Look for software that sends fee, absentee, marks and notice alerts by SMS, WhatsApp and app notification from the screens where the event happens. EDUBase Cloud does this with its own SIM app, a branded gateway, WhatsApp by QR code and the Parents App.
Which parent alerts should school software send automatically?
Most schools in Pakistan need the same handful of alerts: a new fee challan, a fee reminder, an absentee message, published marks, notices and invitations to parent-teacher meetings. The question to ask is whether each alert is sent from the screen where the event happens, or whether staff must copy numbers into a separate tool.
In EDUBase, fee challans, absentees, marks, notices, reminders and PTM invitations can all go out as SMS, WhatsApp or Parents App notifications.
- Fee challans and fee defaulter reminders
- Absentee alerts the same day attendance is marked
- Marks, with the option to release them to parents later
- Notices, news and PTM invitations
How can a school send SMS: own SIM or branded gateway?
There are two common ways to send SMS from school software. The first uses the school's own mobile SIM and package. The second connects a masking or branded SMS provider so messages show the school's name as the sender.
EDUBase supports both. The free SMS Sending App is an Android app that sends the portal's SMS queue from the school's own SIM, campus by campus, so the school pays only its normal SMS package. A branded SMS provider is connected in SMS Gateway Settings.
- Own SIM: simple to start, uses your existing package
- Branded gateway: messages carry your school's name
- Both use the same templates and delivery logs
How does WhatsApp work for school alerts?
WhatsApp alerts need the school's own number to be linked to the software. In EDUBase you link your school's WhatsApp number by scanning a QR code, then choose between the hosted service and the desktop sender, which runs on a school Windows PC.
The WhatsApp Service screen also shows balance, sending statistics and message history in one place.
- Hosted service: sends without a school PC
- EDUBase WhatsApp Sender (Desktop): runs on a Windows PC at school
What do parents get inside the app?
SMS and WhatsApp reach every parent, but an app can show more. The free Android EDUBase Parents App lets parents follow attendance, fees, marks, diary and notices, apply for leave, message the school and receive PTM invitations. Parents log in with a one-time code, so there are no shared passwords.
Schools can also control what unpaid families see. Parent App Privileges can warn or block app features by months overdue, while fee details and contact us are never blocked.
- Push notifications for notices, messages, PTMs, challans and attendance
- Parent App Analytics shows adoption by class and section
- The Parent App OTP Portal helps when a login code SMS does not arrive
How do you control wording and delivery of messages?
Good software lets the school write its own message wording and check what was actually sent. EDUBase provides SMS templates with placeholders for challan, absentee, marks and HRM messages.
Delivery is traceable through the SMS Report, Family SMS Report and App Notification Report. SMS Blaster lets staff send a message to any selection of students, families, classes or staff.
- Templates in the school's own wording
- Delivery logs for every channel
- Campus-by-campus sending for multi-campus schools
What should you check when comparing systems?
Ask each vendor to show the full path: an absent child is marked, the parent is told, and the message appears in a log. Then check fees, because fee alerts are the most valuable ones.
EDUBase's Fee Automation can generate challans on a set date, apply late fees and send defaulter reminders by SMS, WhatsApp, branded SMS or app. Every automation ships switched off and has a preview before it acts.
- Can alerts be sent by SMS, WhatsApp and app from one system?
- Is there a delivery log you can show a parent?
- Can reminders run on a schedule with a preview?
- Can the school choose its own SIM or branded sender?
Parent alert channels in EDUBase and what each involves
| Channel | How it is set up | Best used for | Where to check delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS from own SIM | Install the free SMS Sending App on an Android phone with the school's SIM | Everyday alerts using the school's normal SMS package | SMS Report and Family SMS Report |
| Branded SMS | Connect a masking provider in SMS Gateway Settings | Messages that show the school's name as sender | SMS Report |
| WhatsApp (hosted service) | Link the school's WhatsApp number by QR code | Sending without a school PC | WhatsApp balance, statistics and message history |
| WhatsApp (desktop sender) | Link the number by QR code on a school Windows PC | Schools that prefer a PC-based sender | WhatsApp message history |
| Parents App notification | Parents install the free Android app and log in with a one-time code | Challans, attendance, marks, notices and PTM invitations | App Notification Report |
Related modules
- SMS, WhatsApp & Notifications — Reach parents by SMS, WhatsApp, branded SMS or app notification, from every screen that matters.
- Fee Automation — Let the system generate challans, apply late fees and chase defaulters on schedule.
- Student Attendance — Mark attendance from the class register, the Teacher App, a QR scan or a gate device, and tell parents instantly.
- Parents App Controls — See adoption, control what unpaid families see, and manage parent logins from the web portal.
- Communication Center (Messages) — Secure in-app messaging between teachers, parents, students, admins and the owner, with a record.
- Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTM) — Plan the PTM, invite parents through the app, record each conversation, and report on it.