Picture this: It’s 7:30 AM on a hectic Monday. A parent is juggling a coffee mug, kids’ lunchboxes, and their sanity. Suddenly, their phone pings. It’s an email from school about upcoming fees. But instead of groaning and adding another to-do to their mental list, they simply tap a link, confirm the payment, and voila! They’ve paid the school fees before even finishing their first sip of coffee.

In today’s complex educational landscape, schools face numerous challenges when it comes to managing their finances. From chasing overdue payments to dealing with complex payment systems, schools often find themselves caught in a complex web of systems, processes and administration. But what if there was a way to simplify payments, making it easier for both schools and parents through faster, smoother payments?

Enter the Pay Now feature in Synergetic’s school management system – a one-click option for quicker, simpler and more reliable payments that parents will love. With Pay Now, schools can send automated payment messages with full or split amounts to parents and relatives who can make secure payments on the spot using the online link in their email.

Synergetic Pay Now is not like other solutions that require complex manual steps. Pay Now makes school payments a breeze by integrating payment links within Synergetic’s existing billing functionalities, seamlessly incorporated into Synergetic’s finance module – reducing admin hassle every step of the way. It allows payments to be made from anywhere with no login required, making faster payments a reality.

The best part? PayNow comes included in your existing Synergetic subscription, adding significant value without extra expenditure.

Integrating efficient payment processing solutions like Stripe and Pay Now can significantly enhance a school’s revenue and operational efficiency. Stripe reported that businesses using its platform processed over $1 trillion in total payment volume in 2023, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. According to the ABA Banking Journal, 86% of businesses and 74% of consumers said they used faster or instant payments in 2023, with demand growing from business and consumers alike.

Online payment methods have also been found to help businesses get their invoices paid faster. Not offering online payment options can seriously hamper cashflow. In fact, research has found that those sent with online invoice payments were paid up to 3x faster than those without.

Why Use Pay Now?

With an online payment option such as Pay Now, you get access to:

  1. Fast and Easy payments: Immediate, effortless payments enhancing parent satisfaction and increasing timely payments
  2. Mobile-Friendly Payments: Quick, on-the-go payments with minimal clicks
  3. Seamless Integration: Pay Now links included in statement emails, fully integrated with Synergetic
  4. Universal Access: Anyone can use the link to pay, no login required
  5. Privacy Protection: No personal information displayed, safe to share links
  6. Automatic Receipts: Branded email receipts for every transaction
  7. Seamless Accounting: Payments automatically applied and receipted in Synergetic
  8. Small and frequent payments: Facilitates recurring payment plans, aligning with modern payment preferences and ensuring steady cash flow
  9. Safe and Secure: Locked-down payment system with simple URL verification for user confidence

Watch this overview video to see PayNow in action

How Pay Now works – Simplicity Meets Security

Pay Now streamlines the school payment process through a series of user-friendly steps:

  1. Mobile-Friendly Payment Link: Schools include a Pay Now link in statement emails, which can be accessed on any device
  1. One-Click Access: No login required – anyone with the link can make a payment with minimal clicks
  1. Debtor-Specific Integration: Each link is tied to a specific debtor account, ensuring accurate payment allocation in Synergetic
  2. Privacy Protection: No personal information is displayed during the payment process, allowing safe link sharing
  1. Instant Branded Receipts: Payers receive automatic, school-branded email receipts upon completion
  1. Automatic Synergetic Integration: Payments are instantly applied to the correct Debtor Account and receipted in Synergetic

This efficient system eliminates the need for portal logins, allows for payments by friends or relatives, and integrates seamlessly with existing Synergetic processes and system, making school payments faster and more convenient than ever before.

Benefits of Pay Now for Schools

Accelerating Cash Flow and Reducing Aged Debt: Pay Now tackles fee structure integrity and cash flow challenges head-on. Its seamless process encourages prompt, full payments and the instant payment capability accessible anytime and anywhere, significantly improves cash flow and minimises the risk of aged debt. By reaching customers on the device they use the most, by sending invoices via SMS and email and accepting mobile payments, you could see payments roll in up to 10 days sooner.

Minimising Time and Effort Spent on Accounts Receivable: By automating the payment process and integrating with Synergetic’s finance module, It automates payment recording and reminder sending and saves your Finance team the hassle of exporting and manually uploading reports and receipts, transforming the entire process into an efficient, low-intervention system.

Efficiency – Time and Money Saved: As the only seamless integration into Synergetic’s finance module, Pay Now eliminates manual processes, . It simplifies financial administration, allowing schools to redirect resources towards enhancing educational quality.

Growth – Fueling Enrolment and Financial Stability: Pay Now’s modern, efficient payment system can be a powerful tool for attracting new enrolments. The improved cash flow enhances budget management, supporting various growth initiatives from program expansion to facility upgrades.

Reputation – Enhancing Parent Satisfaction and Community Perception: By offering a hassle-free payment experience, Pay Now significantly contributes to building a positive school reputation. It frees up staff time for more meaningful interactions, boosting the overall perception of the school’s commitment to its community.

Safe and Secure Payment Option

Pay Now offers a robust, secure payment option that prioritises both convenience and safety. The link generated is as safe as sharing your bank account details for a deposit – the link can only be used to pay fees, nothing more. Similar to glancing at a name tag on a child’s uniform, for peace of mind we encourage parents to always verify the URL, which will always match the school’s domain. By combining cutting-edge security measures with user-friendly practices, Pay Now delivers a payment solution that’s not only efficient but also instils confidence in every transaction, allowing schools and parents to focus on what truly matters – education.

 Real-World Impact: Stories of Transformation

To truly understand the impact of the Pay Now feature, let’s look at some real-world examples:

Susan, a busy mother of three, used to struggle with complex payment processes. Now, she can settle her children’s school fees with a simple click while waiting at the dentist’s office. This convenience has transformed her relationship with the school’s financial system, eliminating stress and ensuring timely payments.

John’s grandparents, eager to contribute to his education, no longer need to write checks or navigate complex online systems. A simple email with a Pay Now link allows them to contribute directly to John’s school account, fostering a sense of involvement in his education.

Linda, a school administrator, has seen her workload transformed. Instead of spending hours reconciling payments and chasing overdue accounts, she now has time to focus on supporting families facing financial difficulties, adding a human touch to the school’s financial interactions.

Michael, a school principal, has witnessed a remarkable improvement in the school’s financial health. With increased on-time payments and reduced administrative burden, he can now focus on strategic initiatives that enhance the quality of education offered by his school.

Payment Options & Pay Now:
A New Era of School Financial Management

Payment options such as Pay Now in Synergetic’s school management system represent more than just a convenient payment option. It’s a paradigm shift in how schools approach financial management. By addressing key pain points, embracing modern payment principles, and delivering tangible benefits to all stakeholders, it’s setting a new standard for efficiency and user-friendliness in school payments.

Set your School up for Success

Getting started with Pay Now is simple. Please get in touch with your Customer Success Manager to get access. If you are new to Payments or want to find out more about how a School Management System can help streamline operations, please talk to our experts or submit your request below so we can provide you with solutions customised to your school’s needs.

Call +61 1800 498 642 or +44 1935 403 020 or email sales@educationhorizons.com to find out more.