Re: [TheThinkTank] Database suggestions
...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you!
Lauren,
What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs.
Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT
Salesforce- they donate their software via grants to Non Profits.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:05 AM, Sam Haraldson sam@bozemanbikekitchen.org wrote:
...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a
database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you!
Lauren,
What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs.
Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT
-- http://bozemanbikekitchen.org
The ThinkTank mailing List <a href=" http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>
One caution about Salesforce. While it is free, it's not easy to setup. We use it at Community Cycles, and while it has made many things possible that were not in our old system (Volgistics), it wasn't an easy journey to get it rolled out.
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 13, 2015, at 10:06 AM, Ryne Emory ryne@thebikedepot.org wrote:
Salesforce- they donate their software via grants to Non Profits.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:05 AM, Sam Haraldson sam@bozemanbikekitchen.org wrote:
...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you!
Lauren,
What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs.
Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT
-- http://bozemanbikekitchen.org
The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>
-- Ryne Emory Program Manager The Bike Depot 2825 Fairfax St. Denver, CO 80207 Office: 303-393-1963 x205 Ryne@thebikedepot.org ____________________________________
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Glad you brought this up Laura. I've been thinking about getting us something more sophisticated too! We use a combination of a Google spreadsheet and a notebook in the shop for a lot of things. When someone buys a bike in the shop, the shop manager for the night will write it down in the notebook. That's also where our volunteers night in for the night. When customers sign in to the shop, it goes to our Google spreadsheet. As far as inventory goes, I think that's in the notebook, or at least our "front space" or more expensive bike are. I must admit, most of the bikes that are in the back and need repair, along with all the hodgepodge of parts in the shop aren't really inventoried.
From what I've heard, previous people have tried to tackle this issue for
us before, but haven't had much success. The notebook and Google spreadsheet work okay, but in my opinion it could be improved. One thing I've had to keep in mind is that not everyone is technology savvy when it comes to this stuff. You can have the fanciest software in the world, but it doesn't do you much good if no one can use it!
Kat Sopo Bike Co-op Atlanta, GA
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 12:12 PM, Archer Sully archer.sully@gmail.com wrote:
One caution about Salesforce. While it is free, it's not easy to setup. We use it at Community Cycles, and while it has made many things possible that were not in our old system (Volgistics), it wasn't an easy journey to get it rolled out.
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 13, 2015, at 10:06 AM, Ryne Emory ryne@thebikedepot.org wrote:
Salesforce- they donate their software via grants to Non Profits.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:05 AM, Sam Haraldson < sam@bozemanbikekitchen.org> wrote:
...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a
database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you!
Lauren,
What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs.
Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT
-- http://bozemanbikekitchen.org
The ThinkTank mailing List <a href=" http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>
-- Ryne Emory Program Manager The Bike Depot 2825 Fairfax St. Denver, CO 80207 Office: 303-393-1963 x205 Ryne@thebikedepot.org
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We looked at Salesforce and decided against it. Set up would have taken a very dedicated tech savvy provider a significant amount of time and the best system would have required using a number of modules to SAlesforce that are not free. A reasonable cost we were quoted for a consultant (three different bids) were all over $8000. Sales force is free like a "free Puppy" is free.
I would also advise against having someone (a college class project, an intern, or an individual or firm you contract with) build a custom database just for you. Many times they are never finished (our experience) or the person leaves that state and there is no one to deal with problems (there are always problems with databases).
sheldon
We're still looking.
.............. Sheldon Mains SPOKES Bike Walk Connect program of Cycles for Change www.SpokesConnect.org www.fb.com/SpokesConnect Minneapolis, MN 612/618-7149 Three ways to donate to SPOKES:
- Volunteer. 2. Donate repairable used bikes. 3. Financial donations
always welcome. Check www.SpokesConnect.org for details.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 11:12 AM, Archer Sully archer.sully@gmail.com wrote:
One caution about Salesforce. While it is free, it's not easy to setup. We use it at Community Cycles, and while it has made many things possible that were not in our old system (Volgistics), it wasn't an easy journey to get it rolled out.
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 13, 2015, at 10:06 AM, Ryne Emory ryne@thebikedepot.org wrote:
Salesforce- they donate their software via grants to Non Profits.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:05 AM, Sam Haraldson < sam@bozemanbikekitchen.org> wrote:
...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a
database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you!
Lauren,
What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs.
Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT
-- http://bozemanbikekitchen.org
The ThinkTank mailing List <a href=" http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>
-- Ryne Emory Program Manager The Bike Depot 2825 Fairfax St. Denver, CO 80207 Office: 303-393-1963 x205 Ryne@thebikedepot.org
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I would also advise against having someone (a college class project, an intern, or an individual or firm you contract with) build a custom database just for you. Many times they are never finished (our experience) or the person leaves that state and there is no one to deal with problems (there are always problems with databases).
This is the hardest part: on one hand it seems like our needs don't fit with pre-existing solutions, on the other hand everything Sheldon describes is spot-on. I think the best situation is something that can have broader community support, and not be too idiosyncratic. That's hard to put together though. I think Freehub is the closest to that, but I think even that is in 'maintenance mode' at this point.
sheldon
We're still looking.
.............. Sheldon Mains SPOKES Bike Walk Connect program of Cycles for Change www.SpokesConnect.org www.fb.com/SpokesConnect Minneapolis, MN 612/618-7149 Three ways to donate to SPOKES:
- Volunteer. 2. Donate repairable used bikes. 3. Financial donations
always welcome. Check www.SpokesConnect.org for details.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 11:12 AM, Archer Sully archer.sully@gmail.com wrote:
One caution about Salesforce. While it is free, it's not easy to setup. We use it at Community Cycles, and while it has made many things possible that were not in our old system (Volgistics), it wasn't an easy journey to get it rolled out.
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 13, 2015, at 10:06 AM, Ryne Emory ryne@thebikedepot.org wrote:
Salesforce- they donate their software via grants to Non Profits.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:05 AM, Sam Haraldson < sam@bozemanbikekitchen.org> wrote:
...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a
database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you!
Lauren,
What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs.
Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT
-- http://bozemanbikekitchen.org
The ThinkTank mailing List <a href=" http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>
-- Ryne Emory Program Manager The Bike Depot 2825 Fairfax St. Denver, CO 80207 Office: 303-393-1963 x205 Ryne@thebikedepot.org
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We do have a grant application in to get a database and implement it.
One were are looking closely at is thedatabank.com . They've added a volunteer module that looks good. Thedatabank would allow us to track volunteer hours, participants in all our programs (including attendance at open shop and attendance at multi day classes--e.g. Earn-a-Bike). It would allow on-line registration for events, online donations (that are much lower cost compared to Razoo or Network for Good), allow us to track "contacts" with potential larger donors, an email newsletter and eventually, mobile phone messaging and social media. It looks like everything dealing with people can be in one database. That is important because you want to move participants to volunteers to financial donors. It will also allow us to do surveys to ask past participants if they are biking more because of our programs and program evaluations.
The thing it looks like it will not track is physical things-- like work on bicycles, what used bikes are in stock, what work needs to be done on them. This isn't a big need for us now--physical sorting into different parts of the storage areas and paper tags are working now.
Thedatabank is local to Minneapolis (but is national in their client base) and looks like the lowest cost per month and for their part of the implementation. A lot things are included in their base fees (e.g. implementation and ongoing training) that others charge for. But, in putting together the budget, most of the implementation cost is internal staff time to clean up and merge a large variety of spreadsheets, for training, and for changing processes to make the best use of a database.
If we get the grant, will keep everyone posted on our decisions and experience.
.............. Sheldon Mains SPOKES Bike Walk Connect program of Cycles for Change www.SpokesConnect.org www.fb.com/SpokesConnect Minneapolis, MN 612/618-7149 Three ways to donate to SPOKES:
- Volunteer. 2. Donate repairable used bikes. 3. Financial donations
always welcome. Check www.SpokesConnect.org for details.
On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 5:11 PM, Andrew Shooner ashooner@gmail.com wrote:
I would also advise against having someone (a college class project, an
intern, or an individual or firm you contract with) build a custom database just for you. Many times they are never finished (our experience) or the person leaves that state and there is no one to deal with problems (there are always problems with databases).
This is the hardest part: on one hand it seems like our needs don't fit with pre-existing solutions, on the other hand everything Sheldon describes is spot-on. I think the best situation is something that can have broader community support, and not be too idiosyncratic. That's hard to put together though. I think Freehub is the closest to that, but I think even that is in 'maintenance mode' at this point.
sheldon
We're still looking.
.............. Sheldon Mains SPOKES Bike Walk Connect program of Cycles for Change www.SpokesConnect.org www.fb.com/SpokesConnect Minneapolis, MN 612/618-7149 Three ways to donate to SPOKES:
- Volunteer. 2. Donate repairable used bikes. 3. Financial donations
always welcome. Check www.SpokesConnect.org for details.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 11:12 AM, Archer Sully archer.sully@gmail.com wrote:
One caution about Salesforce. While it is free, it's not easy to setup. We use it at Community Cycles, and while it has made many things possible that were not in our old system (Volgistics), it wasn't an easy journey to get it rolled out.
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 13, 2015, at 10:06 AM, Ryne Emory ryne@thebikedepot.org wrote:
Salesforce- they donate their software via grants to Non Profits.
On Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 10:05 AM, Sam Haraldson < sam@bozemanbikekitchen.org> wrote:
...organize our infrastructure by putting everything we can into a
database (volunteer information, inventory, bike donations, events, individual donations, memberships, etc). We've been looking into CiviCRM, and getting an external host for that, but before we commit to anything I am hoping to hear any feedback/comments anyone might have on what systems you are using?? Thank you!
Lauren,
What is your current system? Are you tracking on paper, in a spreadsheet, something else, possibly not at all? We have operated out of a simple shared spreadsheet (Google Docs) since 2009 and have found it to work acceptably and are only now 5+ years later thinking about getting more serious about that side of our operations. I am a firm believer of getting a system dialed in using as simple a method as possible and then figuring out how to map that onto a true software solution rather than finding a software first and trying to make it work for your needs. Best of luck in sorting out your needs.
Cheers, Sam Bozeman, MT
-- http://bozemanbikekitchen.org
The ThinkTank mailing List <a href=" http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>
-- Ryne Emory Program Manager The Bike Depot 2825 Fairfax St. Denver, CO 80207 Office: 303-393-1963 x205 Ryne@thebikedepot.org
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participants (6)
-
Andrew Shooner -
Archer Sully -
Kat Volzer -
Ryne Emory -
Sam Haraldson -
sheldon mains