Quickest way to record payments

Quickest way to record payments

Background - We have just started using trialling Zoho CRM. We are a language school with 12 branches. Each school has over 250 students who pay each month for lessons. 

Currently there is no automated systems for recording payments (this will hopefully change in the future). Previously using Excel we could quickly go through the bank statement and note down payments at the end of the month.

We would like to be able to track payments in Zoho so we have am idea of customer value. Recording a deal just takes too long, is there a quicker way to do this?