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Perhaps the most important industry a CRM can be of use to is the Education industry. Educational institutions and organizations play a significant role in the advancement of our future generations. With such a hefty responsibility, it is a no-brainer to consider implementing a CRM. Specifically, a CRM catered to education can help elevate the admissions process, personalize communication, automate essential tasks, and map success. This article serves to help choose the best CRM for your institutional needs.
Upfront Conclusion
The best education crm right now is Element451 and Salesforce Education Cloud
The Top 5 Best CRM Software for Education
- Element451 – Best for Automation
- Salesforce Education Cloud – Best for Engagement
- TargetX – Best for Recruiting and Retention
- Zendesk – Best for Help Desk Services
- Slate by Technolutions – Best for Organization and Management
1. Element451 – Best for Automation
PRICING: Starting annual pricing is at $20k. Contact the vendor directly for a demo and a more exact price.
Element451 empowers college admissions teams and prospective students to ensure every stage of the higher education process runs as smoothly as possible. The software presents top-of-the-line solutions to save time and prioritize quality over quantity. In doing so, Element451’s subcategorized hubs work with your admissions teams to effectively reach your audiences with personalized messaging and email analytics, all while using their automation and AI features.
KEY FEATURES:
- Automated and customizable application process. No more manually tracking down admission documents.
- AI application evaluation system.
- Gain insight on student email engagements.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Helps gain quality students with traffic tracking.
- Comprehensive sub features to maximize time management.
- Foolproof usage. You do not have to be tech-savvy.
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Users generally have no complaints while using the software. If there is an issue, the support team is promptly there to assist.
2. Salesforce Education Cloud – Best for Engagement
PRICING: $36 (enterprise) or $72 (unlimited) per user per month; includes a 30-day free trial.
Salesforce’s Education Cloud is a CRM platform that enables educational institutions to manage interactions with students, potential donors, faculty, and staff in one place. With solutions geared toward student experience and advancement, institutions can use the Education Cloud across the entire academic journey. This keeps students on a path to success with the Student Success Hub.
KEY FEATURES:
- Has a K-12 platform in addition to higher education.
- Customer viewpoint feature.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Community forum.
- Holistic student support hub.
- Easy staff task management.
REASONS TO AVOID:
- The software can be clunky and has a steep learning curve.
3. TargetX – Best for Recruiting and Retention
PRICING: Not stated on the website. Please get in touch with the company directly for pricing.
TargetX delivers solutions for recruitment and retention that allow higher education professionals to get back to the business of delighting students. With an outcome-oriented student experience, they give themselves an edge with their communications tool, mobile app, streamlined reporting, and more.
KEY FEATURES:
- Live admissions support feature.
- Advanced scheduling and walk-in appointment management to improve the student experience.
- Customizable and mappable reports.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Integrates with Salesforce.
- Support and training resources to get the most out of the CRM.
- Minimalist and visually appealing UI.
- Mobile friendly.
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Some features could use some updating.
- Others question its value for money.
4. Zendesk – Best for Help Desk Services
PRICING: Although pricing is listed for other industries, Zendesk does not have a flat rate for its education offering. You must contact them directly for a quote.
Zendesk is an industry leader. With the ability to significantly increase student and staff productivity and satisfaction, their help desk offering ensures all your admission interactions live in a single, easy-to-use interface. Increase confidence by allowing Zendesk to host an open line of communication, customize help centers and collaborate as one.
KEY FEATURES:
- Help center feature to help manage an influx of communication with ease.
- 1200+ apps to integrate.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Get started in as little as 30 minutes without IT support.
- Organized application process.
- Offers staff performance insights and analytics.
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Customer support is not up to par.
- There are mixed reviews on how user-friendly it is.
5. Slate by Technolutions – Best for Organization and Management
PRICING: Slate has not provided pricing information on their website. However, there is a free version to start. Reach out to the company for further details.
Trusted by more than 1,500 colleges and universities worldwide, it is clear that Slate Technolutions is a top competitor and fan favorite in the higher education industry. With a focus on the modern academic experience, Slate’s thorough approach features admissions/enrollment management, student success, and advancement through outreach.
KEY FEATURES:
- Portal templates are used to create custom websites to leverage institutional data.
- Comprehensive event management feature equipped with calendar integration.
- Avoid duplicate records with the consolidation tool.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Automated read and review application process.
- Drag and drop reporting and data management.
REASONS TO AVOID:
- They are long overdue for some marketing and automation updates.
- Due to its customizability, there is a learning curve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Benefits of Using a CRM for Education?
A significant improvement in engagement and an overall clearer picture of the success of your institution is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at the plethora of benefits a CRM can bring. In addition to a CRM’s most basic function, simplification, it also presents unique opportunities to the education industry. Focuses such as admissions management, alumni and donor support, recruitment automation features, and marketing have proven to be entirely beneficial. Adopting a CRM for your institution will not only attract more high-quality students but ensure the satisfaction and productivity of your staff as well.
How to Get The Most Out of Using a CRM for Education?
The most valuable aspect of education-focused CRMs would have to be its marketing and data tracking/analytics capabilities. This is because maximizing the number of prospective students and the entire enrollment process is the backbone of your institution’s success. Therefore, whatever CRM you choose, taking advantage of the tools for student engagement would undoubtedly result in you getting your money’s worth. The clearer you are about your students, the better quality your institution becomes.