SmartCare EHR Reviews

“Time-saving solution”

Pros

Using it is very easy which saves a lot of time. It also comes with a wide range of features so there's plenty of functionality available.

Cons

Every now and then, glitches pop up and the developers can take a while to resolve them but it's not something serious enough to be a deal breaker.

“Track daycare updates”

Pros

It's really nice that my son's daycare can share photos and videos so I can keep up with what he's doing during the day. The app also makes payments simple and handles sign-in and sign-out in a very convenient way.

Cons

One issue I've run into is that videos don't always play sound on my phone. I'd also really like to have a way to message his teachers directly through the app.

“not for everyone”

Pros

Honestly, it's helpful for parents because it keeps them updated about their children.

Cons

It wasn't the right app for me since it just didn't really work for what I needed.

“Teacher-parent connection”

Pros

This has been a really strong tool for our school. It makes communication between parents and teachers much better and gives them a way to stay connected during the day. The payment system is simple to use and works really well. It also keeps both parents and directors informed whenever money is owed or a payment needs to be made.

Cons

The one thing that could be improved is the overall look of the software. Functionally, it does everything it needs to do and works well but since it's used by teachers and parents of young children, the design could feel more inviting. Adding more color and a fresher layout would make it more appealing.

“alerts and photos”

Pros

Getting alerts for parents and being able to send photos are two features that really stand out and make the software useful.

Cons

It doesn't always work well across every device and there are times when the system goes down.

“modern payment tools”

Pros

One thing that really works well is that parents can make payments online which is very convenient. It also has a modern feel to it and that makes the whole system more appealing to use.

Cons

The only thing missing is an option to record manual cash deposits.

“weak integrations”

Pros

Having it web-based is definitely a plus since I can check on things remotely. It's also nice that parents get their own app so they can follow the timeline and stay updated on their child's day. On top of that, customer support who helped move all of my CCM data over, has been fantastic throughout the process.

Cons

Biggest frustration right now is the QuickBooks integration. Our previous software, CCM, exported into individual customer accounts but this one only exports everything into a single customer which makes balancing things between the two systems a nightmare. When I emailed tech support asking about a fix, the response I got was, "We have followed up with our Product Engineer and the integration of the data from it to Quickbooks is only configured for the one it named Client in Quickbooks. Unfortunately, at this time, it is working as designed", their exact words. It really feels like they should pay more attention to what clients actually need. Another issue is with the teacher app, if one teacher clocks out, other teachers can't see the timeline entries that person made earlier. You also can't quickly view class details at a glance, like when a child was last changed, fed or put down for a nap. Daily Connect is free and honestly handles this much better. There's also no way to track employee vacation or personal time or keep up with trainings and certificates.

“easy daycare check-ins”

Pros

Handling daycare check-ins and check-outs for my kids has been really convenient with this app and staying in touch with their teachers during the day is just as simple. It also lets us pay fees and outstanding balances quickly right in the app. Everything feels very user-friendly and I didn't need any training to start using it.

Cons

Every now and then, the app asks for a new QR code to be set up but it doesn't happen often and only takes a moment.

“complete coverage”

Pros

It handles a lot of different parts of our business in one system. From attendance and children's records to tuition payments, everything is kept together in one place.

Cons

There are a few odd inconsistencies, like some sections being sorted by first name while others use last name. They're minor issues but they do feel like small things that could be changed without much trouble.

“billing made simple”

Pros

After a bit of a learning curve, handling billing has become much more manageable. Parents are gradually getting used to checking their balances and making payments online which has helped a lot. Attendance verification is also much simpler now and keeping track of employee hours is far easier too.

Cons

Getting around the reporting section has been challenging when I'm trying to find exactly what I need. There are times when the reports don't provide the specific information I'm looking for.

“childcare management hub”

Pros

It does a really good job of handling so many parts of our childcare business in one place. It covers everything from daily updates for parents to billing and attendance so there's a lot included.

Cons

Every now and then, a few features have small hiccups or there are minor things I'd still like to see improved but the system has definitely progressed a lot over the two years we've been using it.

“support saves time”

Pros

One of the best parts of using this software has been the technical support team. They're incredibly patient, professional and consistently helpful and the platform has made my day-to-day work much easier.

Cons

My only real issue is with batch emails since the system doesn't allow you to copy the email when sending them.

“messaging that works”

Pros

During a recent emergency at our center, the Messaging feature was incredibly helpful. I was away from my computer, logged in on my phone and was pleasantly surprised by how well everything worked. Every parent received an email with the important details right away which made a stressful situation much easier to manage. I really appreciate how easy and reliable it was to use.

Cons

Only thing I'd love to see added is the option to send text messages directly to parents' phones through the messaging feature.

“better communication”

Pros

Remote communication with parents has become much more manageable thanks to this software.

Cons

Billing section of the program has caused some problems for parents.

“billing support tools”

Pros

Getting started with it was a positive experience largely because the customer support team was so helpful. They answered my questions clearly and were genuinely pleasant to deal with. Another feature I appreciate is that parents can use their phones not just to check their bill but also to pay it online which is really convenient.

Cons

One thing I've struggled with is figuring out how to send emails to parents. I'm also unsure whether there's a way to split the billing when two different parents are paying for separate weeks.

“reporting issues”

Pros

One feature that has been really useful is the parent communication tool. It has helped us stay in contact with parents more often and keep communication more consistent.

Cons

There are still a few reporting features I wish the software included. For example, it would be helpful to pull a timesheet report for all employees at once, with each employee separated onto their own page. In the Timeline app, I'd also like to see a dry option for diaper changes especially for children who have frequent dry diapers.

“Fast for everyone”

Pros

It's quick and convenient for staff, parents and directors to use.

Cons

One frustration is being sent to InstaBug instead of having a real person call back when there's an issue. Some problems could be resolved much faster with a simple phone call instead of going back and forth through a chain of emails. On top of that, the explanations of issues and solutions in those emails aren't always very clear.

“Staff controls and reports”

Pros

The reporting options have been really useful and I also appreciate that staff can clock in and out while only being able to access our information when they are on the clock.

Cons

The biggest reason we use this tool is to collect payments and right now the billing setup is creating real problems. Bills are showing as due in the next billing cycle instead of the current one which is confusing parents and causing late payments. If that doesn't get corrected, we'll likely be moving to a different provider next year. On top of that, customer support does not seem to understand how serious this issue is. If I can't receive payments on time, then the service loses a lot of its value for us. We use the platform for an after-school program but the timeline feels designed more for daycare than OST. It would be much more useful if there were preloaded timeline items geared toward older students since things like diaper changes and bottle feedings do not apply to our program. Also, the family statements we can generate do not meet childcare reimbursement requirements so I have to make separate invoices for families using flexible spending accounts.

“Reporting needs improvement”

Pros

Keeping parents informed about their children is one of the strongest parts of this software. It also works well for tracking daily attendance for both children and staff.

Cons

At the same time, there are quite a few bugs in the billing and parent statement features. It really needs more updates to improve accuracy and make it more user-friendly. The reporting for children and staff also needs to be improved to better meet State requirements. There are plenty of reports available but many of them feel repetitive, leave out permanent information, can't be sorted or filtered or just don't seem necessary.

“Mobile payments and reporting limitations”

Pros

Parents can make payments right from their cell phones which is really convenient and makes the whole process more accessible.

Cons

One frustrating part is not knowing exactly what parents are seeing on their statement. On top of that, the reports I need with the right information just aren't available.