Unavailability of clear details can prompt parents to call the school district’s transportation department so they aren’t left in the dark. At times, they call a lot.
The influx of parent phone calls can lead to longer wait times, hold-ups, and the need to hire more staff. Additionally, frustrated parents may consider private transportation if they feel frustrated with the school bus service. Here are four effective strategies that can reduce incoming phone calls to the school district’s transportation department.
1. Invest in a Parent App
A simple yet effective solution to drastically reduce parent calls is through real-time bus tracking apps that come with a comprehensive student transportation platform. How does this help?
- Increased Visibility: Parents can track their child’s journey in real-time using a school bus tracking app on their phone.
- Two-Way Communication: Proper communication is critical in reducing phone calls. Running late? You can inform parents with a few clicks on your system. Similarly, parents can use apps to inform districts if their kids will be riding on the bus that day.
- Real-Time Alerts: Districts can use apps to update parents regarding cancellations, delays, and general notices from the board. Notifying multiple parents in one go makes the task easier and less stressful.
2. Create an FAQ Section
Many calls can be avoided if the school district’s transportation department can redirect parents to an informative FAQs page where basic questions can quickly be answered. Adding an interactive chatbot to the mix can make the task even better, as more questions can be addressed without the need for a phone call.
It’s even better if you integrate the FAQs somewhere on the parent portal, to ensure easy access. Examples of useful information to include on the page are summarized in the infographic below:
3. Use Online Forms
You know the moments when something could’ve been communicated via email but wasn’t? Well, parents are guilty of calling unnecessarily.
Leveraging online portals for student transportation can allow parents to put in requests in a way that streamlines the resolution process. It’s important for school districts to emphasize that parents should use the district’s online portal for queries and only call in case of emergencies.
4. Plan Ahead
The new school year can lead to chaotic first weeks with many problems springing up. This can also be the case during changes in weather and seasons.
School transportation departments can reduce phone calls by providing “canned” notifications, where families are informed about adjusted schedules, expected wait times, or alternate stops. A pre-recorded call or text message about any changes in plans to reduce parent anxiety, in turn making the phone ring less in the department.
Bringing It All Together
Layering strategies, including live tracking, multi-channel communication, proactive alerts, a centralized system, and scheduled updates, can reduce phone calls, boost satisfaction, all while allowing your transportation team to breathe.
Get in touch to learn how BusPlanner’s complete student transportation solution can help you lower calls by up to 80%!
