Everyone knows it’s a good idea to invest in their nonprofit’s technology. But, not everyone knows how to make the most of that investment.
The tech world especially is filled with buzz words. Cloud computing, big data, and CRM systems are among the most frequently heard.
In a previous article, we discuss the post implementation process of your nonprofit’s technology. However, once it’s been implemented, how do you ensure you’re getting the most out of your investment? What questions should you ask? What metrics should be analyzed?
Here are a few strategies to ensure your nonprofit is making the most out of their investment.
What we expect from our investments
No matter what the investment is, we all expect it to do a few things. We all think investments should make work easier. It should decrease long-term costs, increase revenue potential, and make our mission easier to accomplish.
No matter what the investment is, we all expect these investments to pay off in the long run. They are leaps of faith that will lead to better outcomes down the road.
The Do’s and Don’ts
- DO look at training as a part of your technology investment. By investing time, energy, and capital into training your staff on your nonprofit’s new technology, you are ensuring that the purchase of the hardware, or software, will be put to good use by employees.
- DON’T assume that standard training practices will be enough. Think outside the box, especially if your tech investment is uniquely innovative, or difficult to use. Continued training even several months after implementation could be necessary.
- DO plan for the lifetime cost of your new technology. Consider on-going training costs, maintenance, and future upgrades.
- DON’T budget for training just administrative staff. Anyone who is affected directly, or indirectly, needs to be informed and trained on your new technology.
- DO build custom training plans. Consider how your staff has responded to training in the past. Tweak your new training platform to accommodate what you have learned from those past trainings.
- DO listen to the feedback coming from staff about the technology and training you are providing. By treating this feedback like gold, and utilizing it to more effectively train your staff, you are well on your way to ensuring your return on investment.
By following these do’s and don’ts your nonprofit is well on its way to making the most out of your tech investment.
Image courtesy of Thin Difference
