NuShala: School ERP System using AI and IoT-based Devices

Ratindra and I (Divyam) were working on a big school ERP system that was to modernize every aspect of the school’s system using AI and IoT-based devices. The product was something that would help schools assess homework using AI and conduct classes all year round through online medium including all the other management requirements.

Somewhere down the line, I realized that there are thousands of private schools in India teaching almost 7 Crore students that do not have basic digital spreadsheets for their data like Students, Employee information, Fee records, attendance, etc. This was a blow to our face as we were offering such high technology assuming that every school at least has decent records for all their data. And, this is the same assumption on which every other school ERP product in India is working.

The next step was laid out for us. We wanted to build a product that can bring these schools to present-day tech in few days. The biggest problem is that small schools don’t have desktops, printers, or internet connections in their office, library, or hostel. So, we found an IoT device that replaces all the above. Even if schools can afford the desktop-based system, it is very difficult in small cities to find employees who can manage the system, and is as big a problem as the investment.

In December 2020, we stopped all the development on SchoolDiaries (our high-tech ERP) and started building NuShala. This approach takes away all the big schools from us but gives us a segment for which there is not even a single product in the Indian market.

NuShala end goal is not just software or hardware to manage the school but to make these schools become at par with the biggest institutions in their city. This will be done through services like Remote teachers where small schools can increase the number of subjects they offer to students by hiring Foreign language or other non-core subject teachers from us on a per-class basis.

When working in unison, all these services will ideally contribute to the school’s strength by improving the quality of management as well the education offered there.

Co-founders: Divyam Agrawal & Ratindra Nath Pande