The ability of a business to generate value through technology is referred to as digital maturity. Because technology is constantly changing, digital maturity is not something you attain and then abandon; it is a lifelong commitment. For organisations and charities, digital maturity can be conceived of as employing software to streamline procedures such as scheduling volunteers, reaching new audiences, connecting with contributors, and anticipating fundraising income.
Significance Of Digital Maturity For Nonprofits
The most significant changes resulting from COVID-19 were related to the need to quickly integrate to adapt to new working settings, particularly remote work, companies are turning to digital solutions. Non-profits were also forced to pivot and incorporate digital technologies to adapt just like commercial organizations. These developments and the greater emphasis on using digital in communications and outreach will continue, and their online encounters will mainly determine the kind of interactions people anticipate having with organizations.
Digitally mature NGOs are far better positioned for long-term success than those just surviving the pandemic. Non-profits organizations do not only include NGOs but also social advocacy groups, religious institutions, civil leagues, trade, professional associations, and many more whose focus is on the welfare of the audience it serves.
For example, more than twice as many mature organizations as other NGOs predict that large and planned donations will increase in the coming months.
Meanwhile, in the coming years, the majority of mature NGOs will prosper in the following areas:
• Increasing audience engagement through digital mediums
• Personalising the way they provide services to their customers
• Volunteers will be more engaged.
• Having better online donation capabilities
Four Stages Of Digital Maturity
Digital maturity is a good measure of whether an organisation can adapt and survive in the quickly changing digital market or is doomed to fail. Organisations are classified into one of four digital maturity stages:
Incidental: Organisations that receive an “incidental” rating carry out a few actions that support Digital Transformation, but they do so by chance rather than by design. There is no rudimentary understanding of Digital Transformation as a business need.
Intentional: Organisations in the “intentional” stage are doing things on purpose to assist digital transformation, such as exhibiting some strategic initiatives, but their efforts are not yet simplified or automated. Although the organisation’s leaders have adopted DX, their actions are still in the early stages and have yet to catch on across other departments.
Integrated: Those at the “integrated” level successfully implement various Digital Transformation-supporting activities. These projects are carried out with a high level of strategic intent and are well-coordinated and streamlined for the most part. Leadership recognises Digital Transformation as a critical organisational need, and transformative activities have been in place long enough to demonstrate a real business impact.
Optimised: Organisations s that fall into this category are few and far between, yet they are regarded as digital transformation pioneers. Almost every one of their operations is planned ahead of time, and the majority of them are entirely streamlined, coordinated, and automated. Any new technology introduced to the company is quickly incorporated into the existing systems and procedures. As technology and markets change, digital transformation has been ingrained in firm culture, resulting in increased organisational agility.
3 Tips For Achieving Digital Maturity
In an ideal world, experiencing a digital transition would be as straightforward as installing new software, but the process is more evolutionary. Take the initial steps toward digital maturity at your nonprofit by following these guidelines.
Tip 1: Examine your present procedures
It is practically hard to imagine an entirely altered future without first grasping your nonprofit’s existing state of affairs. With this in mind, the first step is to describe the technology your company already employs and how it aids (or hinders) their work.
To use this, you will need to enlist the help of team leaders who supervise various aspects of your company, such as program directors and campaign managers. Set aside time to talk about what tools the teams are using, how people utilise them, and how they are related to other departments or software inside the company. Pay attentively and take notes throughout these discussions so that you can compile a list of requirements for new technology investments.
Tip 2: Figure Out What Information You Will Need to Track
“Knowledge is power,” as the adage goes. It is stuck around because it is accurate. One of the most significant benefits of digitisation is collecting better data and utilising it to make judgments. Your nonprofit, for example, can use data to stay on track toward its objectives, prioritise essential activities, measure the impact of its efforts, and identify future opportunities.
Data gathering, reporting, and analytics should be a primary priority when developing your future software ecosystem. This means you will need to do two things: first, figure out what kinds of data would be most beneficial to track, and second, figure out how to make that data freely accessible to Anyone in your firm who needs it.
While the latter is tough to perform without knowing what software solutions you will need to integrate, you can use the questions below to determine which data to collect:
- Which metrics might help predict our fundraising revenue?
- What kinds of data visualisations could help us increase the number of donations we receive?
- What information could we add to grant applications to increase our chances of receiving funding?
- How can we effectively track our budget and progress toward our financing targets by utilising data?
- What other data might demonstrate our work’s genuine impact?
Tip 3: Find The Right Tool
It would be best to begin evaluating software solutions that meet your list of criteria while keeping the pain points your team is experiencing with your present technology in mind.
You must also ask your vendors the essential questions to determine their experience providing what you require. You can test their quality by asking them questions such as:
How long have you been engaging in this field?
Could we perhaps look into the history of your company?
Can you send us a demo of your designed charity management system?
Will the program come with a manual?
Is it possible for me to contact one of your clients to inquire about the user experience?
What are your customer service centre’s hours of operation?
What features can be incorporated into the Charity Management System?
How many charity centres have you helped with software?
