The software capabilities you need to thrive in the ever-changing nonprofit sector

If your organization is to thrive in the face of constant change, you need the right kind of enterprise software. Here are the critical attributes that define truly future-proofed systems.

Constant change is the inescapable reality of modern nonprofit activity. In every discipline – whether it’s fundraising, project management, or financial reporting – it’s essential to be able to meet unpredictability with flexibility and to do so without increasing indirect costs.

It’s a tall order. This is why it’s vital to choose the right kind of business software, with the right features, from the right vendor, to meet these requirements.

1. The right enterprise system

First, there are three broad categories of solution at your disposal: point solutions (individual products that perform one function), monolithic enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (which try to do everything but remain inflexible) and a modular, or ‘app-based,’ ERP.

The only category that allows nonprofits to thrive in an environment of constant change is the app-based ERP. They are built to easily integrate with, or extend out to, other systems without a great deal of IT expertise.

They have an architecture consisting of low code/no code ‘microservices’ (multiple components that can easily be rearranged to meet changing requirements), which means that, rather than everything being hard-coded (as in a monolithic ERP systems) and needing specialized IT support to change anything, users can re-configure processes themselves.

And they use application programming interfaces (APIs) – universal software connectors that allow systems to talk to each other – so it’s easy to integrate with other systems, even point solutions.

“In 2019, Unit4 stood its ground within the highly competitive enterprise software market, carving out a unique position for itself within the service-based industry. Unit4 is now in an excellent position to take business away from legacy providers in its specialized verticals…” – Nucleus Research’s Hot Companies to Watch in 2020

2. Software that puts people first

The second attribute of a truly future-proofed nonprofit system is that it needs to make work easier for the people using it. The nonprofit sector needs enterprise systems that put people first, using enhanced People Experience (PX).

This approach prioritizes human impact and makes work more intuitive, more effective and more inspiring. This means that whatever the future brings, the people who use the software will always be in control, giving them the ability to adapt to new ways of working and adopt new business processes as necessary, so they can be more engaged to deliver more impact.

App-based ERPs with a focus on PX make it easier to automate routine, repetitive tasks so people are free to get on with the more meaningful work of adding value to your organization and those you serve.

Check out Constellation Research’s recent report, Unit Delivers People-Centric Cloud ERP: Humanization of Digital Processes Gives Customers an ERP System with a Services Focus, to learn what the analysts are saying.

3. A vendor with a nonprofit focus

The third attribute of a genuine, future-proofed system is about the vendor you choose to work with. Nonprofits should choose a system provided by a vendor that focuses on their industry, and where the deep industry knowledge is embedded in the capabilities of its solution.

For example, Unit4 recently joined the partner steering group in support of the nonprofit Common Data Model (CDM). This CDM has been defined in collaboration between Microsoft, the nonprofit sector and NetHope members. It is a standardized definition of a data model, including all objects and attributes for the sector that is the first built specifically with and for the nonprofit sector.

Rising to the challenge

In short, modern, app-based systems are more adaptive to change and less expensive to run. They engage and energize your people, free finance colleagues to support field teams and keep administrative costs down.

To find out more about the attributes of solutions that enable your organization to thrive in a constantly changing future, download our white paper, Rising to the Challenge of Change.