| |
VolunteerWorks |
Volgistics |
| How it works |
VolunteerWorks is a
Microsoft Windows compatible software program you install on your own PC or PC
network. It requires Microsoft Windows version 98 or later, but does not
require an Internet connection.
You must supply and maintain the PCs,
file server, and network equipment (for networked systems) you use to run
VolunteerWorks.
The data you enter into VolunteerWorks is stored on
your PC or a server in your organization. |
Volgistics is a
hosted online service you use over the Internet. Volgistics does not require
the installation of any software on your computer or network. You can use
Volgistics from any Internet connected computer (PC or Mac), at work, at home,
or on the road. The data you enter into Volgistics is stored in the secure
Volgistics data center. |
| Internet
capability |
None without the
optional VolunteerTools service. If you subscribe to the optional
VolunteerTools service you can use VolunteerWorks to post volunteer
opportunities on your web site, collect online volunteer application forms and
online time sheets, and send mail to volunteers through the VolunteerTools mail
server. The cost of the VolunteerTools service is $288 a year. |
Internet capabilities
are integrated right into the service. These include the ability to post
volunteer opportunities and online volunteer application forms on your web
site, plus the ability to send email to volunteers. The optional VicNet service
enables volunteers to interact with the system themselves online. Volunteers
can go online to view or print their schedules, update their profile (such as
their email address, availability, and interests), communicate with the
volunteer office, and more. |
| Hardware |
Requires a personal
computer with Microsoft Windows® 98 or later. |
Works at any PC or
Mac with any of these web browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari.
|
| Internet
Connection |
Required only if you
use the optional VolunteerTools service. |
Required. While
dial-up and AOL connections are adequate for occasional access, a high-speed
Internet connection, such as DSL, cable modem, or T1 is recommended for
locations where you'll access Volgistics frequently (such as your office). |
| Multi-site
capability |
Although it is
possible to identify and 'filter' volunteers by site or program classification,
there is not a way to setup individual system operators so they see only 'their
own' volunteer records. |
If you have multiple
volunteer offices at different sites, Volgistics lets you setup operators at
each site who see only 'their site's' volunteer records, while headquarters
level operators can see and work with volunteer records for all sites. In
addition, headquarters can centrally set system standards and manage system
operation.
You can use the same features to 'segment' different
volunteer programs at a single site. For example, if a volunteer office has an
'Adult' volunteer program coordinated by one person, and a 'Junior' volunteer
program coordinated by another person, you can setup the 'Adult' program
coordinator so they see just the 'Adult' volunteers, and the 'Junior' program
coordinator so they see just the 'Junior' volunteers. Other operators can be
configured to see all volunteers (both 'Adult' and 'Junior' volunteers). |
| Support options |
Organizations choose
between telephone support and email only support (email only support costs
less). There is an annual charge for support services. |
Technical support is
included in the monthly service fee and provided online. Telephone support for
Volgistics will be available later in 2007. |
| Upgrades |
Updates are available
periodically to organizations that have support service subscriptions. You must
download and install updates when they are released. |
System upgrades are
installed automatically for you. |
| Printing |
Sends printed reports
to printers attached to your computer or network using the standard Microsoft
Windows printer controls. |
Returns printed
reports to you as PDF files which you can preview, print on printers attached
to your PC or network, or forward as email attachments. Viewing and printing
requires Adobe Acrobat reader which is freely available from
www.adobe.com. |
| Scheduled
reports |
Not available |
You can tell
Volgistics that you want a particular report to print automatically and how
often. Volgistics automatically prepares the report and delivers it to your
mailbox on schedule. For example, get a monthly service report automatically on
the 5th of every month. |
| Spread sheet
outputs |
You can create Excel
spread sheet files from your data, however you are limited to a choice of
several pre-formatted spread sheet reports. |
You can create Excel
spread sheet files from your data, and you may choose exactly which fields of
information you want your spread sheet to include. |
| Send email |
You can send email to
volunteers from VolunteerWorks if you configure VolunteerWorks to work with
your organization's own mail server, or if you use the optional VolunteerTools
service. |
With Volgistics,
email features are built into the service. You can easily send email to
individuals or specific groups of volunteers; plus Coordinators. You can also
send volunteer schedule and checklist reminders by email automatically. |
| Online application
forms |
Yes - with the
optional VolunteerTools service. New application submissions must be retrieved
from the VolunteerTools system before they are available to you. |
Yes - at no
additional cost. New application submissions are available to you instantly.
Supports multiple application forms for different purposes, and offers
extensive application form customization options. |
| Track assignment
level supervisors |
Only to a limited
degree when you enter them as Department or Job contacts. There is no provision
for sending email to supervisors, or enabling supervisors to access their
information except by making them a system operator. |
Volgistics provides a
complete set of 'Coordinator' features for the people who help coordinate
volunteers at the assignment level. These include the ability to track
coordinators; assign coordinators to multiple assignments - or complete groups
of assignments; send them email; and view or print volunteer lists or schedules
by coordinator. With the optional VicNet service you can give coordinators
online access to the schedules for their areas without having to make them
system operators. |
| Cost |
Software costs start
between $794 (for a single user system without VIC) and $2,049 (for a five user
network system with the Volunteer Information Center). The optional
VolunteerTools service is $288 a year. After the first year, annual support
costs are typically between $99 (for On-line only support for a single user
system) and $299 (for Basic Support with a five user network system).
Price
List. |
There is nothing to
buy up front. You pay a monthly service fee to use the service, which includes
online support. The amount of the monthly service fee depends on the number of
volunteer records you track and the number of system operators you need, and it
starts at just $9 a month. Volgistics provides a
rate calculator
you can use to determine what your actual cost would be based on the size of
your database. |