Nonprofits are organizations with a cause, companies that exist primarily not to generate earnings for their own growth goals but to raise awareness and / or gather resources to further the organization's cause. Causes can vary widely, from humanitarian to environmental.
Nonprofits are increasingly faced with the prospect of adapting to the digital age. Going digital allows companies to manage data and operations more efficiently and lets them leverage the capabilities of the cloud and artificial intelligence (AI). For nonprofits, these developments help them control costs while ensuring they remain operational at any scale.
Here are some ways tech can improve the way you run your not-for-profit business:
Manage mobile devices
Many nonprofit companies don’t have the financial capacity to provide new devices all the time, which is why many such businesses implement a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy. With BYOD, employees can securely and conveniently access company resources from their personal mobile devices.
A BYOD setup helps the business save money by eliminating the need to purchase devices for each user and by boosting productivity as employees are allowed to use devices that they are already familiar and comfortable with. BYOD also lets businesses leverage the capabilities of managed IT services such as cloud storage and cloud-based operational systems.
Manage customer relationships
Too many nonprofit companies are forced to rely on manual data entry, especially when tight budgets limit their ability to invest in new IT and infrastructure solutions. The problem with manual data entry is that it often leads to unreliable and error-ridden inputs. This hinders effective communication with donors and puts the future of their accounts in question.
Customer relationship management (CRM) software provides nonprofits with a centralized, cloud-based system for recording and managing donor and benefactor information. It lets your staff enjoy simplified workflows, reliable and standardized input systems, and access to real-time information.
Manage communications
Communication is the backbone of any organization, be it for profit or otherwise. Many exceptionally large companies have succumbed to the pressures of business due to poor communication. For instance, former mobile phone giant Nokia’s demise was heavily attributed to its people’s inability to turn good ideas into actual products, a problem that stemmed from poor communication habits that favored unfocused strategy discussions over concrete plans to bring ideas to fruition.
Superb communication depends on two things: smart people and dynamic tools. Managed IT services providers (MSPs) can setup and manage Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions so users can enjoy a robust communications infrastructure that provides an excellent value for the price. For example, VoIP runs on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunks, which are less costly than traditional phone lines and offer the same — if not better — voice quality.
Arnet’s VoIP solution — which is powered by Allworx — for instance, provides users with real-time mobile contact sharing, real-time Outlook contact sharing, bluetooth call appearances, cellular call audio move, corporate call handoff, and remote control, all at an affordable, subscription-based service.
Manage your IT
The bottom line is that nonprofits thrive when their IT is fully managed by experts. Managed Services Providers (MSPs) such as Arnet Technologies can bring in a wide array of IT services that would otherwise require a full-sized, in-house IT department.
Arnet’s IT services include virtual office services, IT consulting, cybersecurity, telephony, VMware consulting, backup and disaster recovery, cloud connect, and overall IT management.
Work with Columbus’ top IT provider. Call us today for a strategy session — we’ll make sure to build you a set of services that fits your budget and your nonprofit’s needs.
