Sign in Solutions

[Supermanpunch786]

Good afternoon,

 

I hope you all are well.

 

We are seeking a sign-in solution that integrates with our current Salto system. The system must log staff arrival and departure times and include an evacuation feature to print a list of staff members on the premises.

We are currently considering Inventry, but it appears to be beyond our budget. Are there any more cost-effective alternatives anyone could recommend, please?

[DavR]

We use Sign In App, which is pretty cheap and cheerful. It will work on pretty much any recent model iPad, so if you've got any spares, you won't even need to spend much on the entry hardware. We only had to spend money on iPad mounts to secure the iPads to our reception desks.

 

Can't comment on integration into Salto, but I think they offer some integration as an additional fee.

 

Re the rest of your spec, I think pretty much every system on the market will do entry/exit/evacuation.

[sideone]

+1 for Sign In App, ours integrates into Azure AD to pull staff data across.

[Cat_Jam148]

Another one for Sign In App! We've used it for years without any real issue. We switched from Inventry after headaches with their software and hardware, and increasing costs.

 

Recently added MIS writeback to our Sign In , so our late pupils now sign in via the iPad, and their mark is written back to our MIS.

[TheHyperTechie]

+1 Sign in App. Our groups integrate with Wonde > Arbor to pull staff through, I don't ever touch it. Excellent support, and pricing is good in my opinion. They offer different packages and add-ons e.g. the RFID "Tap" option. Or you could just opt for the more basic sign in setup with an iPad and Bluetooth badge printer.

[Supermanpunch786]

Thank you for the responses.

 

 

We have multiple entrance doors across two sites. Specifically, we need the system to cover six entrances—four at the main building and two at the second building, which is located a mile away.

 

 

Would this setup be feasible with the Sign-In App?

[TheHyperTechie]

Thank you for the responses.

 

 

We have multiple entrance doors across two sites. Specifically, we need the system to cover six entrances—four at the main building and two at the second building, which is located a mile away.

 

 

Would this setup be feasible with the Sign-In App?

 

Yes, you can attach multiple iPads (Sign in points) to a single location. However... the buildings would need to be located within the same post code. Else you would need to buy additional site subscriptions.

 

EDIT - Looking on their website for confirmation, it also looks like you would only have a single fire evacuation list. But... you could buy further site subscriptions to enable multiple fire lists for one site.

Edited December 19, 2024 by HyperTech

[Boredguy]

We use E-Reception Book, and with Wonde sync can write back AM/PM attendance and you can provide reasons for lateness/early leaving.

Runs on iPad, and you can issue QR codes to users so they just show it to the camera to sign in/out. Also a app available for phones so you can sign in via that as well without going near an ipad (and handy for fire evac as you can get the list up without needing to print out or grab an iPad)

[thebyronic]

+1 for Sign In app!

 

Had quotes for Inventry and Entry Sign years ago - sluggish and expensive!

Sign In app blew us away! And since it's early days, they've developed it loads!

I believe they've just bought out another sign in company too, Swipedon I think it was...

[armadillo]

We use E-Reception Book, and with Wonde sync can write back AM/PM attendance and you can provide reasons for lateness/early leaving.

Runs on iPad, and you can issue QR codes to users so they just show it to the camera to sign in/out. Also a app available for phones so you can sign in via that as well without going near an ipad (and handy for fire evac as you can get the list up without needing to print out or grab an iPad)

 

Hi, sorry to restart this thread I know it's months old.

We are now looking into moving away from using paper based sign in of students arriving late to school to digital system. So the idea of having an iPad in reception with something like e-reception sounds good- can please let me know if how this is working for you and if it has helped with signing students arriving late to school and also so pastoral staff are notified or could see it update on the register on the MIS (SIMS in our case)

 

Thanks in advance

[Synkrox]

I can't comment on other platforms but if you are still shopping around... Signinapp does everything you are asking. It's simple, cheap and truly just works.

[Planehazza]

We're with Inventry currently, and desperate to leave. Terrible, outdated software, terrible support, and inconsistent setups/experience.

 

We've used SignInApp for the central team but keen to get it in across the trust. We have enough iPads that we don't need to buy any new devices, but would require enclosures + NFC readers. How are people finding it in school environments, particularly with fire evacs? Currently the SBMs have Inventry RollCall installed on iPads but they complain every time there's a drill because they refuse to not use WiFi then complain when it doesn't work outside etc.

 

Any others people have looked at? We've had EntrySign in two schools but wasn't keen on that - was just Inventry in Orange tbh

[DavR]

Sign In App has a companion app you can install on mobile devices to use for the evac - but predictably, our office staff refused to install that on personal devices and we can't justify dedicated devices with data SIMS just for fire evac. 

 

The answer? They don't use the evac function, they print the list of visitors out at moment of evac (or at least I'm told they do, I don't think it actually happens). Students are on paper evac reports in advance. 

 

I have no power or say in how these functions are run, I just despair quietly from a distance.

[Synkrox]

We have staff devices so evacuations is a doddle with signinapp evacuations .

 

Teachers do evacuation register on their phones and all staff can watch the circles fill up or leave notes for students that might be stuck somewhere.

The links with MiS registers is great too and makes it as accurate as possible.