Technology & Innovation
All around us, technology is accelerating many organizations’ abilities to achieve set goals and their mission. Many successful enterprises have realized that IT is the backbone of their operations and communications. Currently, International NGOs are investing more in research and development of applications that can assist them in making better.
Market
Since NGOs rely on well-wishers and the Government for donations, it is crucial for them to market themselves to both the donors and the target audience. They must put in policies that show that besides having technical know-how on how to implement projects, they are accountable, transparent, and innovative.
Technology Changes in the NGO Sector
Every industry, whether for-profit or Non-profit, undergoes times of transformation and product or service innovation. We are witnessing a scenario where IT is being recognized as a powerful force that drives innovation, dislodging traditional market leaders from the top and establishing new ones.
One technology that has become useful in the Non-profit global scene and has changed how organizations operate is Mobile technology. According to a report published by the UN Foundation, mobile solutions are being used to drive change in health, environment, nutrition, governance, and conservation sectors (unfoundation.org, 2016). The authors of the report point out that besides mobile technology being used for voice and text messaging, it is being used for data collection, data analysis, inventory management., capturing real-time operation reports, and mapping. The main advantages of mobile technology include cost savings, wider audience reach, and the ability to collect, transmit data in a more secure and timely manner
Organizations are also migrating most of their solutions to the cloud. For example, most organizations are using VOIP instead of traditional phone systems. With these services such as VoIP, organizations are able to save money
Role and Status of Innovation in NGOs
Even though NGO IT departments operate on a shoestring budget, many of them are forced to think creatively to survive. Many donors are only willing to fund NGOs that can demonstrate that their proposed projects are innovative enough. Innovation in service delivery, communication and operations applications is now a necessity that can no longer be ignored. Shawney et al. (2012) opine that when companies ignore innovation, they risk losing opportunities thus leaving them vulnerable to competitors. Many organizations have been able to utilize innovation to improve service delivery, expanding their portfolio and locations as well as improving business processes. Below are areas in which we have seen Non-profits use innovative technologies to achieve their set goals.
Fundraising
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Human Resources
NGOs are now using cloud-based solutions for payroll processing, timekeeping, benefits processing, hiring, and performance management. This solution has proven easy to implement and can be accessed anywhere
Finance & Operations
Finance, accounting, and procurement departments are usually most scrutinized by the donors and recipients since they are responsible for controlling the budget and dispensing allocated resources.
According to NetHope (2016), these departments are usually the starting point of all organizational processes, and it is paramount to spend time looking into ways how to regularly improve them. Most NGOs are moving to which is cloud-based systems that allow them to track financial transactions in rea-time.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Over the last decade, there have been tools for data have undergone the most dynamic integration with ICT solutions. Companies have moved away from the traditional pen–and–paper data collection and analyzing methods. Most organizations are investing more in ICT-based Monitoring and Evaluation IT systems that support programs and spur their growth.
This includes data gathering systems like DHIS2, Tableau, Magpi, and ODK. These systems have assisted in creating a bridge between various programs departments at the HQ and field offices. The use of these new technologies has also helped in streamlining data analysis systems; provided visualizations of collected to facilitate informed decision making and facilitated access to critical information as staff in the field can send collected data in a more secure, fast, and reliable manner.
Clearly, the non-profit landscape is changing rapidly and only organizations that adopt new technologies and foster innovations in workplaces will remain relevant. It is paramount for organizations to start investing and fostering a culture of innovation by promoting it as an organizational value rather than a means of survival.