The school owner's guide to buying ERP in 2026
If you've ever sat through a school ERP demo and walked away more confused than you started, this guide is for you. Here's the no-nonsense framework owners use to make the right call.
Step 1 · Map your pain — before you map features
Most demos start with the vendor showing every screen they have. That's a trap. Start by listing the three workflows that consume your team's time today: probably fee chasing, report card prep and parent communication. Score every vendor on those three first.
Step 2 · Ask for published pricing
If a vendor won't give you per-student pricing on their website, you'll spend months in "discovery calls". TACHY publishes ₹49–₹199/student/year. Compare apples to apples.
Step 3 · Demand a free data migration
Paid migration is a red flag. It means the vendor expects you to be stuck. Free migration means they're confident you'll stay because the product is good.
Step 4 · Test the parent app yourself
Install it. Open it on 4G. Try paying a sample fee. If it's slow or English-only, your parents will uninstall it. Don't take the vendor's word — test it.
Step 5 · Check the support channel
"24×7 phone support" sounds nice on a brochure. Email the vendor's support at 11 pm on a Saturday and see when they reply. That tells you the truth.
Step 6 · Look at the report card builder
Boards change formats every 2-3 years. A drag-drop builder means you can update without waiting for the vendor. Otherwise, you're at their mercy every May.
Step 7 · Don't pay for modules you'll never use
Many ERPs bundle hostel, transport, library into the same big-bang license. If you don't run a hostel, you shouldn't pay for hostel software. Pick plans that respect this.
Step 8 · Ask the AI question — but carefully
"Do you have AI?" gets you a yes from everyone. Ask instead: "Can your AI predict which 5 students are at risk of dropping out next month?" Then ask them to demo it. Vague answers = no real AI.
Step 9 · Insist on a real pilot
Demos are sales theatre. A 14-day free trial — or a one-class pilot — shows you what actually happens with your data. Anything less is leap-of-faith buying.
Step 10 · Pick the team, not just the tool
You're not buying software. You're hiring a partner for 3-5 years. Talk to the customer success person who will be assigned to you. Ask them: "What's a school just like mine struggling with right now?" Their answer tells you everything.
Ready to put this framework to work? Book a TACHY demo and grade us on every one of these 10 points. We'd rather earn your business honestly than win it on marketing.
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