SmartCare EHR Reviews

“Parent connection app”

Pros

Having this app makes it much easier to stay in touch with my child's center. I can handle payments automatically right in the app and the code scanning feature is really useful since it lets the staff know right away when I'm there for pickup or drop-off.

Cons

The only problem I've run into is that when I scan for pickup, the kiosk sometimes takes a bit of time to register it.

“hard to navigate”

Pros

It brings together a lot of useful information in one place, like tuition details, classes, waitlist updates and more.

Cons

Using it is very frustrating because the information feels disorganized and even simple tasks end up being much harder than they should be.

“Improving for schools”

Pros

This product keeps getting updated and refined to better meet what users need which makes it feel like the company is actively working to support its customers.

Cons

Parent connection piece still doesn't have the level of functionality my teachers would want to use effectively.

“Love the updates”

Pros

Being able to sign my children in and out through the app has been really convenient. I also enjoy getting notes and messages about my kids throughout the day. Seeing photos and videos of them is something I really appreciate and having access to our bill right in the app is another feature I love.

Cons

Honestly, there is nothing I dislike about this app. It has been wonderful.

“Feature-rich platform”

Pros

There are plenty of features built into the program and they line up well with what our team needs. On top of that, the system is overall very user-friendly and simple to work with.

Cons

One thing that comes up fairly often is the need to stay on top of frequent updates. That said, those updates do seem to improve the management system and make it more effective over time.

“Easy online payments”

Pros

One thing that has really helped is being able to let parents pay online since it means I don't have to make as many trips to the bank. It also gives parents more visibility and involvement with their accounts which has been a positive change.

Cons

At times, tracking down a report can still take longer than I'd like although I can see that improvements are being made. Early on, there also wasn't a deposit report that showed the detailed information I needed for making bank deposits.

“Parents love itt”

Pros

Parents have no trouble using it. The smartphone app gives them all the information they want about their account, their child's day and more.

Cons

Getting everything configured took quite a while especially setting up all the tuition options and assigning the right plan to each child. It also didn't offer a monthly plan that matched how we bill since we calculate tuition weekly while some parents choose to pay monthly. Because of that some months come out to four weeks and others to five so I have to go in and change the tuition plans every month.

“Autopay with limits”

Pros

One feature that really works well is the built-in auto pay option. It simplifies things a lot for both our management team and the parents we work with.

Cons

On the downside, the reporting is really poor. The employee section is also missing several practical features that were available in our previous software, like tracking vacation time and holiday hours.

“Awkward tracking system”

Pros

Being able to pay my daycare costs online is definitely helpful. The process is fairly easy for that even though it does have some limitations. We haven't really used the other features so I can only speak to the payment side.

Cons

When it comes to tracking my child's day, my provider says the system is inefficient. On top of that, the payment feature feels inconvenient because if I want to switch to a different card, I have to exit the main screen and go into settings instead of simply choosing a card from a drop-down menu.

“Communication boost”

Pros

Having one platform that connects both staff and parents has completely changed how communication happens in our daycare. It has truly been a game changer and keeps everyone much more connected and informed.

Cons

One thing that gets frustrating is the occasional lag in the software. When that happens, it can slow down how quickly comments can be viewed or read and it also makes it harder to post the right updates on time.

“hassle-free billing”

Pros

Once the billing is set up, it pretty much takes care of itself and doesn't need much attention unless something changes.

Cons

At times, program updates come with glitches that can cause some issues.

“Easy and convenient”

Pros

Using this software has been really convenient and the interface is simple to work with which makes it very user-friendly.

Cons

A few downsides are that late fees don't get applied to accounts until two days later and there are also some issues with allocation dates and certain reports.

“Support that helps!!”

Pros

Having excellent customer service is what keeps me patient while I'm still learning all the different parts of the software.

Cons

Directors currently have the same access, features and tasks as the owner and that really needs to be changed right away.

“Smooth data migration”

Pros

Moving our data over from Child Care Manager was handled well and made the transition much easier to manage.

Cons

There are a lot of differences compared with Child Care Manager and I needed more flexibility when it came to changing the data.

“Continuous improvements”

Pros

One thing I really appreciate is how the program keeps improving over time, along with the helpful feedback it provides on procedures.

Cons

Nothing to complain about here, we've been able to find everything we need within the software.

“Too many changes”

Pros

The real-time functionality has been the biggest plus for me. Customer support is excellent and always takes the time to explain things clearly and thoroughly. Parents also appreciate being able to see when their kids are signed in and out and the variety of reporting options is really useful.

Cons

The part I'm least happy with is how often things keep changing because both families and staff tend to prefer consistency and familiarity. The phone app for sign-in and sign-out can be unreliable and lately the key tags have been inconsistent too. In my opinion, those updates are likely behind a lot of the issues. I also don't like that families are able to turn off their payment accounts without me being notified.

“Responsive assistance”

Pros

Online tuition payments, timeline updates and child sign-in through the app have really made my job as a Director more manageable. The customer support team has also been great, every representative I've dealt with has been quick to respond. On top of that, the user manuals are put together very well.

Cons

I do wish I didn't have to download reports just to customize them. There are also some reports I used to rely on in Childcare Manager that I still miss. One feature I especially wish existed is the emergency report that prints the children currently in attendance along with their emergency contacts for fire drills. It would also help a lot if parents could enter their own contact details and authorized pickup information because handling all of that myself every summer takes a lot of time.

“Helpful updates”

Pros

What I really appreciate is how often they roll out new features based on user requests. The support team is also incredibly responsive, quick to jump in and genuinely willing to work through problems. It has saved us a lot of administrative time and noticeably reduced the amount of paper we use at our center. The photo feature is especially fantastic.

Cons

Parents do get frustrated whenever the app needs an update or when the kiosk is slow to respond. From what I can tell, a lot of that delay is probably tied to the slow internet service in our area.

“Parent-friendly platform”

Pros

One thing that stands out in a good way is how app-friendly it is and how accessible it feels for parents. It helps reassure them about how their children are being cared for especially since they can receive updates throughout the day.

Cons

One downside is that teachers have no way to view what previous teachers updated before their shift and that can lead to confusion.

“Peace of mind”

Pros

Getting introduced to this by my daycare provider was such a relief. It gives me full control over check-ins and check-outs and it also helps me manage the funds for my daycare use really well.

Cons

At times, when I needed to look back at an older account for my child, I had to fully unarchive it before I could open it which made the process feel pretty time-consuming.