Surprise! Your child care center is selected for an audit.
Child care providers have enough on their plates without scrambling to find records, certifications, and documents to verify they meet all requirements.
That's where a child care management software company can come in.
A child care management software system managed all the administrative tasks for a child care center, including scheduling, recordkeeping, attendance, and much more.
Keep reading to review the comparison of two leading child care management software companies, Alliance CORE vs. Procare.
Alliance CORE Child Care Management System helps caretakers keep records and organize enrollment. It also helps keep users' child care state licensing up to date. This software helps center-based programs and those in a family child care home.
Procare offers the only integrated, all-in-one solution for child care business management including online registration, parent engagement, secure & contactless check-in, contactless tuition collection, mobile payment solutions, and staff management. You can track attendance, monitor, and report staff-child ratios, manage drop off and pick up, track activities and assessments, and manage meals including USDA standards.Features of Alliance CORE
When comparing Alliance CORE vs. Procare, it's important to consider the features available on each childcare management software. Mobile applications and features make care, communication, and management easier.
Alliance CORE is a cloud-based system that helps providers by streamlining many of the administrative processes they work through on a daily basis, including
- Online Enrollment: Our online enrollment allows for electronic registration. The easy-to-follow process means that providers are able to have their applications out to parents in minutes.
- Child/Staff Attendance: A staple of all child care management systems, the system manages your check-in/out process.
- Child/Parent/Staff Records and Documentation: Up-to-date records are important at all times. Our system alerts providers as records are coming due or are overdue.
- Caregiver Communications (multiple formats): Communicate with parents and caregivers through kiosk, email, or text messages.
- Billing/Tuition invoicing: Automate your billing process for each family.
- Multiple Reporting Capabilities (both pre-built and customizable): Whether you need a list of all payments received that week or a list of all immunizations required this month, scheduled reporting gives you the information you need in seconds.
- Wait List Management
- Schedule/Room Management
- Daily Health Checks
- Medical Information Tracking
- Provider/Parent Alerts
- Parent Engagement
- Parent Portal
- Provider Dashboards
- Provider Alerts
- Real-Time Data Tracking
- Mobile Applications/Features
- Mobile Daily Reporting
- Mobile Instant Messaging
- Touchless Check-in/out
- QuickBooks Online Integration
- State Child Care Subsidy Integration (select States)
Alliance CORE is API compatible and select states can access state child care subsidy integration. Users can receive tuition invoicing and Quickbooks online integration. CACFP data collection and tracking is also available to those using Alliance CORE.
Features of Procare
Procare provides:
- Child Care Management (CMS)
- Web Application (use on any device)
- Child-Staff Ratios Compliance and Scheduling
- Family and Child Information
- Child Roster
- Attendance
- Meal Tracking and Food Program Management
- Enrollment Schedules
- Immunizations/Allergies/Meds
- Rooms/Facilities
- Reporting - Classroom Management
- Lesson Planning
- Frameworks, Assessments and Milestones
- Events Calendar
- Alignment to State and Montessori Standards - Financial Management
- Center Financial Accounting
- Tuition Charges and Balances Tracking/Calculations
- Multi-Family Billing
- One-Time Invoices - Payment Processing
- Multiple Payment Options (ACH, CC, etc.)
- Automated Billing - Staff Management
- Staff-to-Staff Messaging
- Staff Timecard
- Staff Data and Information
- Payroll - Parent Engagement and Communications
- Videos and Photos of Daily Activities
- Staff-to-Parent Messaging
- Staff Data and Information
- Newsletter Creation and Distribution - Registration
- Online Registration Form
- Registration Fee Collection
- Lead List/Waitlist Management - Lead Management
- Lead Tracking/Profile
- Lead Nurturing
- Lead Automations
- Lead Tasks Management - Support
- Mobile Apps
Alliance CORE Development and Support
Alliance CORE deploys through the cloud, SaaS, and web-based forums and various mobile applications as well. It is accessible on mobile devices, such as Androids, iPhones, and iPads.
Support when using Alliance CORE is available through email, the help desk, and FAQs they've posted. We have also made our forum and Knowledge Base available to users. Alliance CORE provides 12+ hours of phone support if you wish to ask an employee any questions.
The support team meets providers where they are in terms of their technology experience and “holds their hand” as much as needed to ensure they feel supported while learning this new technology.
Alliance CORE follows a mantra of “if it’s going to take you more than 2 minutes to figure something out on your own, to just call us instead.”
Users can attend live online training through Alliance CORE. Alliance CORE holds webinars, provides documentation, and uploads videos to help equip those using the software.Procare Development and Support
Procare deploys through the cloud, SaaS, and web-based forums. The software can be deployed on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chromebook desktops. Procare software is accessible on mobile devices such as Androids, iPhones, and iPads.
Procare is available through email, the help desk, FAQs they have posted. Their forums and knowledge base are available for users with questions. To speak with an employee, you can also call Procare or use their online chat.
Procare offers live online training. The software offers webinars, videos, and documentation to users.
Alliance CORE vs. Procare Pricing
We understand that pricing can play a large part in one's decision. Both Alliance CORE and Procare offer free trials to help decide what is the better fit for you.
Alliance CORE provides a foundation on which providers can save time and money, smoothly run their business, and allow them to focus on why they got into the child care business in the first place – caring for and educating children.
Alliance CORE
Cost of standard CCMS (Child Care Management Software) package
Licensed Enrollment Capacity | Cost |
|---|---|
0-30 | $25/mo |
31-60 | $50/mo |
61+ | $100/mo |
Enrollment Support | Billing Support | Sign-In and Out Support Parent | Communication | Daily Reports Form Uploads/Storage | Payroll Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resources/Costs NOT Included in Basic CCMS Package | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Training Costs (if applicable) | One-time onboarding fee | N/A |
Technology Access/Resources | Alliance CORE is a cloud-based system, compatible and accessible on all devices. Google Chrome is the recommended web browser for accessing Alliance CORE. | N/A |
Supplemental/Optional Materials | A Merchant Account can be established with a third-party Payment Processing Company that we’ve integrated our Alliance CORE system with in order to process electronic payments. | Service fees tied to Merchant Account and number of electronic transactions, dependent on the payment method used |
Cost for Bilingual Editions | N/A (we currently use Google Translate in order to translate our system to a language other than English) | N/A |
Procare
Cost of standard CCMS (Child Care Management Software) package
$600 to $800 annually dependent on solution
Enrollment Support | Billing Support | Sign-In and Out Support Parent | Communication | Daily Reports Form Uploads/Storage | Payroll Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resources/Costs NOT Included in Basic CCMS Package | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Training Costs (if applicable) | When you choose Procare, you choose a partner that grows with you. From the beginning, a dedicated person will walk you through their solution, onboarding, implementation, and of course training. Procare offers training in many forms including group and individual hands-on training and self-serve videos and guides. | Free. Training is included in the cost of the software. |
Technology Access/Resources | Procare partners with industry-leading companies so you can access the best technology for all your center management needs. In addition to our own API that connects to ControlTech for state subsidy-related reporting, they offer connections to Gusto for payroll, Check for background checks, and Quickbooks for robust accounting. They also partner with Learning Beyond Paper to provide curriculum content. | Free. Their API and its connection to ControlTech is included in the price of the software. Additional partner services are discounted for our customers compared to going direct. |
Supplemental/Optional Materials | You can leverage • Their webinars produced monthly on the various aspects of running your center effectively and our own annual conference for over 30,000 Procare customers to help you level up your child care business and make connections with other professionals just like you. • Their podcast, The Child Care Business Podcast, to learn from other child-care professionals about how they have overcome challenges and grown their business. • Their support site and knowledge base to help you get the most out of your software. • Their Teacher and Staff Resource Center for resources to help your team manage their day-to-day. • Staff evaluations and state standards guides and content. • Tools and tips like the Lysol Germ Cast for the ability to track daily levels of Covid in your area. • Their blog for regular updates and industry insights. | N/A |
Cost for Bilingual Editions | While Procare’s software is only offered in English, our newest feature, eDocs, lets you create customer registration forms in any language. | Free |
Pros and Cons of Alliance CORE
Alliance CORE is ELV’s proprietary Child Care Management System (CCMS) that we created from scratch. Alliance CORE is a cloud-based system that is compatible with any device. Customer support allows for flexible software use for each specific situation. Users are able to customize Alliance CORE to best suit their needs.
Pros
- Cloud-based System
- Compatible with any device
- ELV is a not-for-profit organization
- ELV offers Partner, not Product, approach
- Customized support, not a one-size-fits-all approach
- Live Customer Support available weekdays, 6:00am-6:00pm (MST)
- Budget-conscious and efficient
- System customization available
- Licensing Compliant
Cons
Alliance CORE does not have a provider/staff calendar component to track and manage daily meetings, but it does offer a provider events feature that allows providers to set up events and track attendance to those events.
Pros and Cons of Procare
Pros
Procare is transparent about all it offers and the website is user-friendly.
They're the most recognized child care software provider and have been in business for more than 30 years.
You can align your lesson plans and activities with state and Montessori standards.
They offer several payment options.
Cons
If you choose the website or online option, it may be more difficult to access your system on the go.
Making the Best Decision
There are pros and cons to any child care management software. There are features that are unique to each software. Now that we've looked at the childcare software management comparison of Alliance CORE vs. Procare, you can begin to decide which is the best option for you.
The Alliance CORE child care management system by Early Learning Ventures, a not-for-profit organization, makes running your business easier. We partner with our providers every step of the way through one-on-one client support. Our experienced team works with providers of all technical skill levels, building comfort with the system one step at a time – all with the personal connection that comes from a small team.
We encourage you to schedule a demo with us today to talk about your decision. You'll speak with an Early Learning Ventures representative about the specific needs your program is looking for regarding administrative support and any benefits that we can provide you with that you may not have access to currently. We are happy to help you make your decision!
Early Learning Ventures is here to help and has provided resources to help you understand all elements of a child care management system. It is also helpful to take a look at when common licensing violations are revealed on our page to gain a greater understanding of why what we do at Early learning Ventures is important. We are here to help you make the best decision for your business when it comes to selecting a childcare management system.
Are you looking for more child care management information? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Child Care Management.
Our child care management system makes running your child care program simple and efficient. Get back to what's most important. You shouldn't have to spend more time on the administrative tasks than you do with children and staff.
Get the latest and greatest child care news and information today! Sign up for our newsletter...
Or schedule a demo with us to learn more about how our child care management system, Alliance Core, can streamline your administrative processes.
Do you run an early childhood association made up of child care providers? If so, check out our Ultimate Guide to Shared Service Alliance.
Header image courtesy of Jumpstory.
