Is it time to update your Student Information System (SIS)? Are you switching from a legacy on-premise SIS to a modern, multi-tenant software-as-a-service offering, or hosted software solution? A reliable SIS that meets your institution’s needs allows you to effectively manage student data and streamline how your school or university’s core activities get done. At Popcorn RFP, we understand that choosing a new SIS for your campus from the diverse offerings on the market can be a challenge, and we’re here to help.
Popcorn RFP’s kernels for SIS are specially designed for education organizations, and use the language and terminology typically used by schools, colleges and universities for SIS purchases. When it comes to choosing your next SIS, you’ll need to consider everything from its compatibility with your existing software and hardware, to data accessibility from different devices, and regulatory reporting. Take a look at how our kernels help!
Our straightforward question and answer interface begins with the general – asking you to reflect on the elements you already know you’ll need in your next SIS. We get you started with a hint to consider things like enrollment, academic records, student financial information, and demographic data. We recognize that you’re the expert on your organization’s unique needs, so we give you the flexibility to fully customize your responses and include the details that you want to share with vendors.
You may not have the time to sift through old purchasing documents, get sample questions from colleagues, or keep up to date on the latest developments in SIS software. So, the kernels also include optional sections to help you hone in on the features you may not have considered. For example, do you need your next SIS vendor to include custom programming?
Popcorn RFP helps you identify the functionality you need, as well as what you don’t, saving you time in preparing your procurement documents, and ultimately money in focusing vendor responses on exactly those areas most important to your campus. Let’s say you decide that you do want SIS software that includes some sort of custom functionality. Next, we prompt you to tell us more about what you’re looking for – whether it’s custom data fields for staff or student information, unique data fields for special education students, or the option to generate custom reports.
Depending on your organization’s needs, you may or may not need to worry about features like OCR reporting, compatibility with an existing Learning Management System, or some other unique goal. We’ve taken the leg work out of RFI and RFP creation for you regardless. Simply answer the questions that appear in the kernel, and we’ll take care of the rest.
At Popcorn RFP, we make the purchasing process faster, smarter, and more collaborative – reducing frustration and saving your organization time and money. Get started anytime with a free, basic account, and you’ll be well on your way to a new Student Information System!
Using Popcorn RFP to Find Your Next Student Information System
Is it time to update your Student Information System (SIS)? Are you switching from a legacy on-premise SIS to a modern, multi-tenant software-as-a-service offering, or hosted software solution? Starting a new enterprise purchasing project can be demanding and painstaking, even for an experienced IT or procurement professional already familiar with the technology landscaping and purchasing requirements. Wouldn’t it be nice to not “reinvent the wheel,” especially when other organizations have done similar purchasing projects? Popcorn RFP’s kernels for SIS purchases can help by making the process faster, smarter and more collaborative – reducing frustration and saving your organization time and money.
Popcorn RFP’s signature kernels allow you to easily generate RFIs and RFPs, whether you’re working independently or on a team. We take the guesswork out of RFx creation so that you can focus on what matters: the unique needs and goals of your organization.
Benefit #1: The Right Language, without a Clunky Template
Our SIS RFx kernels are specially designed for higher education customers, and use the language and terminology typically used by colleges and universities for SIS purchases. Instead of wasting time searching for RFP templates online or in your organization’s records, Popcorn RFP leverages relevant industry knowledge and allows you to jump right in.
We know that you’ll want to tell vendors about your institution’s requirements, that you’ll want to know about a vendor’s offerings, track record, and of course pricing. Maybe you’re a public university, and need to include a reference to public records law. Our prompts will help you ask the right questions of vendors and include the right legal language, without the excess.
Benefit #2: Current System, Future Needs
As you search for the right new system for your organization, the kernels prompt you to describe your existing SIS solution, and to elaborate on your goals and future needs. By honing in on the most important content, our tool helps your organization get to the right vendor faster.
Your SIS purchase will need to work with your organization’s current software and hardware environment, and with your business goals. We ask you to describe these in detail, but provide the structure and more general content, so that these details slot in with a minimum of effort.
Benefit #3: Customization
We understand that each organization has unique needs, and diverse institutional requirements. Using our kernels for SIS purchases, you can customize RFx documents with the details specific to your organization, and the questions that you have for potential vendors. Our prompts ask you about your requirements for the new SIS, as well as optional nice to haves. Whether you need your SIS to integrate with an existing Learning Management System, require particular data protection, or some other unique goal, Popcorn RFP allows you to focus on your requirements and shape the content of your RFx where you know best.
Give it a try for free and let us know how we can further support your purchasing process!
