We didn't want to use the hand clicker

because it can be so inaccurate

when you are trying to serve a few hundred kids.

My name is Elisha Hall. I’m the Food Service Technician in Whitfield County Schools, Georgia. We have more than 13,000 students attending 22 schools. We use identiMetrics in our school nutrition program and in our libraries. For this past school year and the 2021-22 school year, we are offering free meals to all students. Although we aren’t using our POS system, we still need to have accurate meal counts.

We needed an alternative method of finger scanning to tally a sum of people, rather than to an account in our POS. We didn’t want to use the hand clicker because it can be so inaccurate when you are trying to serve a few hundred kids or more in a short time.

Our solution was simple. Instead of using our POS with identiMetrics, we use Google Sheets with identiMetrics since all we need are accurate meal counts. I created a Google Sheet with the formulas to input data, keep a running total at the top, and to also prevent duplicates. Double entries can easily be deleted if a student holds their finger on the scanner too long.

The #1 thing to understand...

identiMetrics can work INDEPENDENTLY

from your POS.

This is an example of what my Google Sheet looks like after it is set up. Click here

Here's my notes page I kept while setting up the Google Sheet. Click here

This system works for us and I hope it can help many others. So much is going on right now and the start of the next year is not looking any different in our area as far as how we need to get a count of students.

It was a huge relief to finally have something working after I spoke with Tina and the identiMetrics team. I used that information to build upon what we are using now. I hope others can relax (breathe and enjoy their summer!) and get some help in their district with this information.

It may change again as we go through the year to accommodate our needs, but it’s a good start for anyone not knowing where to begin or who may not be knowledgeable with Excel or Google Sheets. 

Thank you, Tina! You were and always are a great help to us and you and your team are always on top of getting a solution quickly!