What is a Cashless School System? – All you need to know [100% Complete Guide]
There are always additional costs and expenses for parents and guardians when your child is at school.
Consider sporting events, outings, contributions, civvy days, and tuck shop money, just to name a few.
Finding the correct amount of cash for these (often at the last minute) is often difficult because, because frankly, who carries cash these days?
Imagine there was a simple method for making these payments, using your phone or PC, at any time of the day or night!?
Well, you can!
Cashless school systems are changing the way that families are managing their school expenses.
Schools and universities are loving Cashless systems too, as they streamline the receipt and management of booking and funds for events and meals.
A few benefits of Cashless School Systems:
- Parent and Learner Accounts are pre-loaded with funds, ready for quick transfers of small amounts in real-time.
- School events are listed and allow for booking and payment in advance or in real-time.
- Children learn to track spending and can easily manage their funds, preparing them for later in life.
- Dietary control for students – whether for medical or health reasons.
- Improved merchant services – shorter queues, quicker turn-around times, less wastage.
- Seamless payments to schools – making collections so much easier!
- Increased fundraising for schools – increase reach and simplifies the payment process.
- Less bullying and theft of lunch money, and reduced risk of substance abuse.
If you are new to this concept and do not know where to begin, you’ve come to the right place. We will cover what a cashless system is, the features of a cashless school system, and provide an example of how it can be implemented and used.
- What is a Cashless School System?
- Cashless School System Features
- Cashless School System Example: Implementation + Use
A cashless system may be able to do a variety of different things in the digital world – so let’s start with this definition.
What is a Cashless School System?
A cashless school system is any type of digital technology that allows anyone to make a payment without having to use physical cash. A cashless system can be anything from an app or website, to cards, tags or biometrics used on devices such as Point-of-sale(POS) systems, which help streamline the administrative tasks for schools and any type of payments between schools, parents, and students.
Cashless school systems allow schools, parents, and students to manage their payments, bookings, and dietary preferences, enabling them to save time on the go. These systems help with making payments on time, making healthier food choices, and automating administrative work accurately. Most importantly, they reduce the risk associated with schools keeping cash on the premises and students taking cash to school.
But before you implement a cashless system in your school – you first need to understand more about what exactly such systems can do. So let’s jump right in!
Cashless School System Features
1. Scan-to-pay
Scan-to-pay is QR code payment technology that allows students, parents, vendors and schools to make and collect payments by simply scanning a QR code. The benefit is that no cash or card has to be carried around to make a payment.
2. Lunchcard
A lunch card is usually issued to learners which enables them to tap their cards to pay for lunch, uniform or stationary. The benefit is that learners do not have to carry cash around and parents do not need to scratch around for cash anymore..
3. Instant top-ups
This cool feature allows parents or learners to instantly top-up their account with fees. The benefit is that there is no long waiting times before the money reflects into your account. The money is instantly available to children to spend on what is needed at school.
4. Cross-shopping between all schools
This enables parents and learners to pay for things at other schools which have the same cashless school system. Imagine an inter-schools sports day where all the parents and learners are able to buy food from the various merchants using their lunch card or app.
5. Manage family accounts
Parents are now able to manage and load money onto multiple children’s accounts from their own account. The benefit is streamlined account management for parents.
6. Pre-order healthy meals
Parents, learners and teachers are all able to pre-order their favorite meals from the school tuck shop or from vendors. The benefit is that nobody has to stand in long queues anymore.
7. Set daily spending limits
Parents are able to set spending limits for their child. The benefit is that children learn to work on a budget.
8. User app
Learners, teachers and parents are all able to make payments and order meals from the app. The benefit is easy payments and meal ordering at your fingertips.
9. Real time reporting
Parents, learners and merchants are all able to see real life reports of transactions and orders that have occurred. The benefit is that anyone is able to stay up to date with the details of their account and orders.
10. Parent communication
Schools are able to communicate with parents through the app. The benefit is that communication is faster and more accurate.
11. Add-ons
Cashless School Systems usually come with possible integrations or add-ons to enhance the cashless school system. The benefit is that the system can be customised to a school’s present and future needs.
12. Help desk
Cashless school systems also have a support feature built into them. The benefit is that any user is able to get the support they need to use the system effectively, and thus ensure a good user experience for everyone.
13. School events permission
Cashless School systems also allow schools to send out permission letters for school field trips and any trips for that matter. The benefit is that the communication is faster and more accurate.
14. School event reminders
Cashless School Systems will remind parents and learners of upcoming school events. The benefit here is that parents and learners are notified ahead of time which allows them to budget and plan for the event.
15. White labeling
Cashless School Systems should be able to look like it belongs to the school if the school wants it that way. The benefit is that schools are better able to market their brand which means learners and parents are more likely to remember their school.
16. Can easily demo their product for free
This feature allows merchants to test out a cashless school system for free. The benefit is that merchants are able to get a sense of how easy and convenient it is to operate without cash before signing up.
Ready to go cashless?
A cashless school system can help everyone streamline their payments and free up time that could be used to do something more important. Contact Eezipay now and we will help you along every step of your cashless journey.
