Several processes are present in every organization for smooth and steady functioning. Usually modern organizations like schools use a combination of manual and automated processes.

Manual Processes, refer to the tasks or processes controlled or manipulated by a human operator and not done automatically. It is powered by a human. Earlier, most processes in any organization, including educational institutions, were manual processes.

An example of manual process is: when an employee files claim to the accounts department for reimbursements. It usually includes filling the reimbursement claim, attaching the bills, submitting it to the department, receiving the acknowledgement for it, following up in person and much more.

Automated Processes, are the electronic versions of the manual processes that cut downs the human intervention, time taken to accomplish the process through usual way and the over head charges such as for the paper and pen. Automated processes are also self-motivated after they have been initiated they rarely need human action until completion.

For example if we consider the automated version of the above example. The filing of the claim could be done through their own device and even if its manual the later processes about acknowledgement and tracking could be done through the software.

Disadvantages of Manual Processes at School:

– Time Consuming:
Manual processes are often slower and more tailored to the situation at hand. It simply take alarmingly more time than the automated processes being performed by a computer using school management software.

– Prone to Error:
A human is known to be human if he/she makes mistakes otherwise we all could have been called god. Since manual processes are controlled by a human operator, there are greater chances of having error.

For example, while calculating the total expenditure over the annual function of the school, a human operator may miss one or two but the computer will not.

– Less Safe and Secure:
Manual processes are performed by humans and subject to human security measures such as locked cupboards or ethics of not disclosing the highly confidential data. In these times, it is important to accord data privacy and security its rightful place.

– Increase in Paper Usage:
Paper is both an environmental and financial concavity. As we are coming across the news and experiencing global environmental crisis every now and then, it is important for systemic push backs to be implemented to save earth.

Educational institutions are the huge consumers of paper and similar products. If we are able to reduce our dependence on paper and paper products by eliminating manual processes we might be able to make a significant difference.

– Limited Access to Reports and Data:
Processes are a valuable storehouse of information and data on how employees function over long periods of time. Such data helps the employees, management and the whole college in specific ways. It allows employees to better organize their work, management to provide necessary support and resources and for the school or college to just overall start functioning more efficiently.

One of the most frustrating things about manual processes is the inability to use this ready made knowledge in order to inform future decision making that could increase overall inefficiency.

Automated processes, however, as a part of school management software automatically collects this information in the background as it performs its assigned tasks

– Less Adaptable:
Manual processes more about habit than efficiency. A human operator who has been operating for years knows the work better than the person who is more qualified but new t the work.

– Long Queues:
Who likes standing in a queue? Manual processes by their very nature demand human presence and engagement, resulting in situations where there are often masses of people attempting to finish the same process at the same point.

For example, if it is the time for admissions in the school and you need to get the forms then if you want the form first you should be the first one to be there in the line.

Conclusion

These are some of the disadvantages of manual processes which are overcome by automated processes through school management software. Automated processes not only save the time and labor but also provides more security. It will unchain your school from the heavy loads of the records.