Top Five Technology Trends for 2010 agreed by not-for-profit sector experts

On 20 January 2010, IRIS NFP Solutions hosted its annual ‘Technology Trends Lunch'. Twenty five thought leaders attended the think-tank style event including independent IT consultants, clients, media representatives and managers from IRIS. Mobile, social media, integration, security and cloud computing were predicted to be the top five themes for not-for-profit (NFP) organisations this year.

After reviewing the trends that were predicted at last year's event, thirty five ideas were brought to the table in sealed envelopes. This was followed by interactive debate to group the suggestions into key themes and discuss the particular relevance they have for membership associations and charities. Voting then took place on what the room thought would be most significant for the not-for-profit arena in 2010.

Top Five predictions:

1.

Mobile - the requirement for mobile working will continue to rise seeing the use of more mobile devices, and the greater utilisation of applications such as geo-location and mobile phone campaign tools such as payment/donation facilities and QR codes. Organisations will have to get more used to staff bringing in their own (often higher spec) laptops, PDAs and phones to work on their system.

2.

Social media - this medium will remain high on the agenda, resulting in ‘all-in' adoption. Supporters, volunteers, members, beneficiaries and potential donors/members are using these more and more, which is why NFPs need to avidly embrace them.  People will expect a Real-Time web experience and will increasingly own the relationship they have with organisations. Social CRM will emerge as a term, where online activity will become part of Customer Relationship Management.  The entire spectrum of staff at NFP organisations will need to get onboard, underpinned by a clear social media strategy.

3.

Integration - the need for centralised access to information remains a high priority for NFP organsiations, which will result in better integration between different systems, platforms and the web.

4.

Security - more home and mobile working will bring heightened security challenges for NFP organisations relating to data, information, networks and identity.

5.

Cloud computing - the internet will become a progressively effective way for charities and membership organisations to manage their networks...with the risks and opportunities this brings.

Guests included the well known names of Howard Lake from UK Fundraising, Steve Bridger, Sue Fidler, Michael Webb from NFP Techno and Ivan Wainwright from IT for Charities, as well as other leading independent consultants from Blue Spark, Friendlier Projects, Indigo Blue, International Fundraising Consultancy, Purple Vision and Sayer Vincent. Other guests included senior managers from Marie Curie Cancer Care, Royal Society of Medicine, Stonewall and The Chartered Institute of Taxation, and expert representatives from Third sector, Charity Times, Civil Society IT and Association Management Quarterly.

With over 1000 not-for-profit clients, IRIS is able to facilitate a unique forum that brings together its many contacts. A key reason that IRIS NFP Solutions hosted this unique event was to ensure that its products and services continue to stay in-tune with the sector. IRIS is known as ‘The Sector Specialists' and this thought-leadership event is planned to happen again in January 2011.