospects- It does everything for you so that you can focus on what you do best- enrolling as many students as possible.
You can even use TeleCRM’s chatbot automation to provide support even when you and your team are sleeping! It stays active 24/7 to answer prospect queries and detail the application process.
The chatbot also acts as the first touch base for your prospect. This way, they receive immediate responses and you get to know exactly what they are looking for, so you can target them accordingly.
Data Security:
Data security is a major concern for any educational institution, and why shouldn’t it be? Your data is important, you know what can happen if it falls into the wrong hands. It is important that access to crucial information is only in the hands of your most trusted team members.
With TeleCRM, you retain complete control over who can access your information. So your data is safe and in the hands of people you trust. Additionally, TeleCRM operates on cloud-based servers, so no third party will ever be able to access your data.
Simple Pricing:
When you set out to buy a CRM, you’ll be confused. Most CRMs offer different plans with different features. So first, you’ll have to shortlist possible higher education CRM, then compare their pricing plans based on the features provided and then finally, you can make a decision.
TeleCRM saves you all this trouble. It offers a single, comprehensive plan that includes all features and customizations at an affordable cost.
The only choice you need to make is a commitment choice; you can either get an annual plan or a quarterly plan. Both plans provide the same features, the choice is yours- whether you prefer a longer-term commitment or a shorter one.
Conclusion
So there you have it, education leaders! A comprehensive guide to understanding CRM for higher education, why you need one, how to pick the right one, and some top-notch options to consider.
Investing in a CRM isn’t just a smart move; it’s a strategic one that can propel your institution into a future of streamlined operations, satisfied students, and data-driven decisions.
Time to Take Action
You’ve got the knowledge; now it’s time to act. Evaluate your institution’s specific needs, consider your budget, and take a good look at the features you can’t do without. Then dive into demos, read reviews, and maybe even talk to other institutions that have gone down this road before.
Your Next Steps
List Your Needs: Jot down the non-negotiable features and capabilities of your institution.
Do the Research: Dive into customer reviews, request demos, and compare features.
Budget Check: Make sure the CRM you’re eyeing fits within your financial plans.
Test Drive: If possible, use a free trial to get a feel for the CRM. Make sure it’s user-friendly and meets your needs.
Make the Decision: Armed with all this information, you can make an informed choice.
You’ve Got This!
Choosing a CRM is a big decision, but you’re not in it alone. The benefits far outweigh the initial effort it takes to integrate a CRM into your institution’s workflow. So go ahead, and take that step toward a more organized, efficient, and data-driven future.
Go ahead, you’ve got this! 🚀