Embracing technology at the school management level

1. Embracing Technology at the School Management Level School buses have an essential duty and form the lifeline for millions of children who use it for their daily commute. Automatically school buses become far more sensitive and vulnerable than regular transport since almost all the passengers are children. The recent rise of crimes involving children especially during their commitment to and from school has raised new concerns about school bus safety. Parents are understandably worried about the lack of two- way communication and accountability when a school bus is on the road. To counter this, school managements have embraced technology and introduced school bus tracking apps which offer real-time location tracking. Let us look at how precisely these apps are reinventing the way our children travel in school buses: Dual Advantages Having a tracking app means that parents are relaxed at home since they can check on their child anytime they want. This also implies school authorities are less anxious about their fleet of school buses after they leave the campus. This ensures that there are clarity and communication and therefore less confusion on both ends.

2. Real-time Tracking can be a boon Mobile tracking apps help the authorities and parents track a school bus in real time. They can pinpoint the exact live location of the bus which helps them figure out exact arrival and departure times. Manual communication is hassle-free since any significant delays are communicated digitally. This also means that due to the constant dissemination of information, child safety is ensured. It increases driver accountability The recent rise in crimes has led to heightened concerns about whether a driver feels accountable or not. Schools have employed nannies to ensure more safety but the sense of responsibility of nannies, conductors and drivers are still doubted by both parents and authorities. But tracking apps provide that they are always kept on their toes. The staff knows that they are being tracked throughout and surveillance ensures that they maintain complete discipline and decorum. It reduces wastage of resources Tracking apps can really provide schools with valuable data which helps them gauge time and fuel costs. It also helps them understand and figure out possible alternative routes which are less fuel intensive and less expensive. An alternative route might also have less traffic increasing overall school bus efficiency. It really makes scheduling easier Traffic jams often cause considerable delays in school bus travelling times. Naturally, the parents remain perturbed. Traditionally this resulted in tonnes of phone calls to the school staff. Now, tracking apps make the parents aware of any change in schedule. In case of delay in arrival times, schools can also take necessary steps by shifting essential announcements in the assembly etc. Makes sure traffic rules are followed Schools have ensured that by using tracking apps, complaints about drivers driving rashly are a thing of the past. Tracking apps can monitor logistical needs such as a driver's average speed which can be observed in real time by the authorities. Specific apps also have an alarm which sets off in case a speed threshold limit is crossed. This ensures that the children are safe at all times since adherence to traffic rules are also being checked continuously. Child safety is of tremendous importance in today's world and thanks to more and more schools adopting the use of school bus tracking apps, parents can breathe a sigh of relief. GreyLabs’ Beacon App is specifically designed to ensure a seamless real-time tracking experience that makes drivers, authorities and parents communicate and coordinate hassle free. Now children can go to school and come back home safe without their parents panicking about the school bus getting delayed. As they say, God bless technology! The advantages of having school bus tracking apps remarkably overpower the costs involved in developing such an app. It is vital that we leverage the technological advances to ensure the safety of school students. While most schools today are adopting such measures, many are still about the utility of such apps. Nevertheless, a mutual understanding between the parents and school authorities is vital to lay a ground for the urgent need for such beacon apps.