It’s an thrilling time within the world of nonprofit know-how. Software program is evolving, and new merchandise and performance are commonly popping up.
The appropriate software program can do superb issues on your group, similar to serving to you’re employed extra effectively and permitting you to attach together with your constituents in additional significant methods. However it will also be straightforward to fall into traps in the case of your nonprofit’s know-how.
The excellent news is which you can keep away from pitfalls together with your group’s software program by studying from challenges others have confronted. Let’s have a look at some frequent errors to keep away from together with your nonprofit’s know-how.
1. Missing Clear Objectives
Earlier than you choose and implement any new software program, it’s necessary to obviously outline what you’re attempting to perform with it. In any other case, you’ll doubtless find yourself with an answer that meets a couple of individuals’s wants however doesn’t actually help the strategic wants throughout your group.
Even when your nonprofit is small, create a group of cross-functional key stakeholders. For every potential know-how change, work with this group to establish what you’re attempting to realize and what challenges your group is going through in reaching these objectives. Prioritize your checklist of wants and know-how gaps which can be most important to your skill to achieve your objectives. Then, create a brief checklist of software program to judge.
2. Not Contemplating Person Suggestions
The individuals who use your software program frequently have first-hand information of what’s working and never working. Failing to ask for (and take into account) their suggestions can result in dissatisfaction with new software program and low adoption charges. Relying on the character of the software program, it may well even finally result in workers turnover and misplaced donors and volunteers.
So, as a part of your know-how planning and choice course of, you should definitely discuss to your workers members and a few constituents (similar to donors, volunteers, and board members) to get their suggestions.
3. Underestimating the Want for Software program Coaching
Regardless of how nice your new software program could be, it received’t work optimally in case your group does not know find out how to use it. Failing to spend money on preliminary and ongoing coaching may end up in frustration, underutilization of latest software program and workers turnover.
The answer: Plan for preliminary coaching classes and ongoing coaching/help to maintain your group working effectively and confidently. Remember that bettering know-how coaching could be comparatively straightforward and reasonably priced should you flip to the precise sources. For instance, most know-how distributors provide quite a lot of free and cheap on-line programs, in-software assist menus and fundamental buyer help. You can even flip to considered one of your software program vendor’s service companions for customized coaching and help in case you have a extremely configured or custom-made implementation of your know-how.
4. Specializing in Worth Over Worth
In fact, the price of software program is necessary. However selecting software program just because it’s the most affordable choice can backfire. For instance, a product might sound cheap now, however it won’t meet your whole group’s wants and may require expensive product and repair add-ons later to work the best way you want it to.
So, you should definitely stability price issues with the general worth the software program gives, together with performance, scalability and buyer help.
5. Failing to Suppose Forward
There’s little doubt that your nonprofit’s wants will evolve. For those who select software program that may’t develop together with your group, you’ll most likely face expensive and disruptive challenges down the road.
To keep away from these bumps down the highway, take into account your group’s objectives and wishes for the following three to 5 years. As you select software program, go for options which can be versatile sufficient to accommodate future adjustments within the variety of customers, information quantity and integration with different software program and apps.
6. Overlooking Integration Capabilities
Your nonprofit makes use of a number of software program methods. For those who select new software program that does not combine nicely together with your different methods, you may create new challenges, similar to information silos and course of inefficiencies.
Earlier than you undertake new software program, make sure that it may well simply join with key software program, similar to your buyer relationship administration (CRM) system, on-line fundraising and e mail advertising and marketing instruments, and peer-to-peer fundraising software program, to help your group’s important processes. For instance, assume by how a web-based donation document will make its method to your e mail advertising and marketing platform.
Beware that some software program distributors provide a number of capabilities and options that aren’t in the identical platform and, subsequently, should not really built-in. For instance, a vendor might need acquired software program from one other firm and rebranded it, so it’s actually a separate product that will or could not combine nicely with its different merchandise.
7. Neglecting Knowledge Safety
Your group handles delicate details about donors, beneficiaries and monetary transactions. Neglecting information safety — together with greatest practices, similar to multi-factor authentication and commonly updating passwords — can result in breaches that injury your nonprofit’s fame.
Remember to select software program that features strong safety measures, similar to information encryption, safe entry controls and enforcement/help of different safety greatest practices.
8. Launching With out Absolutely Testing
Take into account this state of affairs: A nonprofit implements a brand new e mail advertising and marketing software. The group is anxious to launch the brand new software and decides to compress the testing interval. After sending a couple of e mail communications, they discover that the e-mail deliverability fee is decrease than anticipated. Additionally, the software’s experiences and analytics are inaccurate.
Keep away from the sort of mistake by conducting an intensive check of any new software program earlier than rolling it out. Collect consumer suggestions, establish the supply of any points and work with the software program vendor to handle any issues earlier than launch.
9. Setting and Forgetting
Don’t assume that when you roll out new software program, it would proceed to fulfill your group’s wants with out additional evaluation or adjustment. Software program distributors problem product updates and upgrades. Knowledge safety points change. Your group’s processes change. Finally, your software program could now not align together with your group’s wants and processes.
Be sure to proceed to run the newest model of your group’s software program. Additionally, commonly consider your software program’s configuration and efficiency. As a part of this ongoing course of, collect consumer suggestions, monitor key metrics and keep knowledgeable about new and upcoming product updates and options that might profit your group.
The previous weblog was offered by a person unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed inside don’t straight replicate the ideas or opinions of NonProfit PRO.
