As technology in our homes always moves forwards, sometimes we forget that there are industries that can use new pieces of equipment to help their cause. For example, the P3 charity in Lincolnshire is currently trialling drone use to help search for rough sleepers in the rolling countryside.

There’s so much good that technology can do, so this month we wanted to explore how these pieces of equipment are shaping the future of the care provider industry.

Affordable computers for online outreach

When it comes to promoting a charity, there’s nothing better than reaching out to potential customers and existing ones online.

With more and more people spending their time flicking through social media and online news channels, charities could benefit from a suite of affordable computers, enabling employees to further their charity efforts from the comfort of their store.

However, the purchase of computers doesn’t have to be a financial burden for charities, especially if they reach out to technology resellers who can help find them computers at a more affordable price when compared to traditional purchasing.

Drones and digital exploration

Now there’s always going to be some pushback against drones. There is an argument that they’re being used irresponsibly, but as we’ve already mentioned, some charities are utilising drones to help their charitable efforts.

We’ve already said that P3 is using them to help find rough sleepers in the countryside, but who else is using them?

The RNLI and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) have been carrying out drone tests to see if they can be utilised when trying to find people in trouble at sea.

They’ve tested drones for shoreline searches and mud rescues, so it’ll be interesting to see whether this is something they roll out in the future.

Websites, online services and e-donations

Whilst it’s fairly well known that the easiest way to connect with customers is to have a website, it’s often an aspect of improving charitable causes that are overlooked.

The larger charities will already have their own set up, ready to direct people to donations pages, but for smaller charities with limited budgets, it can seem like an overwhelming, time-consuming task. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

Technology resellers such as Tektraders are able to provide charities with the guidance, support and most importantly, the equipment and software that they need to enhance their online web presence, increase their brand reach and attract new donations.

The added benefit of this is that these pieces of software, hardware and technology can be sourced from manufacturers that have extensive experience within the charity sector.

They understand charity needs and requirements, making them best placed to advise, guide and support through the upgrade process.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and customer support

Whilst Siri, Alexa and Cortana are already playing a huge role in the digital revolution in our homes, charities will soon be able to utilise AI in their on-going customer support practices.

Think about it, if you’re able to let your customers interact with AI and it’s able to help them solve specific problems, then that leaves employees free to focus their efforts on reaching new demographics.

Now we’re not suggesting that AI is a replacement for human contact, we’re saying that it can be used to enhance service and help reduce the administrative burdens on employees who may already be overworked or stressed out.

The added benefit of utilising AI in a charity is that it can be available 24/7, 365 days a year. We all know that if there’s a problem, it doesn’t always happen during normal working hours, so AI enables charities to support their customers, even when they’re not there in person.

Further reading

If you’re interested in learning more about digital trends or you want to update your charity systems, then take a look at the blog posts we’ve listed below.

• How a technology reseller could benefit your business
• How to reduce the costs of updating your company systems
• Digital trends to watch out for this year

 

So there we have it, some of the ways that technology could benefit businesses within the charity sector. It may seem that there is a continuous shift towards automation, but that doesn’t mean that the human touch still isn’t as important as it was before.

As long as charities understand that technology can enhance their service, help streamline their offering and increase the number of people that they’re able to help, there’s no need to worry.

Remember, if you need help, support or guidance on how to update your charity systems or simply want to inquire about a new piece of technology, we’re here to help. Get in touch with us today to see how our experience could be used to benefit your charity.