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Answers to common questions from organizations that currently use
VolunteerWorks. |
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| Q. How long can we continue
to use VolunteerWorks? |
| A. Organization may
choose to continue using VolunteerWorks as long as they would like, however
Volgistics encourages all VolunteerWorks customers to consider the upgrade to
Volgistics. The VolunteerWorks software will continue to work on Microsoft
Windows XP and 2000 computers indefinitely. Organizations should note that
VolunteerWorks was not designed for the Windows® Vista operating system,
and a Vista upgrade for VolunteerWorks in not planned. Volgistics cannot
guarantee that VolunteerWorks will operate in Windows Vista, or support
operational issues that organizations may encounter if they choose to use
VolunteerWorks with Vista. |
| You can use
Volgistics from computers running Microsoft Vista (or any other Windows
operating system capable of running Internet Explorer 5 or later). |
| Q. How can I be sure my data
is secure in Volgistics? |
| A. Data security is the
number one priority at Volgistics. Volgistics uses the same level of network
security as online banking services. The Volgistics web site provides detailed
information about security, reliability, privacy, and terms of use in the
Volgistics Service Agreement. |
The Volgistics Service Agreement and security
policies have been carefully developed over several years, with input from many
organizations and consideration of such standards as HIPPA; to provide
customers with widely acceptable foundation for the service.
The
Volgistics Service Agreement is available in a PDF document by clicking |
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the Service Agreement link on the right, and on the
Volgistics web site at www.volgistics.com. |
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| Q. How would I convert my
data from VolunteerWorks to Volgistics? |
| A. Converting your
existing volunteer information from VolunteerWorks into Volgistics is easy and
free. |
| You start by opening a free
trial account at Volgistics. Once you have a Volgistics account you can copy
your volunteer records from VolunteerWorks into Volgistics. Copying your
volunteer data into Volgistics will not change the information in your
VolunteerWorks database. If you're just testing to see how your data will
appear in Volgistics you can continue using VolunteerWorks as usual and then
copy your data from VolunteerWorks to Volgistics again later when you're ready
to switch. |
| If you have VolunteerWorks
version 3, you can use VolunteerWorks to copy your data to Volgistics yourself
whenever you choose, or if you'd prefer, Volgistics can copy it into your
Volgistics account for you at no cost (learn more
here). |
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| Q. Does Volgistics do
everything VolunteerWorks does? |
| A. Volgistics does just
about everything that VolunteerWorks does, and it has some additional features
not found in VolunteerWorks. A VicTouch update, and two new report formats are
in development now, and these will fill any gaps between what organizations can
do in VolunteerWorks and what they can do in Volgistics. |
| Q. Does Volgistics look like
VolunteerWorks? |
| A. Although you can
perform most of the same functions in Volgistics, it does not look the same as
VolunteerWorks. |
| Here’s why: |
| With Volgistics we’ve
eliminated the need for you to install or maintain any software on your own
computer or network. We did this by making Volgistics run through any popular
web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari. Since Volgistics
works through your web browser, it has a new streamlined design that loads
fast, and has the common web controls (like clickable links) you’re used
to on the Internet. |
| Volgistics is a fresh, easy to
use approach to managing volunteer information. Although it is based on more
than 15 years experience working with volunteer leaders, and the latest in
Internet technology: it was been built new from the ground up. This meant not
being bound to the same look and design as the VolunteerWorks system. |
| Q. Do VolunteerWorks and
Volgistics work together somehow? |
| A. Expect for a utility
you can use to copy your existing VolunteerWorks data into Volgistics, the two
programs are completely separate. They are not intended to work together in any
way, and you do not need to have had VolunteerWorks in order to use Volgistics.
Except during a transition period you would not use both programs at the same
time. |
| Q. I already know
VolunteerWorks. Will I have re-learn everything to use Volgistics? |
| A. Volgistics looks and
works differently than VolunteerWorks, so some new learning will be required.
However, by its nature Volgistics is easy to use and its learning curve is
gentle. There are also a series of free audio-visual training aids available on
the Volgistics web site. |
| While Volgistics looks
different, many of the basic concepts are the same as in VolunteerWorks. An
understanding of how VolunteerWorks operates should give you a good head-start
with Volgistics (although it’s not required). For example, in both
applications you open an existing volunteer’s record by viewing an
alphabetical list of volunteers and then clicking on the name of the volunteer.
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| Q. Will my VolunteerWorks
filters and reports transfer to Volgistics? |
| A. Volgistics has a
completely new report and query system, so there is no way to preserve reports
or filters you created in VolunteerWorks. However, most people consider the
Volgistics reporting and Sets features very easy to use. Plus, there are a
variety of common reports already setup and ready to go in Volgistics. |
| Q. Can I get the same reports
from Volgistics that I get from VolunteerWorks? |
| A. Many of the Volgistics
reports contain similar information and formatting, however they may not look
exactly like their VolunteerWorks counterparts. |
| Q. If I want to move from
VolunteerWorks to Volgistics, what about my year end reports? |
| A. Since you can convert
the information you already have in VolunteerWorks into Volgistics, you can
make the move to Volgistics anytime during the year and then print your
year-end reports from Volgistics. If you prefer, you can also complete the
current year in VolunteerWorks, and then begin using Volgistics at the
beginning of a new year. |
| Q. If we used VIC with
VolunteerWorks, can I use the same touch screen with VicTouch? |
| A. Yes. If you use the
VolunteerWorks VIC module now, you'll be able to use the same touch screen
monitor and PC for VicTouch and Volgistics. Simply configure your old Vic
workstation for VicTouch. |
| Q. If I convert, can I get a
credit for my VolunteerWorks support service fee? |
| A. Yes, if you currently
have VolunteerWorks support services, and you convert to Volgistics before it
expires, you can receive a credit for the unused portion of the support service
fee you paid. For more information, visit
www.volgistics.com/volunteerworks.htm. |
| Q. Can I try Volgistics
first? |
| A. Yes. Organizations that use VolunteerWorks
are welcome to sign-up for a Volgistics free trial. You can convert up to 50
volunteer records from your VolunteerWorks database into your trial Volgistics
account to see how it works. Then if you choose to use Volgistics, you |
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can clear the test records from your trial account,
upgrade to a paid account, and then convert all of your volunteer records from
VolunteerWorks. |
| Click Free Trial to get started.
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| Q. How does the cost of
Volgistics compare to the cost of VolunteerWorks? |
| A. Comparing the cost of
VolunteerWorks to Volgistics is not a simple “apples to apples”
comparison. |
- Volgistics includes more
capabilities and a different kind of technology.
- There are no up-front
costs associated with Volgistics as there are with VolunteerWorks. There is no
software to buy or start-up cost for Volgistics. All you pay is the monthly
service fee and you can cancel at any time.
- Volgistics includes
unlimited online access for you and your volunteers; VolunteerWorks does not.
- Volgistics requires little or no IT support from your
organization. While this may not impact the volunteer department’s budget
directly, it is a cost savings for your organization.
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| Rather than purchasing software and then paying an annual
support service fee, you pay a monthly service fee to use Volgistics. The
service fee varies depending on the number of volunteer records you want to
track; the number of system operators you need; and if you use the
optional VicNet or VicTouch modules. Currently the average
monthly service fee paid is $64 a month (about $2.13 a day). This includes
unlimited online support as well as system updates which are installed
automatically by Volgistics. |
| 5 Year cost comparison -
large organization |
| The chart below compares the
cost of a typical VolunteerWorks system to the average cost of a comparable
Volgistics system in an organization with a larger volunteer program. Your
actual costs may be more or less, depending on your needs. |
| VolunteerWorks |
Volgistics |
5 year costs:
- The cost of the VolunteerWorks Network edition
software: $1,054
- Basic Support $299 annually ($1,495 over 5 years)
- VolunteerTools service $288 annually ($1,440 over
5 years)
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5 year costs:
The
average monthly service fee for Volgistics is currently $64 for multi-user
access, including support, updates, and unlimited online access. |
| Typical 5 year costs:
$3,989 |
Typical 5 year costs:
$3,840 |
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| 5 Year cost comparison - small
organization |
| The chart below compares the cost
of a typical VolunteerWorks system to the average cost of a comparable
Volgistics system in an organization with a smaller volunteer program. Your
actual costs may be more or less, depending on your needs. |
| VolunteerWorks |
Volgistics |
5 year costs:
- The cost of the VolunteerWorks single-user
edition software: $695
- Online only support $99 annually ($495 over 5
years)
- VolunteerTools service $288 annually ($1,440 over
5 years)
|
5 year costs:
The
service fee for an organization that tracks 200 volunteers and has two system
operators is $24 montly, including support, updates, and unlimited online
access. |
| Typical 5 year costs:
$2,630 |
Typical 5 year costs:
$1,440 |
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| As shown in this comparison,
Volgistics costs are almost half of what they would be for
VolunteerWorks in a smaller volunteer program. A big reason for this is that
there is not any initial software investment with Volgistics - only the monthly
service fee. This makes Volgistics a very practical solution for many more
organizations than VolunteerWorks. |
| Organizations can determine what
their actual monthly service fee would be
here. |
