| | November 20137CIOReviewBringing Enterprise-Level Technology to a Neighborhood Near Youhardware, or maintenance. In December 2010, a "Cloud First" policy was issued in the U.S. requiring agencies to give priority to cloud-based applications and services where possible to lower costs. As the graphic below indicates, the move is already underway.· Plan for Your Future Needs: Organizations need to look for a partner who can provide a solution to address both current needs and those in the future. Cloud technology can be continuously rescaled to fit changing needs during peak registration periods or growing populations. The investment and responsibility lies with the software provider to iterate quickly and support new tech trends.· Make Stability and Security a Priority: Security and stability should be non-negotiable, but it's not typically something most people worry about until something goes wrong. As a best practice, organizations should look for a partner whose technology platform stores data in tier 3+ datacenters and provides around the clock monitoring. In addition, any organization that accepts, transmits, or stores credit card data, should work with a Level 1 PCI compliant technology partner. A technology platform should also have a configurable security policy of username and password requirements. · Use Data to Drive Community Services: Once you have the right technology in place, the next step is to use the data you collect to better serve your community. Look for a partner who is able to provide flexible and in-depth reporting tools that help identify new revenue opportunities, respond to customer needs, and plan new programs. Think like are retailer. How can you use data to sell out of new class offerings?· Don't Forget About Customer Service: Community organizations are being held to the same standard as private companies when it comes to providing online access to activities and facilities. Now more than ever, consumers expect to have the ability to search and register online for classes or community services. Make sure your technology partner is able to leverage the latest web trends to increase online success by providing you with best practices for online registrations. Features such as the ability to customize "tips" to help your customers register, add visual formats (videos, pictures, maps), and use tools to help convert customers and drive online sales.Organizations shouldn't have to worry about technology if they find a partner who has the participant at the forefront of their design. Technology should offer an organization the tools to drive participation and strengthen communities. Enterprise-level software is now more affordable and allows organizations of any scale to maximize efficiency, optimize data to manage resources, and provide consumers with a safe and protected way to access activities and services from anywhere.Darko Dejanovic
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