What To Look For in School Transportation Software & Providers

School districts are scrambling to find answers to the problems of safe, efficient, affordable student transportation in the 21st century. Today’s challenges are nothing new, but our technology – where it exists – is outdated and inefficient.

What should your district look for in technology solutions? How can you choose the right school bus routing software?

Researching School Transportation Software

Antiquated paper-trail bus route management takes more time and costs more. The right software for your organization should accomplish your goals, but the number-one requisite is accessible, knowledgeable customer support. Successfully implementing a software platform is only half the equation. User training and the availability of troubleshooting support are critical to the success of your software platform’s success.

Software Features

Your software should have the features you need without others you’ll never use. Here’s what you should research as you evaluate school transportation management software:

• Attendance – No student is left behind or unaccounted for at bus pickups/drop-offs.
• Calendaring – School schedules vary and alternative routes may be needed for half-days, etc.
• Communication management – This improves safety and security between drivers, admin, and parents.
• Compliance – Automated data collection, updates, reports that meet state regulations, and requests for information can be generated quickly.
• Dispatch/driver – Alerts can tell you when a driver’s license is about to expire. Dispatching features can help you manage drivers when schools close unexpectedly; you can also have substitute drivers’ contact information at a glance.
• GPS – Routing and tracking are vital components of school bus transportation management.
• Mobile users/access – Driver data must be accessible from their phones and most parents are mobile users.
• Real-time information/updates – Location information in real-time is critical but this also allows schools to better monitor emergencies.
• Route management efficiency – Algorithms tell you shorter travel routes and ways to reduce fuel consumption.
• Scheduling – Scheduling features help with schools implementing staggered arrival/departure bell times.
• Trip logging – Access data to learn where buses have traveled and seek ways to reduce hours.

3 Software Provider Qualities

Customer service is the backbone of any reliable software service provider. As you research school bus transportation software, LinkedIn says you may not get what you need if you go with the cheapest software solution. Don’t compromise the quality of service and support.

Other things to look for in a software partner include:

1. EE – Experience and expertise are important qualities in software partners. The company and its professionals should have industry experience and proven successes that will benefit your district.
2. Scalability – If their software will integrate with what you’re now using (and your current software deserves consideration), that’s a big plus. The ability of the software platform to grow and change with your organization is vital.
3. Understanding – They can’t understand what you need if you aren’t clear about it yourself. Define what you want and need. Describe any transportation issues your district is facing.

You won’t need to compromise affordability to get the right software solutions and partner with an experienced, proven provider. BusBoss is dedicated to superior customer care and knowledge-based support. For over 25 years, our software solutions have strengthened and grown with our school- and school district-clients. We genuinely want to find the best affordable technology that will save time and money.

Let’s talk: Call 866-740-8994 or contact BusBoss.

Most educational organizations face time and money issues along with bus driver problems. Does your school or district have what you feel is a unique challenge? We’d like to know.