|
Our web based volunteer tracking system enables organizations to leverage the
power of the Internet to more effectively recruit, coordinate, and manage
volunteers. |
| In recent years there has been a
growing shift in the software industry. The idea of “software as a
service” (SaaS) hosted by “application service providers” (ASPs)
has taken hold. Software solutions in many markets – including volunteer
management - are shifting to this model. |
|
How come? |
| There are at least three
important advantages to hosted web based applications over desktop software for
people who lead volunteer programs: |
| 1. Hosted web based
applications require little or no IT support. This is important in smaller
organizations that have few IT resources, as well as in larger organizations
that have IT resources, but where the Volunteer office is often a lower IT
priority. With Volgistics there is no software to install, maintain, update, or
upgrade; no hassles when you get new computers or a new version of Microsoft
Windows; no need to make backups; no database corruption issues; and no
software compatibility issues. You spend less time managing technology and more
time working toward your organization’s mission. |
| 2. Web based applications
enable volunteer leaders to leverage the power of the Internet. With
Volgistics, you can boost volunteer recruitment through online volunteer
opportunity directories and online volunteer application forms; you can
communicate easily via email; you can engage volunteers by giving them tools to
view and update their schedules, sign-up for vacant schedule openings, update
selected parts of their record (such as their email address) view their service
histories, and more – all online. |
| 3. You can work from any
Internet connected computer, anytime, anywhere. Mobility is often important
to a volunteer leader, and web based applications give you the freedom to work
where you want to. You can access the system from work, at home, or on the
road. Plus, umbrella organizations that have geographically separated volunteer
offices can access the system from each location without the need for a
“wide-area-network” and without any “wide-area-network”
complications, even if their branch office are on the other side of the world.
|
| In 2002 the people at Red Ridge
realized the potential advantages of this new software model to volunteer
leaders and formed a new division called “Volgistics” to
develop the hosted web based Volgistics system. On January 2nd 2004 the
Volgistics system opened to a select group of early user organizations, and six
months later Volgistics officially opened to all. |
 |
We
derived the name Volgistics (pronounced
vol-jis-ticks) from
the words "volunteer logistics." Volunteer logistics describes what we do: we
help organizations recruit, track, and coordinate volunteers. |
|
|
| The Volgistics service does most
of what VolunteerWorks can do, and much more. It is a "hosted" web based
service rather than Microsoft Windows software. These are some of the
differences between VolunteerWorks and Volgistics: |
| • VolunteerWorks is
software you install on your own computer or network. It requires the Microsoft
Windows® operating system. You are responsible for installing and
maintaining the software; making backups; protecting your data; and installing
updates. With VolunteerWorks, you can only access your volunteer data from
computers attached to your organization’s network. Data is not easily
accessible from outside the volunteer office, and it cannot include any
real-time Internet features for supervisors or volunteers. Volunteer data is
stored on your computer’s hard drive or on a network server. |
| • Volgistics runs over the
Internet. You do not have to install or maintain any software, and you can
access the system from any Internet connected computer in the world no matter
what kind of computer you have (PC or Mac). You use Volgistics through any
popular web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari. Volgistics
also includes many supervisor and volunteer accessible Internet features such
as the ability for volunteers to check or update their schedules online. There
is little or no IT support needed for Volgistics. Volunteer data is stored in a
secure Volgistics data center. It does not matter what version of Microsoft
Windows you have to use Volgistics. |
