Contact Communication

including case/client management systems

Web systems which are readily usable to provide communication with members, partners; intranets or extranets (facilitating working across teams or organisations); general sector management and admin. There has been quite a turnover in the simpler (marketing-based) offerings, but at summer 2005 they may be settling down and systems covering other functions are coming in. Note overlap with Membership software page. ALSO NOTE: a few years on from when this page was set up it is probably time for it to disappear, given that web features are now common.

• CharityLog although described as a web-based Contact Management system, revolves around a diary screen allowing the management of client related work e.g. booking a home visit, recording result, ensuring follow up, referral or other action. Will produce a variety of reports, for internal or funder use.

• LampLight records service users, the work done with them, and produces detailed monitoring statistics, with Version 2 (March 06) dealing with outcomes as well as outputs. Functions for second tier organisations have been added. Costs £10 per month.

• The Legal Case Management (LCM) system aims to help not-for-profit legal advice centres make better follow-ups of their cases, including client consultations and court events, as well as more efficient reporting. Open source written in/for Bulgaria but intention to adapt to UK requirements. Also see Free(code) details on developments.

• Uniservity's Community Manager is a web-based community management system for infrastructure organisations (e.g. CVS). See Volbase on specialist software page for non-web alternative.

• Democratic consultation via the Web E-Consultant is 'a web-based tool for electronic consultation comprising four main components: inform, participate, feedback and evaluate. The aim is to support and facilitate best practice in consultation.'

Project/Team Working

Communications, calendar, task coordination facilities.

Note: most of the following was compiled up to 2001 - some of the providers may have merged or ceased providing facilities.

• Try Meeting Wizard to manage meetings and events online.
• Mailing lists and internet communities Straight 'listservs' can be used to communicate with members, as well as discussion groups which people can join to talk about any issue of common interest. Try out Yahoo Groups or Topica.
• For project and work groups in different locations, or even for people sharing the same office, 'groupware' that allows you to share documents, calendars, to-do lists and address books can be very useful. Using the web replaces the need for highly sophisticated tools such as Lotus Notes to do this. Also try daptiv (Was eProjects) and also look at Visto. The European Projectplace is a sophisticated professional tool. Groove "is a secure platform for building custom peer computing business applications that support the way people work together".

Intranets

The internet/web approach used internally to the organisation, or restricted to partner organisations. Try intranets.com - post messages, documents, links, integrate selected web pages, with password access to www.your-org.intranet.com. Now (autumn 05) rebranded as Web Office.

Events and Venues

• FUSE from altacontact is designed to manage participation in fundraising events.

• Active Network provides Online Event Management Software aimed at sports clubs, leagues etc.

• Some membership management systems include events (or course) management.