Personal connection and human interaction are vital to running a successful child care business, which is why many directors and owners hesitate to embrace technology.

But for Molly Hichens, a second-generation child care owner with three centers in Charlottesville, Virginia, blending technology and traditional values has been key to her success.

Let’s explore how Molly uses technology and automation to save valuable time and money while enhancing the quality of care provided at her child care centers.

Growing Up in Child Care

Molly’s roots in child care run deep – she grew up in a family who ran a child care business. Over the years, she has held various roles in early childhood education, including, running centers, working on the broker side of selling preschools and training on marketing and sales to increase revenue. Her extensive experience and lifelong passion for child care have made her a leader and consultant in the industry. Molly believes strongly that child care and preschool owners, particularly in the postCOVID era, must enhance the quality of care and ensure sustainability of the business.

And that’s where technology and automation can help! Her centers use Procare to streamline management and back-office tasks, allowing for more time to what truly matters: the children in their care.

Time and Cost Savings

Automation of routine tasks allowed Molly to focus on growing her businesses. “While it takes the investment of time and money to put your company’s data into a new software like Procare (and train your team on it) the payoff is priceless knowing you get the information you need to make key decisions for your business at a moment’s notice,” said Molly.

Improved Communication

A child care mobile app enabled Molly’s centers to share updates, photos and videos with parents and families to increase engagement and trust.

Enhanced Security

Implementing data security best practices ensured that sensitive information was protected, aligning with privacy laws.

Efficient Staff Management

Procare’s staffing tools improved management of schedules, minimized administrative burden and ensured appropriate staffing levels, maintaining high-quality care and regulatory compliance.

Real-Time Analytics and Reporting

Real-time data analytics and reporting tools allowed Molly and her team to make quick informed decisions, track key results, and proactively resolve issues at her center, overall improving her business efficiency and responsiveness.

Tracking Leads and Managing Capacity

Using Procare, Molly could efficiently track prospective families through her enrollment pipeline and manage capacity. This tool provided real-time insights so she can make data driven decisions about staffing and resource allocation.

Online Registration and Enrollment

The online registration and enrollment feature simplified the process for prospective families. This not only saved time but also provided a seamless user experience, which is crucial for tech-savvy millennial parents.

Child Care Mobile App

Procare’s child care mobile app became a unique and valuable offering and key selling point for Molly’s centers. Families can easily set up automatic payments, receive instant updates and stay connected with their children’s day-to-day activities. Offering a child care app resonated especially well with millennial parents who have come to expect this level of transparency and convenience. “Using family communication technology tool is imperative to staying competitive and adding value to your program. Not only does it bridge home and school, but it promotes communication and school engagement,” said Molly.

Streamline Billing and Tuition Collection

Procare’s automated billing and tuition collection capabilities saved Molly’s team from spending hours manually invoicing each family and collecting payments like cash and checks. “Procare has saved us countless hours and money by being able to process payments with a click of a button,” said Molly. Procare has not only improved efficiency but also reduced errors, late payments and bad debt, ultimately leading to higher revenue for her businesses.

Upholding Data Security

Procare helped Molly ensure that all data was managed securely, adhering to the latest privacy laws. This reassured parents that their personal information and their children’s data were in safe hands.