Akada gives your current customers the ability to access a parent account. Potential customers even have the ability to create a brand new account from your website.
The Customer Access settings pages are where you will control the layout of parent accounts, what actions the parents can take, and what information will be required of new customers who are creating an account.
The Customer Access Settings are broken down into three pages: General Settings, Create Account Settings, and Existing Account Settings. We'll talk about the General Settings tab here.
To Access the Customer Access Settings:
Select the Akada main menu.
Select Settings.
Select Customer Access Settings.
You should now be on the General Settings.
Your School’s Customer Access Link Options:
Here you will find all of the links needed for your parents to be able to log in, activate, or create a new account. Additionally, you can control whether new customers are allowed to register by updating your account permissions settings. This is particularly useful if you want to disable onboarding for new users while keeping access open for existing accounts.
General Login Screen – This will be used for parents to log in to their accounts. Think of it like online banking. You will want to attach this to your studio website, so they have a link to log in to their parent account. The general login screen also includes a link for your existing parents to activate their accounts and another for new customers to create an account from scratch.
New Account Login – The new account login link is used by new or potential studio customers to create an account by entering their contact, student, and billing information.
Existing Account, First Time Login – This link would be used for your existing customers who have not activated their parent account. This link is also on the general login screen, but some studios prefer to add it to their website as a separate button.
Link to Display Your School’s Class List – This link lets your customers or potential customers view the class list without logging in or creating a parent account. Again, this is on the general login screen, but this link lets you add it to your website in its own location. Best Practices for Maintaining Parent Portal Registration Links:
Periodically test that all Parent Portal links on your website function properly and accurately direct users to the intended pages.
Conduct checks to ensure links provide both new and existing users with the appropriate access without issues.
Resolve registration errors by confirming that the URL points to your studio's General Login Link and avoiding generic links.
Troubleshooting Tips for New Account Login:Ensure that your Parent Portal link is the studio-specific General Login Link, as using a generic link can create issues for new users trying to register.
New Account and Activate Account Link Text:
Managing New Customer Registration Permissions
If you need to enable or disable new customer registrations, you can adjust the "Onboarding New Customers" setting in the Account Permissions section. This control lets you allow new users to sign up or restrict registrations based on your studio's needs. To disable new registrations:
Navigate to the Account Permissions section in the Akada settings.
Find the Onboarding New Customers subsection.
Change the display setting to Not Shown, effectively disabling registration for new users.
To enable seamless registration:
Confirm that your Parent Portal link is the studio-specific General Login Link.
Replace any generic links with this specific URL on your website for accurate onboarding flow.
These steps help ensure a smooth process for managing new customer registrations.
On the general parent login screen, you will find links that the parents will use to either create a new account or activate an existing account. This section allows you to control how those two links are worded. Click in the field and enter the text as you would like it to appear on the general login screen. Then click the Save button.
Account Activation & Password Reset Emails:
The most efficient way to get all your parents to activate their online parent accounts is to send them an activation email. This tool allows you to send the activation email to Active, Inactive, Prospect, or all accounts simultaneously. They will each receive a link specific to them. Then they will click to create and verify a password. Once they hit submit, their account is then activated.
You may also send an Account Activation Email to an individual account from their Account Info page. This is useful when someone signs up after you’ve sent out the mass email.
The Password Reset button sends a reset email to all of your customers. To send an individual password reset, you'll do that from the customer's account info page.
Click the button for the status you'd like to email.
Click the button for the email type you want to send.
Click the Send Emails button.
Enter your message.
Click the send emails button.
Deactivate Accounts that Have Not Signed In:
If you want to deactivate accounts that have not signed in to their parent account, this button lets you do so. Some studios require the parent account to be activated for the policy agreement signature, and this tool allows you to deactivate anyone who has not signed the agreement.
Class List Display:
The class list display lets you control how parents see the class list when registering for classes or viewing it from the available classes link.
When a Class is Fully Enrolled – Use the drop-down menu to choose between Do Not Display Full Classes, Display Full Classes but Do Not Allow Registration, or Display Full Classes and Allow Registration.
Class List Size Default – Use the drop-down menu to choose the number of rows of classes displayed on a page. Individual parents can choose other options, but this setting will be the default for all parents.
Class List Filter Default – This option lets you choose which class types are displayed to parents by default. You may choose to display classes by number or by sections of the alphabet. Individual parents can choose other options, but this setting will be the default for all parents.
Class List Sort Default – Use this option to choose how the classes are sorted for your parents. Again, individual parents can choose other options, but this setting will be the default for all parents.
Class Conflicts – Checking this box will allow a parent to request a class even if it conflicts with another class they have already selected. They will be warned and given the option to proceed anyway. This can be useful when running summer camps that occur on the same days but in different weeks.
Studio Messages:
Studio messages appear at the top of the parent login screen. They are great for upcoming events, reminders, or instructions. However, remember that they require the parent to log in, so do not use them for urgent announcements.
Text Displaying on the Registration Page:
This text is displayed at the top of the class selection screen when your parents select classes. It is a great way to give reminders or instructions for class selection.
Registration Confirmation:
The registration confirmation is the last thing the parents will see after clicking the submit button for their registration. It is your chance to let them know that their registration was submitted successfully and set a time frame for when they can expect a response.
Additionally, you can choose to send a registration confirmation to the parent, the studio, or both. Click the appropriate button and enter the email subject line and message you want to include.
Site Theme:
The site theme lets you choose from several color themes for the parent portal. You can view the available options here.
Contact Us Page:
The Akada parent portal includes an option for a "Contact Us" page. In this section, you can turn that option on or off and choose the contact info you want to include.
Staff Page Settings:
In the parent portal, you can include profiles of your staff members. This section lets you choose which pieces of information to include. The information is pulled from the staff screens.
Student Defaults:
This section lets you control whether customers can upload documentation and photos.