Educational institutions, especially schools, have to manage a large bandwidth of administrative data on a regular basis. Doing this manually is not only time taking but also significantly increases associated costs. This is where ERP software for school becomes important.
What is School Management Software?
The best ERP system for school is a comprehensive and an all-in-one solution for the school administration, which includes principals, teachers and the school management. It is also useful for parents as well as students for keeping themselves aware of important updates and information.
By using school ERP modules, teachers can focus on improving the learning outcomes of students, parents can keep a vigil on the performance on their wards and school principals can easily manage all important tasks within the school premises.
How Does School ERP Modules Benefit Teachers, Students and Parents?
ERP software for school management is an intensive solution that can be used to bring teachers, students and parents on to the same page. Here are the ways in which a free ERP software can turn out to be beneficial.
For Teachers
School ERP software helps in minimizing the burden of administrative tasks on teachers, which leaves them with ample of time to focus on the educational needs of the pupils.
With education ERP software, teachers can effectively communicate with individual students or the whole class. It also allows you to upload assignments, update report cards and much more.
For Students
Streamlines the learning process for a student. It organizes their study in a well-defined manner and lets students connect with different teachers for doubt solving sessions.
For Parents
An efficient school management ERP system is perhaps most useful for parents. They can receive regular updates about their child’s learning level, their progress report, and the exam results.
They can also maintain effective communication with different teachers to stay updated about their ward’s curricular or co-curricular progress.
How We Selected the Best ERP for Schools in India?
Our selection process was not merely a matter of ticking boxes. Here’s how we meticulously chose the best ERP solutions for schools in India:
Extensive Research: We started by conducting extensive research, combing through online resources, academic publications, and expert opinions. We scoured forums, attended webinars, and reached out to educators and administrators across the country to gain valuable insights.
Needs Assessment: Recognizing that every school has unique requirements, we began with a comprehensive needs assessment. We identified the core functionalities that schools in India truly needed, focusing on areas such as student management, fee collection, attendance tracking, and academic record management.
User Feedback: User experience matters, so we made it a priority to gather feedback from schools already using ERP systems. Their real-world experiences and testimonials played a pivotal role in our decision-making process.
Vendor Analysis: We evaluated ERP vendors on multiple fronts, including their track record, customer support, scalability, and pricing models. We looked for vendors with a strong commitment to the Indian education sector.
Feature Comparison: To ensure we covered all the bases, we compared the features and functionalities of various ERP solutions. We assessed how well each system integrated with existing infrastructure, whether it was cloud-based or on-premises, and whether it supported mobile access.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Cost-effectiveness was a significant factor. We weighed the costs against benefits, considering the long-term implications for schools with varying budgets.
After countless hours of research, analysis, and deliberation, we have created our list of the best ERP solutions for schools in India. Each of these solutions has been carefully selected to cater to the diverse needs of educational institutions across the country.
List of 15 Best ERP School Management Software in India
If you are an educational institution looking for the best school ERP software including school accounting in Tally, you have come to the right place. We have compiled a list of top school management system ERP tools. To begin with, here they are:
HDSchool School Management Software
HDSchool is one of the best ERP software for school related administrative tasks such as attendance management, timetable, record of books in the library and much more.
It is also efficient for managing school fees, segregating them into different categories, levying penalties and accepting fees through different modes.
Features of HDSchool School Management Software
Streamline assignment: Assign homework to the whole class and send homework notifications to parents easily via SMS.
Flexible time table: You can add time tables for different sections and classes as per the availability of teachers.
Advance attendance management: Teachers have the option of adding class-wise or day-wise attendance. Attendance for specific subjects can also be recorded.
Library management: The software also provides a record of books that have been issued and books that are overdue.
Payroll: The software lets you manage payroll for teaching and non-teaching staff.
Pros and Cons of HDSchool
Helps improve the learning skills of students
Keeps students updated about the latest syllabus
Records the fee-structure of each student
It is made only for Windows not for Mac
Pricing of HDSchool School ERP Modules: HDSchool software offers a free trial. The price of its paid version starts from INR 3500 per month when it is billed annually, with a one-time setup fee for around INR 40,000.
Teachmint
With its array of features for efficient operations, Teachmint is indeed one of the best ERP software for schools. It includes modules like finance and fees management, timetable creation, and result generation, ensuring seamless educational institute management.
These tools streamline administrative tasks, enhance financial management, and simplify scheduling and grading processes. Teachmint’s holistic approach facilitates a well-organized and efficient school environment, benefiting both educators and students.
Features of Teachmint ERP Software
Fee Management: Teachmint’s fee management feature simplifies the process by sending automated reminders, customizing fee receipts, and offering installment options for greater convenience.
Classroom Management: Administrators can benefit from a premium suite of tools for effective school management, ensuring smooth operations and minimal disruptions.
Communication Module: Enhance transparency with real-time communication, announcements, and information sharing through Teachmint’s communication module, fostering seamless engagement within the institution.
Exam Planner: Easily set up exam schedules, generate automated rank boards, and create subject-wise exam plans. This feature simplifies the examination process for teachers and students.
Student Performance Report: Teachers can access detailed reports of students’ performance, enabling a holistic understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. This information aids in providing targeted support for each student’s development.
Pros and Cons of Teachmint ERP
Offers a good communication between parents and the faculty
Google Meets and Zoom integration for easy collaboration
You can access a wide range of practice questions with instant evaluation
A bit complex to set up
The live class sessions may be laggy sometimes
Pricing: Teachmint offers 3 plans – Basic, Advanced and Pro. The price of these plans is available on request.
Academia
Academia ERP software for school management automates different operations across the campus and makes use of advanced methods of learning. The software is highly scalable, i.e., it can be easily tweaked as per the need of the educational institution.
Academia School ERP Download Features
Flexibility: The software also shows a great deal of flexibility and can be customized to suit the functioning of the institution.
Advance decision-making capabilities: Academia helps you make the best decisions by providing you detailed reports on different parameters.
User friendly interface: The software has an interactive interface which is simple to use and has a low learning curve.
Overview: With just one click, you can overview the functioning of different departments, whether teaching or non-teaching.
Enhanced compatibility: The software can be accessed from different devices such as mobile, tablet and desktops.
Pros and Cons of Academia
Academia can be customized easily according to your needs
Offers a detailed review of students’ performance for better feedback
Strong customer support
Users found its interface slightly outdated
Some users experienced slow periods of performance from time to time
Academia School ERP Pricing: The price of Academia software is available on request. For more details, get in touch with us.
Campus365
Campus 365 is a cloud-based platform designed for schools and educational institutions. It is a comprehensive school management software that enables users to efficiently handle various administrative tasks such as attendance tracking, fee payment management, examination management and more. Additionally, it offers features like payroll management and the ability to conduct webinars.
Features of Campus365
Attendance Management: Teachers and administrators can easily track and record attendance for individual students or entire classes.
Fee Payment Management: The platform enables schools to manage fee collection and payment processing. It can generate invoices, track payments, and provide parents and guardians with a convenient way to pay fees online.
Grade Books: Teachers can record students’ grades and performance, and students and parents can access this information online.
Payroll Management: For school administrators, Campus 365 can assist in managing staff payroll. It automates payroll calculations, tracks salary payments, and handles other payroll-related tasks.
Pros and Cons of Campus365
Campus365 app is available on Android and iOS devices
Offers compatibility to conduct online webinars
Also offers school marketing and student growth management features
Expensive for smaller institutions.
Often require training for effective use.
Pricing: Campus365 paid plan starts at INR 3999 per month, which is billed every year.
Vedanta
Vedanta is a free ERP software for school management. It is being used across schools in India for reducing the time taken as well as the cost associated with administrative tasks. Vedanta also gives the option of backing your data securely to its SSL enabled secure servers.
Vedanta School ERP Software Features
Easy installation: The software can be easily and quickly installed and would be up and running in no time.
User based access: Each user would have their personal dashboard where they can only see what is relevant to them based on their role or profile.
User friendliness: Vedanta has been designed keeping a high degree of intuitiveness in mind. Hence, it can be easily manipulated even by a beginner.
Enhanced parental controls: Parents can oversee the performance of their ward and obtain their report card, attendance, fee collection and much more.
Mobile application: The software has a dedicated mobile application using which parents and students can stay updated on important information easily.
Pros and Cons of Vedanta
Offers Android and iOS application
Offer 350+ teaching courses and modules
Up to date Software with advanced features
Takes time to fully understand the software
Vedanta School ERP Software Price: The per day cost of the paid Vedanta software plan starts from ₹1.
Vidya school ERP software has been developed on the .NET technology for streamlining registration and admission processes across different schools.
The software is also useful for managing a student’s records once they successfully clear one academic session. Moreover, the old versions of the records are stored as archives.
VidyaERP School ERP Software Features
Advance attendance controls: Allows admins to mark faculty’s and student’s attendance. Students are restricted from marking their own attendance.
Smooth conduct of exams: Helps in creating exam schedules, seating plans, and display of results once exams have been conducted.
Faculty management: Easily manage different attributes associated with faculty members such as leaves, attendance, payroll, and so on.
Fee Segregation: Admins have the option of dividing fees into different categories such as tuition fee, hostel fee, library fee, examination fee etc.
Fine management: You can easily calculate the fine and add it to the final fee amount based on the total number of late-coming days.
Pros and Cons of VidyaERP
Robust Fees and assessment feature
Offers 15+ smart study modules
Easily send SMS and notification to students and parents with a single click
Only available on Android devices
VidyaERP Education ERP Software Pricing: Pricing details of the Vidya ERP software are available on request. For more details, you can visit the official site.
WINER School Software
WINER education ERP software automates several administrative tasks related to school administration such as report generation, attendance, fees, and much more.
It also gives parents and students a 360-degree view of all information that is critical to them. It also helps secure school data with role-based user access.
WINER School ERP System Features
Smart evaluator: With this feature, you can regularly evaluate the performance of not only your students but also teachers.
Supporting individual students: Helps you keep a tab on the performance of individual students and helps them to perform better.
Intuitive reports: The software helps to generate intuitive progress reports with graphical representation of points.
Effective communication between parents and students: Teachers can connect with parents through several mediums such as SMS, text, e-mail etc.
Fee Management: With its advanced fee management system, parents can receive timely reminders and notifications about fee payment.
Pros and Cons of WINER
High level data security
Offers analytical dashboards for accessing real-time student information
Offers a centralized management for data access
There are a few complaints about the slow speed of the software
Pricing of WINER School Management ERP System: The price of this software is available on request.
Vidyalaya School ERP
Vidyalaya School ERP software is a popular all-in-one cloud ERP software for managing educational institutions’ academic, business, and administrative processes.
Students can submit assignments online and get details about their attendance, schedule, marks, and more. They can also connect with teachers and alumni.
Parents receive regular child updates and can actively participate in various activities. Teachers can easily manage class information, timetable, exams and assignments. They can automate grading and get detailed reports for better planning.
Features of Vidyalaya School ERP
Effective management of students: You can easily create searchable student profiles in bulk with automated roll numbers, built-in ID, and reports. Customization is available for assessments and certificates. You can also get subject-wise attendance status and health records, among others.
Communication module: Teachers, parents, and students can get up-to-date information and communicate their opinions with each other via email/ SMS alerts, news, blogs, circulars, query feedback, polls, discussion forms, etc.
Management of resources: It offers easy and automated management of multiple libraries, hostels, transportation, finance, assets and inventories.
Integrations: Provides integration with SMS services, online payment gateway, e-exams, barcode technology, online classrooms, vehicle tracking system, biometric solutions and a mobile app.
Reporting: You can get access to relevant information through powerful standard and custom reports for quick decision-making.
Pros and Cons of Vidyalaya
Offer automatic data backup for future purposes
You can easily manage all the administrative tasks with this software
Its customer support needs an improvement
Pricing of Vidyalaya School ERP: The pay-per-module pricing is available on request. For more details, please get in touch with the sales team at techjockey.com.
School Magica is designed to simplify and automate various administrative tasks within educational institutions. It replaces manual processes with digital solutions, eliminating the need for paperwork. This software facilitates efficient communication, transparent operations, and comprehensive management.
Additionally, it includes a Parent app and Driver app, enhancing safety and ensuring parents are informed about their child’s well-being while at school.
Features of School Magica
Student Pre-admission Management: School Magica allows schools to efficiently manage student pre-admissions, helping in the collection and organization of essential student information before formal admission.
Event Management: This feature enables schools to plan and organize various events, such as cultural programs, sports events, and workshops, with tools for scheduling, participant tracking, and communication.
Transportation Management: Schools can efficiently manage their transportation services, including route planning, tracking, and communication with parents regarding bus schedules and updates.
Staff Management: School Magica assists in the management of staff information, including attendance tracking, payroll, and leave management, making staff administration efficient.
Pros and Cons of School Magica
Offers a wide range of features for various aspects of administration
Supports online parent teacher meeting
Provides on-time support for all software-related queries
Has a steep learning curve
Customization options are limited
Pricing: School Magica pricing is available on request.
UC-School
UC-School ERP school
management software is a popular ERP software as it streamlines the process of
online admissions with its online admission modules. The software is also
capable of managing different tasks related to fees, attendance and examination.
Features of UC-School Best School ERP Software
Effective management of student information: With this module, you can effectively manage the data of thousands of students in your class across different standards and sections.
Covid-19 specific functionalities: UC-School software provides the ability to easily conduct online classes with its livestream feature.
Communication module: Ensures effective communication between parents, students and teachers about a student’s performance, fee collection, results and much more.
Management of fee categories: You can segregate fee collection in different categories and obtain useful financial insights.
Learning management systems: Due to its efficient learning management systems, schools can efficiently adopt to digital methods of learning.
Pros and Cons of UC-School
AI-powered school ERP software
This tool also offers the live streaming feature
Offers the tracking feature for child’s progress
Limited features in the basic plan
Pricing of UC-School, useful for School Accounting in Tally: The price of the paid plans of UC-School starts from $2.5 per year per student.
MyClassCampus
MyClassCampus ERP software for school management is an easy-to-use software that offers a mobile app compatible with both android and iOS devices.
The school ERP software demo version offers modules for finance management which aids in auditing and accounts related tasks in the school. It also offers advanced hardware integrations such as GPS tracking of the school bus, biometric attendance, and much more.
MyClassCampus School ERP Software Features
Fee Management Module: The software allows fees to be paid in installments. Schools can easily levy fines in case of late payments.
Exam and result notification: Parents and students are quickly notified of upcoming exams and results.
Lesson planning dashboard: Teachers can devise lesson plans, class and section-wise and them can share it on the dashboard.
Library management: The software offers an advanced library management tool which helps sort and search books with the help of keywords, author, titles and much more.
Pros and Cons of MyClassCampus
Offers a good communication between parents and the faculty
Google Meets and Zoom integration for easy collaboration
You can access a wide range of practice questions with instant evaluation results
A bit complex to set up
The live class sessions may be laggy sometimes
MyClassCampus School ERP Software Price: The software offers a 15-day free trial. The paid plan is available on request.
SchoolPro
SchoolPro school management system ERP is an intuitive and easy to use software that enables the creation of workflows for easy management of school administrative tasks. The software can be easily integrated with the finance and learning management systems existing within your organization.
Features of SchoolPro
Multiple hosting options: You have the option of hosting the software on your local servers or on the Cloud.
Enhanced reminders: Provides such timely reminders and alerts to parents, teachers and students about results, fee submission, exam schedules and more.
Enquiry and alumni management: The software lets you handle enquiries regarding admissions as well as record details of alumni.
Communication modules: The software also enables communication between teachers and parents about the performance of their ward.
Notifications: Important notifications are delivered to parents through email/SMS.
Staff portal: It has a dedicated staff portal for the management of tasks such as payroll, teacher attendance, and class planner.
Pros and Cons of SchoolPro
The software is designed to deliver an outstanding user experience
Easy customizable according to the needs
Integrates with 150+ schools and colleges around the world
Assessment and grade management feature is missing
This tool only works with CBSE model
Pricing of SchoolPro: The price of SchoolPro software is available on request.
MyClassBoard
MyClassBoard school ERP module has lately become popular among schools as it streamlines communication between teachers and parents about their ward’s performance.
The software provides round-the-clock support services. It also has specific functionalities for teachers to easily enter or update marks of individual students.
MyClassBoard School ERP Features
Dedicated app for teachers: The software has a specific app for teachers to evaluate students and add remarks.
Unlimited group formation: Helps with the creation of unlimited groups for initiating conversations related to different subjects and activities.
Bulk printing of fee receipts: The software can easily print fee receipts of different students in bulk.
Secure transportation: Parents can monitor the movement of their wards while going to and coming from school, as the software shares live locations of school buses.
Unique ID for each book in the library: Each book in the library is provided with a unique ID which makes it easy to track and keep a record of books.
Pros and Cons of MyClassBoard
This learning management & ERP system is designed quite intuitively.
The software itself is quite user centric
It lags at times
MyClassBoard School ERP Pricing: The price of MyClassBoard software is available on request. For more details, do get in touch with us.
ENTAB Campus Care
ENTAB school ERP software is a cloud-based solution that makes use of artificial intelligence for schools to automate administrative tasks and establish efficient communication between parents and teachers.
The software also provides an online registration module for enrolment of a new student along with their necessary details such as birth certificate and Aadhar card.
Features of ENTAB Education ERP Software
Highly flexible: Parents, students and teachers can access the app from any location or time zone.
Student information system: The software allows easy access to a student’s information such as their result, fee status, attendance and much more.
Fee management: In addition, transactional records of each student are securely saved on a database.
Result analysis: Schools can compare the current performance of a student with their past performance.
Updated of staff information: The software also helps maintain up-to-date records related to teaching and non-teaching staff.
Pros and Cons of ENTAB
Offers both parent and student portal
Compatible with PC and mobile devices
Frequent updates for the latest features
If you need custom integrations, then it can be costly.
Pricing of ENTAB School ERP System: The price of the software is available on request. For further details, you can get in touch with us.
ORATARO
ORATARO school management ERP tool is a modern-day solution for streamlining different administrative tasks in school. It provides a feature of ‘Notes’ which students, parents and teachers can use to update any information.
Thus the software enables teachers to reward meritorious students with the help of its Happygram feature.
Features of ORATARO
Circular creation: School authorities can also create and share circulars with students and parents.
Timetable: Teachers can update the timetable in real-time, and schedule lecture classes section wise.
Better profile management: The software also allows parents and students to add or remove information from the profile of ORATARO’s interface.
Alerts for upcoming holidays: The software sends out alerts to parents for upcoming holidays. It also alerts them in case an unprecedented holiday is encountered.
Pros and Cons of ORATARO
Offers a complete analysis of students and their performance
Easy to configure, no specific skill required to operate
It requires a lot of cloud storage
The initial setup is quite time consuming
Pricing of ORATARO: The price of ORATARO software is available on request. Furthermore, for more details, we recommend visiting the official website.
Benefits of Using ERP Software for Schools
Using a school ERP software offers numerous benefits that can streamline administrative tasks, enhance communication, and improve overall efficiency within educational institutions.
Data Centralization: One major benefit is the centralization of data and information. With an ERP system, schools can store and manage student records, attendance data, grades, curriculum details, and more in one centralized database.
This eliminates the need for manual paperwork and significantly reduces the chances of errors or data duplication. It also allows authorized personnel to access information quickly and efficiently.
Seamless Collaboration Between Stakeholders: Another advantage is improved communication between various stakeholders such as teachers, parents, students, and administrators.
The software provides a platform for seamless communication through features like messaging systems, notifications of important dates or events, and online discussion forums. This facilitates better collaboration and ensures that everyone involved in a student’s education remains informed.
Streamline Administrative Tasks: School ERP software also aids in streamlining administrative tasks like managing admissions, fee collection, inventory management, and payroll.
Automated processes reduce paperwork and manual effort while increasing accuracy. Additionally, report generation becomes easier with built-in reporting tools that provide detailed insights into various aspects of school operations.
Real-time Access to Child’s Progress: ERP software enhances transparency by providing parents with real-time access to their child’s academic progress including grades, attendance records, assignments etc. Parents can stay updated on their child’s performance without having to physically visit the school or rely on sporadic updates.
Ultimately, school ERP software simplifies administrative tasks, improves communication among stakeholders, increases transparency in academic progress tracking, maximizes efficiencies within educational institutions. All these lead to an enhanced productivity and effectiveness in delivering quality education.
How to Implement ERP in a School?
Implementing an ERP system in a school requires careful planning and execution to ensure a successful transition. Here are the steps to follow:
Assess your needs: Identify the specific requirements and challenges of your school. Determine what modules and features you need in the ERP system to address these needs effectively.
Research and selection: Conduct thorough research on available ERP vendors that specialize in serving educational institutions. Evaluate their offerings based on factors like functionalities, user-friendliness, scalability, and customer support.
Training and resource allocation: Allocate resources for implementation, including budget and IT infrastructure. Ensure that all stakeholders involved receive proper training to understand the system’s functionalities.
Customization and integration: Customize the ERP system according to your school’s unique processes and workflows. You must seek assistance from the vendor for seamless integration with existing systems, such as attendance management or library management tools.
Pilot testing: Before full scale deployment, conduct pilot testing with selected users to identify any issues or areas for improvement.
Deployment and ongoing support: Roll out the ERP system across all departments of the school while providing continuous training sessions and support for staff members.
Evaluation and maintenance: Regularly assess whether the ERP system meets desired outcomes. Address any concerns promptly through collaboration with vendor support teams or by updating configurations, as necessary.
By following these steps, schools can successfully implement an ERP system tailored to their specific needs.
What is the Cost of ERP in Schools?
The cost of ERP software for schools can vary widely based on factors such as the size of the school, the features and modules required, and whether the software is cloud-based or on-premises.
Costs typically include licensing fees, implementation costs, training expenses, and ongoing support and maintenance fees. ERP software for schools can range from a few hundred rupees per month for smaller institutions to significantly higher costs for larger schools with extensive requirements.
Things to Consider While Choosing School ERP Software
Scalability: Ensure that the ERP system can grow with your school as it expands.
User-Friendliness: Choose a system that is intuitive and user-friendly to facilitate adoption among teachers and staff.
Data Security: Verify that the ERP system has robust security features to protect sensitive student information.
Customization: Look for a system that can be tailored to your school’s unique needs.
Integration: Ensure the ERP software can seamlessly integrate with other systems and software your school uses.
Support and Training: Consider the availability of training and ongoing support from the ERP provider.
Cost-Effectiveness: Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including both upfront and ongoing expenses.
Comparison of Top School Management Software
Products
School Management
Payroll
Scheduling
Attendance Management
Free Trial
Pricing
Teachmint
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Available on request
Academia
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Available on request
Campus365
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Starts at INR 3999
Vedanta
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Available on request
Vidyalaya School ERP
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Available on request
VidyaERP
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Available on request
School Magica
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Available on request
MyClassCampus
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Starts at INR 80 per student per month
SchoolPro
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Available on request
Conclusion
So, this is our comprehensive list of school management system ERP tools. The best ERP software for school makes handling of different administrative tasks such as fees, attendance, lesson plans, exams etc., simple and efficient. Such school management software also promotes enhanced communication between students, parents and teachers.
Question Related to School Management Software
How does school ERP software benefit school owners?
School ERP software benefits owners by automating administrative tasks, enhancing communication, improving resource management, and ultimately leading to cost savings and operational efficiency.
Which is the best school ERP system?
The best school ERP system varies depending on the specific needs and budget of the school. Some popular options in India include Teachmint, Academia, Campus365, and Vidyalaya School ERP, among others.
Which software is best for ERP for schools or a college?
The choice of ERP software for a college depends on its unique requirements. Some ERP systems suitable for colleges include SAP ERP, Oracle ERP Cloud, and Ellucian Banner, among others.
What are some of the Best ERP software for school in India?
The blog lists several ERP software options for schools in India, including Teachmint, Academia, Campus365, Vedanta, Vidyalaya School ERP, VidyaERP, School Magica, MyClassCampus, SchoolPro, and others.
Are there any ERP software for educational institutes India?
Yes, there are ERP software options designed for educational institutes in India. The list in the blog includes ERP systems suitable for both schools and colleges in India.
Published On: November 21, 2020
Mayank Dixit
Mayank Dixit is a talented content writer with an enriching educational background with Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a Master's degree in Mass Communication. With this combination of technical and creative skills, Mayank is well-equipped to produce engaging content that is informative too. He is passionate about business technologies and enjoys keeping up with the latest trends and developments in the field.
