[This is the first review of a new weekly series: Check-In Solutions for Children’s Ministry]
There’s nothing flashy about Excellerate’s Check-In System, but it looks both solid and affordable.
Let’s take a closer look!
Excellerate Check-In System
Excellerate also offers a number of ChMS tools, so the Check-In System is one of the numerous modules that can be integrated together, or you can use the Check-In System as a stand alone product.
Excellerate Check-In System offers three different modes of operation:
- Express Mode
This mode doesn’t require assistance from an attendant, but I would recommend having someone standing-by to lend a hand, especially when you have visitors. Parents simply scan the barcodes on key-tags (one for each child) and the child’s name badge and the check-in receipt prints out immediately. This is quick and simple, and the only equipment visible at the check-in station is the scanner and the printer. - Touch-Screen Mode
You can scan a barcode or look-up your family using a touch-screen. You can look-up by last name or the last four digits of the users phone number on file. This pulls-up the family on the screen and parents simply select the children they are checking-in. Name badges and check-in receipts are then printed for those children selected. If the scanner is used, only one barcode is needed for the whole family. Again, it isn’t required to have an attendant. - Attendant Mode
This mode requires a volunteer attendant to help with the check-in process. Scanning is optional, although it can speed-up the process, since the attendant keys-in the parents name or last four digits of their phone number to look them up. Like before, if the barcode is scanned, the entire family pulls-up.
Here’s the Excellerate Check-In System in Touch-Screen Mode:
[tentblogger-youtube 8DIzIhZRCgM]
Solid.
Excellerate Check-in System Features
Excellerate has some nice options:
Name Badges
I like what they’ve done with the badge options.
- Name
- Ministry logo
- Security / Call number
- Special conditions or instructions
- Room assignments based on age or grade
- Service, date and time
You can also print extra badges for diaper bags, bottles, sippy cups, etc …
Key Tags or Cards
These are what you issue to your regular attenders / members. They are used in conjunction with the bar-code scanner for faster check-in.
Fingerprint Scanning
This works just like the bar-codes, but instead, you use your finger. Of course, with this option, only parents can check-in their child.
Touch Screens
You’ll want touch-screens with the self check-in mode, for sure.
Offline Mode
The Excellerate Check-In System can be run offline. This allows you to run the check-in system without a network. Attendance can be stored on a portable USB drive, and synchronized with the main Excellerate database back in the office at a later time, if you are integrating this into other Excellerate modules.
Track Volunteer & Event Attendance
This can also be used for special events. Volunteers or event attendees can check-in as they arrive, and optionally receive a name badge. Attendance is automatically recorded in Excellerate.
Track Visitors
When visitors arrive who are not in the system, an attendant enters them into the database directly from the check-in station. You can simply hit the “visitor” button and a form will pop up to collect all the data for their record. This not only makes it easier to track how many visitors you have had, but gives you the ability to assign members to follow up with them. If you don’t have an attendant, the form is simple enough that visitors can enter themselves. Although, an attendant nearby is always a good idea.
Pricing
The Excellerate Check-In System pricing is very flexible. You can go bare-bones or get as many stations and printers as you like.
The basic check-in package for 100-members starts at $648.50 and goes up from there, based on how large your Church is. They offer four levels of support service, extra add-on hardware you may want, as well as additional bar-code tags and labels.
Take a look at both the packaged prices and the itemized order form.
When you’re looking at the itemized order form, be sure not to confuse the Church Management Software with the Check-In Software, unless, of course, you plan on using the Excellerate ChMS, too.
Conclusion
Excellerate’s system isn’t cutting edge, flashy, or bulking with options. It’s solid, gets the job done, and seems reasonably priced.
Chuck-it or check-it-out? Check it out.
To learn more about the Excellerate Check-In System, visit the Excellerate website.
If you have any experience with Excellerate’s Check-In System, please, tell us about it!
Friend says
Our church uses both the Church Management Software and the Check-In System. It really is a great system. It does a lot for the price, and Excellerate will even customize certain components to meet your church’s needs. One thing I want to add though which was kind of covered is how the keytags work. You can have one tag per child or put all the children on one tag. When that tag is scanned, all the kids pop up and you can select who you want to check-in. Definitely check it out. Excellerate is also doing a beta test on their newest version 4.0. It’s a basic interface/graphics update which looks so much better.
Eric Dye says
THANK YOU! You’re insight and first hand experience is very valuable. Thanks, again!
Matt says
The price isn’t bad, and the features are there, so I can get over the GUI. However, I don’t want to print anything – paperless is ideal. And I don’t want to buy hardware when I already have iOS & Andriod devices that are touchscreen and can scan barcodes. Any support for these?
And can we just associate a barcode already on mom’s keychain? Why purchase more & make parents have one more itm on their keychain when they already have barcodes on their grocery loyalty cards, driver’s license, or library card?
Eric Dye says
It sounds like there is a slicker GUI in the works, as for the mobile integration, I’m not sure. They do seem to be a little behind the curve. As per the comment below, it sounds like you may be able to iterate other bar-codes to scan.
It sounds like a solution that is available on a tablet would work good for you.
Matt says
none of the preexisting barcodes are six digit. 🙁
I’m trying not to be too angsty… I just wish we could find a solution using the stuff that’s already all around us, instead of having to shoehorn into a system that requires the purchase of a bunch of extra (less-capable) tech.
I really do appreciate you taking the time to do these write-ups! I’m looking forward to a glimpse into each one on your list. We really need to find a solution soon. Thanks for helping us w/ this daunting task!
Eric Dye says
🙂
Friend says
It works for any 6-digit barcode. So technically it could work with a number of existing things.
Eric Dye says
Thanks for weighing in 😀