Childcare software, also known as childcare management software, is a tool that manages the daily operations of child care centers or pre-schools, homes, and corporations to save childcare time and make work and life easier. Childcare software automates administrative tasks such as children’s health data management and help users schedule classes and appointments. Childcare software can be either operated from local computers or via mobile if it has been given an access to other system running somewhere else. The software is mainly used to increase staff productivity by storing information regarding the child and family.

Increasing demand for childcare facilities is driving growth of the childcare software market

One of the major factors that is driving growth of the global childcare software market is the increasing demand for childcare facilities to enhance the existing process in childcare centers, schools, and homes. Childcare software saves time of childcare centers or pre-schools by automating administrative tasks such as invoicing, reporting, and admissions. Most of the childcare software are interconnected with social media tools so that childcare centers can communicate with parents on social media through the software. For instance, Procare is a popular childcare software, which stores information regarding the child and their family. Moreover, using the same software, tuition fees can be paid online through the tuition express module and staff hours and vacation time can be managed through the payroll module. Procare software also has different modules for attendance tracking, data management, and accounting.

Enhanced security solutions are the need of the hour in the childcare sector, so that parents can cyber visit childcare classrooms via the internet to monitor activities of their children from a distance. For instance, the school leader software tracks each person that enters and leaves the center and authorized individuals need to log in at a security checkpoint to enter the center. The software also includes a built-in messaging system to improve communication between staff and parents.

High costs associated with managing web-based childcare software is hindering growth of the market

Mostly childcare software systems operate in both PC-based and web-based platforms. Additional costs associated with web-based childcare system is hindering growth of the childcare software market. Web-based software are rental services and require additional charges to collect & analyze information on a monthly basis. Moreover, the users need to have a fast and reliable internet connectivity, which may not be feasible with users having budget constraints.

Global Childcare Software: Regional Insights

On the basis of region, the global childcare software market is segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

North America accounted for the largest share in the childcare software market in 2017 due to technological advancements followed by high usage of mobiles, tablets, and computers across various sectors. According to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services licensing regulations, childcare centers and childcare programs need to be licensed and monitored by a state licensing agency. For instance, thread connecting early care and education to Alaska is a licensed childcare center. The adoption of childcare software across the region is estimated to rise at a significant rate due to client-centric approaches, provision of 24/7 customer engagement, and operational efficiency. This eventually increases the penetration of childcare software deployment in this region. According to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the U.S. child care services market includes around 53,000 commercial facilities with a combined annual revenue of US$ 23 billion and around 20,000 facilities run by non-profit organizations with a combined annual revenue of US$ 10 billion.

Asia Pacific accounted for the largest market share in 2017 and is expected to retain that over the forecast period, owing to the increasing usage of smart phones and increasing sales of smart phones, especially in the emerging economies such as India and China. According to Coherent Market Insights, by the end of 2016, sales value of smartphones in China was around US$ 136.5 billion with an increase of around 12 percent when compared to the sales value in 2015. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India was the world’s third largest smartphone market in 2017 with smartphone shipments growing by 15 percent per year to 126 million units.

Global Childcare Software Market: Competitive Landscape

Some of the key players operating in the global childcare software market include SofterWare Inc., Ladder Software, Procare Software, Hi Mama Inc., Jackrabbit Technologies Inc., Kindertales, Childcare Sage, SmartCare, Connect Software Solutions, Konverv Shop, EntLogics, KigaRoo, and AVI.DAT.

Global Childcare Software Market: Taxonomy