SmartCare EHR Reviews

“Difficult layout”

Pros

Everything is kept in one place and the option to pass convenience fees through to parents is a helpful feature.

Cons

This software and overall layout are not very simple to read. There are quite a few issues throughout the system and the kiosk and because of that, I wouldn't recommend it to another company right now. If improvements are made, maybe that could change in the future.

“Autopay confusion”

Pros

Autopay works well when it functions properly and the setup is easy and clear.

Cons

There are just too many problems overall. The concept behind it makes sense but the product still feels very underdeveloped. A lot of these issues should have been fixed after being around for years yet it still comes across like something that was just launched.

“frustrating report section”

Pros

At this point, the only part we're really using this year is the payment processing. We've had to keep two separate databases going because it still doesn't provide everything we need.

Cons

Getting around the reports section is frustrating and the printed reports come out looking sloppy and unpolished.

“ideal for childcare centers”

Pros

It handles everything a childcare center needs.

Cons

Honestly, every part of this software has been excellent, it feels like the best option out there.

“Platform consistency and sync issues”

Pros

Shifting administrative tasks and paperwork onto tablets for teachers in the classroom has been working really well.

Cons

There's still a disconnect between the PC web-based version and the tablet/iPad functionality. The interface feels very awkward, almost like you have to learn a strange workflow just to use it properly. The biggest issue is the Scheduling module on the iPad, where the data doesn't sync correctly with what shows up in Reports.

“friendly support team”

Pros

After a little time getting used to the navigation, the software becomes very simple to use. The customer support has been excellent. Whenever I can't locate an answer in the documentation, I'm able to call and talk to a representative who walks me through the problem step by step. They've consistently been patient and friendly. Parents really enjoy the QR code sign-in/sign-out feature and the messaging system has been a big plus as well.

Cons

There have been quite a few questions and some confusion around parent PIN numbers and the initial setup process. Since the system is still new for everyone, I'm not always able to give parents answers right away. I've also had a hard time finding exactly what I need in the financial reports.

“great for families”

Pros

It's very user-friendly for both parents and classroom teachers which makes day-to-day use easy and convenient.

Cons

I still don't really see why the iPad is necessary. Our budget is already very tight and on top of that we had to buy one along with a data plan.

“better reports needed”

Pros

From an administrative standpoint, the software is very easy to use.

Cons

I'd really like to see stronger reporting features and a more user-friendly reporting experience. A customizable report option where users can add fields as needed would also be a big improvement. It would be helpful as well if the parent/classroom communication features were made more simple.

“tracking and support”

Pros

Getting started with it is easy, the support team responds quickly and it does a great job of tracking sign-ins and sign-outs.

Cons

A few features feel a bit awkward, like not being able to sort accounts in the payments section. I also wish it included reporting for absent students. On top of that, the servers need improvement since they go down once or twice a month which completely disrupts the sign-in/sign-out process.

“messy and incomplete”

Pros

A couple of features are useful, like having the birthday list displayed on the home page.

Cons

Organization feels lacking because the children and parents lists aren't both arranged alphabetically and the Payment and Accounting tabs aren't in alphabetical order either. There's also no "Make Deposit" option to help confirm that all payments were entered correctly. It would be much better if clock-in and clock-out times appeared on a calendar for quicker viewing and the system really needs a search bar for children, parents, accounting and payments.

“parent payment app”

Pros

Being able to let parents make payments directly through the app is a really useful feature.

Cons

Center reports could be more detailed and they don't give enough of the needed information unless everything is downloaded.

“transparent billing access”

Pros

Registering students, managing daily check-ins and check-outs and taking care of billing has been really easy for us. It keeps everything clear for parents too and makes it simple for them to submit their payments.

Cons

Every now and then, the software runs into glitches and it can take a while before those issues get fixed.

“helpful from afar”

Pros

Managing my business from a different state is much more convenient with this and it really helps me stay on top of things from a distance.

Cons

Faeture I don't care for is when the system goes down or starts having problems the day after updates.

“easy to use”

Pros

Right from the start, the platform has been very user-friendly and the development team has shown they're willing to work through our center's needs and consider them for future updates.

Cons

The customization options still aren't as powerful as we would prefer.

“parents love it”

Pros

Everything feels easy to use and parents genuinely seem to enjoy using it.

Cons

One thing I'd like to see added is the ability for parents to start conversations with teachers and it would also be helpful if teachers could communicate directly with one another.

“online bill pay”

Pros

There's a lot you can accomplish with this software. The online bill pay feature is especially useful and parents really appreciate being able to sign in, view their account and make payments themselves.

Cons

Getting around the software hasn't felt very user friendly. We're still learning how to do certain tasks and it often takes too many steps just to add or update something. Families are also listed separately and it would be much more convenient if I could click on a family name and handle everything from there.

“mobile access limits”

Pros

Being able to use it from my smartphone when I'm out of the office is a big plus. The group email feature is also something I really appreciate and use often.

Cons

There are far too many steps to complete basic tasks which makes the system feel unnecessarily time-consuming. It really needs to be aligned so it's more organized and practical to use. The Reports section also needs major improvement since even very basic parent statements can't be created. On top of that, filtering is only available on certain reports when it's really something that should be available across the board. Billing has also been a difficult rollout for both our team and our families. Another issue is the parent app not warning users about the 2.85% credit/debit convenience fee until after they've already entered their card details which wastes time and comes across as misleading. It's also frustrating that you need a PC, a tablet and an iPad to access all the features. That whole experience needs to be simplified.

“smooth client transition”

Pros

One of the best parts of this software was how much of the heavy lifting the staff handled for me. They took care of transferring all of my documents from Childcare Manager which made the switch much easier and helped me move my existing clients over without much trouble.

Cons

One thing I don't care for is having to use the financial component when I may not want to. I also feel the 3% finance charge is too high even if the parents are the ones covering it. Another issue is that employees should really have a separate kiosk or app instead of using the same one as parents.

“needs improvement”

Pros

Parents are able to use it and check their balance.

Cons

It still needs a few changes to work better for our center.

“fantastic communication”

Pros

Getting started with Book is really easy and the parent communication features are excellent.

Cons

It would be even better if there were a behavior option added to the timeline.