A strategic review of the trusts administration showed the need for a new modern computerised database system to handle the vast quantities of data the trust processes each day. In addition; as the trusts remit and work with outside bodies develops and grows, it was important our system was compatible and up to the same standards as those of councils and other partner organisations. Back in September 2010 the trust had settled on switching to a new high end computer system, built by the worlds most respected and best selling CRM and Accounts software developer Sage. It is a system used by a number of outside bodies, that we work along side, including local councils and other organisations.
Gary Gregory, Chief Executive of the trust explained; “As any organisation grows and expands, it is important to ensure that the right administration practices and systems are put into place to cope with and maintain service levels. As a charity resources are precious and this includes time spent on administration. It was evident that after a very successful growth year for the trust, too much time was being spent on administration and in particular the same data and tasks being duplicated several times. Administration needed to expand in line with the other areas of the trust, to ensure we remained Central Bedfordshires premier organisation, dedicated to dogs!”
Sage ACT!! 2011 Premium; was the computer software system of choice paired with Sage Line 50 Accounts software. A lot of resource was spent by the trust, to ensure that the switch over was a painless as possible.
HOWEVER less than a month into the switchover, a problem emerged. Sage Act!! is designed for charities where people are its main focus, but for the Central Bedfordshire Canine Trust dogs are its main focus and this resulted in problems and lack of functionality, hurdles that the system alone, simply could not overcome.
Determined not to see the switchover come to an end and desperate to find a solution, the trust set about finding ways to implement changes to the system. Gary Gregory continued “Whilst Sage Act! is a fantastic and powerful system, it was evident that to get the most from it we needed a way to further customise and add functions to it that focused on the dogs information rather than their owners data.”
The problem facing the trust however was that Software Developers are not easy to find and certainly not cheap!! That’s where Durkin Computing saved the day!
As leading specialists in customising and developing applications running the Sage Act! system, Durkin Computing was contacted by the trusts Chief Executive to provide a method of implementing the changes required. “We explained to Durkin Computing our situation and our lack of resources, after a number of transatlantic emails and communications; we were very grateful when they confirmed they would support the trust and provide the necessary customisation add-ons for free!” Gary said.
The generosity of Durkin Computing has really saved the day! And the trust looks forward to the full implementation of the new computer system being in place and complete by April 2011.
For more information on Sage visit www.sage.co.uk
For more information on Durkin Computing visit www.durkincomputing.com