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We hear of a lot of schools that use OpenApply, and a lot that use HubSpot and some that even use both systems together. But, what are the benefits of one versus another?
Let's start with the very basics...
What is HubSpot?
HubSpot is a CRM and digital marketing platform that provides a wide range of marketing, sales, admissions and service tools designed to help you convert more leads, improve your communications and streamline your processes.
From within HubSpot you can run your whole student recruitment process from first enquiry to application, as well as create specific lead nurturing marketing content for each stage of the funnel. With the systems marketing tools, you can easily report on clicks, views and overall engagement making it easier to see what type of content is converting leads to applications.
What is OpenApply?
OpenApply can be viewed as a HubSpot alternative in an education setting, and is an online admission system that centralises applicant records, simplifies communications and payments and sends internal notifications. Ultimately, OpenApply is a point solution specifically for schools, and is used to manage applications received.
What are the benefits of HubSpot?
HubSpot is an all-in-one solution. Although the CRM is not designed specifically for education, your account can easily be set up to manage your student recruitment journey, from marketing to sales and service, helping to nurture your prospects at all stages of the funnel; from first enquiry to applications submitted.
You can map out your entire admissions/applications pipelines to easily see where each prospect is in the recruitment process and use automation to update contact records when applications have been received or other forms like open event registration have been filled out.
HubSpot provides easy and detailed reporting on your overall marketing and sales efforts making it easier to implement changes to strategies within your whole recruitment process, based on those reports.
There is no need to transfer data from one system to another. All contact records and information is held in one place, making it much easier for marketing and admissions teams to collaborate.
Automation - I mean what's better than setting up your processes to happen for you automatically! No manual tasks to update contact records with information from an application form, or to send thank you emails when a registration form is submitted.
We are proud to have launched the first integration between HubSpot and iSAMS.
What are the benefits of Open Apply?
OpenApply is sector specific and designed for the application process in independent schools. OpenApply integrates with iSAMS a very popular school MIS (just like HubSpot does).
Although OpenApply doesn't have marketing automation, when an application is received, internal notifications are sent to staff to approve applications.
OpenApply is relatively affordable and is already set up for an educational setting, making it a little easier to implement - but can lead to a reliance on other systems to manage your marketing efforts.
When comparing it as a HubSpot alternative, the features of OpenApply are more limited. This is because OpenApply is specific to applications and admissions, whereas HubSpot covers all communications, reporting and contact records all in the same place. HubSpot makes it easier for Marketing and Admissions teams to work together in one place!
Integrating HubSpot and OpenApply
This can be technically done, the API endpoints for both platforms are comprehensive - but we would recommend using HubSpot as your central system rather than paying for two pieces of software! We believe that marketing and admissions teams should be aligned and work smarter together.
What's our advice?
At HubGem, our goal is for education organisations to replace their clunky, point solutions with HubSpot's all-in-one solution - this encompass all aspects of the admissions process and leads to enhanced collaboration between marketing and admissions.
So our advice would be...
If you already use OpenApply alongside other systems, perhaps it's time to start looking at a new way of working and combining all your data and processes into one place, with HubSpot.
If you use OpenAppy and HubSpot, consider switching to just HubSpot as you may be wasting valuable time pulling information back and forth between systems. Or find a developer to carefully integrate the systems!
If you don't use either, use the button below to book a place on one of our demos where our team will explain how HubSpot could meet your business needs.
Want to know more about how HubSpot can improve the way you work and how the HubGem team can help you implement the CRM system seamlessly into your school?
Book onto one of our education specific CRM demos using the button below.
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