The Awana year is coming to a close and clubs are beginning to plan for the 2017-18 Awana year. Some clubs may be looking at changing from paper record-keeping to a computer/web based system or you may be looking at switching the record-keeping database that you use. Each year we contact the main software developers, that we are aware of, for an update of the software available to help keep records in order to help you be knowledgeable as you select a record-keeping product. The following post contains the responses that I received from the developers in response to my questions. They are listed in the order that I received their responses.
Visit the Record-Keeping Page for the Basics of each product. This post notes recent updates to the software. All products will accommodate the new handbooks and all of the developers base what is updated/revised based off of their user feedback. Other updates may be made over the summer once feedback is received by the users.
Click on the logo for each product to visit their website for more information, to get a demo, and to order.
Over the past year, the speed and reliability of ARK online was improved.
What are some key improvements you’ve made in the past year?
- Ability to uncheck (or check) the entire book in the sections screen at once
- Allow check-in screen to change the date without leaving the screen
- Make an export report for shares report that includes name, club and grade
- Add BCC (blind copy) to emails sent from ARK
- Add Subtotals to Payment report for any sort option besides Alphabetical
What separates your product from the others available?
Cost is low for unlimited use for a comprehensive record-keeping solution. Online ARK can be used in any combination of a desktop interface, browser on PC or larger mobile device, and native smart phone app (Android or iPhone). The data is transferred over the internet.
The two main reasons that users of ARK give for using the software are cost (and what you get for it) and great support.
What are some key improvements you’ve made in the past year?
- Mobile web version that allows leaders to record check-ins & handbook activity
- Ability to process due payments via credit card (via Stripe)
- Ability to send a mass email to Leaders, Parents or All
(A user noted that this function was currently not available. The developer contacted me and advised that they were using Postmark for this function; however, Postmark changed their terms and no longer allow mass e-mail. TwoTimTwo will be updating to SparkPost soon to allow for the mass e-mail delivery)
What improvements are planned in the summer update, added before the club year begins?
- Additional functionality to mobile web version
- Additional flexibility for customizing the registration form
What is one (or two) things that your software will be lacking once the club year begins that you hope to add during the club year?
Simple Inventory management
What separates your product from the others available?
Based on Feed back from users:
- User friendly, intuitive
- Price
- Time saving
- Good support
- Flexibility
What are some key improvements you’ve made in the past year?
- Ability to attach scanned documents (such as a consent form) to a family record.
- Ability to have multiple mailing label “types” and page sizes (can also print directly on envelopes).
- Maintain attendance history year-to-year, and ability to view a graphical comparison.
- Kiosk check-in (allows self check-in using a tablet by entering phone a number).
Updates that are currently in the works:
Adding an “offline” version of the grand prix.
What separates your product from the others available?
- One charge for unlimited access. $99.00 / year which includes access for ALL leaders (and parents).
- Grand prix race included.
- Parent logins supported (not only registration, but ability to view club calendar, book sections, bucks and points earned, as well as update their contact information and print end of year reports for their clubber).
- Send club emails from within the program. (Emails can be personalized with database fields like clubber name, parent name etc and the sender can limit them by club, team, active status, only new clubbers etc.)
What are some key improvements you’ve made in the past year?
- Introduced a new web-based solution that enables multiple users to access the same database simultaneously using smartphones, tablets, Mac, or Windows PCs from anywhere they have an internet connection.
- The new browser-based interface is very clean and touch-friendly to make it easy to add members, record attendance, sections and trigger awards, and so much more. Like the ability for each user to create their own set of private custom filters to quickly get the records they need.
- Released a new Windows Remote Client app that looks like the desktop version with the same tabbed interface and amazing grids, but this new app connects to the database on the cloud server and is intended to be used along with the web-based browser interface, as it handles the formal report printing, ledger and inventory management tasks.
- On the desktop edition of the Approved Workman Database (AWdb), we’ve enhanced the Current Handbook Status report to include an additional page to show a count of each distinct award along with its Item Number. This is helpful when planning your end-of-year supply order. The report dialog also includes a new “Show Data” button which will show you a new grid that you may use to print or export the actual data derived by the Summary report processing
What improvements are planned in the summer update, added before the club year begins?
- Updated inventory matching the new catalog
- Misc features based on customer feedback (watch the website for details)
What is one (or two) things that your software will be lacking once the club year begins that you hope to add during the club year?
We will be adding a new Citation Requirements Report in mid-year. We also intend to add a new Kiosk mode to the Windows Remote Client app.
What separates your product from the others available?
With over 12 years of experience and over a thousand clubs using our software, we believe that we have the most robust, full-featured, and professional database application available for Awana record-keeping.
– No Response –
Click here to see their online information on updates, bugs, and news.
Which of these products include a Grand Prix module?
Not that impressed with it. It is not that user-friendly and does not have all the record keeping needed. Dissatisfied with the leader entry portal.