7 Keys to an Apricot Software Management Plan [FREE GUIDE]

Note: Our free guide titled, 7 Keys to an Apricot Software Management Plan is now a part of our free download, The Essential Kit to Apricot Software Best Practices.

What is required to maintain and sustain Social Solutions Apricot™ software long-term?  What tasks, roles, and processes contribute to database health and data quality?  What investments of time, money, and effort are needed to guarantee that Apricot performs optimally?

The 8th Annual Nonprofit Technology Staffing and Investments Report published by NTEN found that high performing nonprofit organizations address those types of questions in their organization-wide strategic planning processes.

NTEN surveyed over seven hundred nonprofits in early 2014 about their adoption, use, and proficiency with technology.  The results were summarized and published in July 2014.

The report found that “Leading” organizations (those measuring with the highest Technology Adoption score, which identifies four different levels of an organization’s approach to technology: Struggling, Functioning, Operating, and Leading) are nearly 3x more likely to include technology in their strategic plans than “Struggling” organizations.

In addition, those organizations with higher Technology Effectiveness scores (an aggregate measure of perceived organizational proficiency, confidence, and effectiveness with technology) were strongly correlated to those organizations that included technology in their organization’s strategic planning process.

So why does this matter?

The NTEN report highlights and important concept.  High performing organizations that use technology maintain and sustain their technology systems by developing and implementing a “plan.”

If your organization wants to maintain a healthy Apricot database long-term, you will need an Apricot software management plan that focuses on sustainability and employs database software management best practices.

Our guide titled, 7 Keys to an Apricot Software Management Plan can help!

The guide outlines…

  • The benefits of an Apricot software management plan
  • Best practices that should be included in your plan
  • How to get the most from your Apricot database long-term

Why develop a plan?

High performing organizations that use Apricot, maintain and sustain their Apricot databases by developing and implementing a software management plan.  An Apricot software management plan helps organizations minimize costs over the lifetime of the database while simultaneously maximizing long-term return on investment (ROI).

A plan prepares your organization for staff transitions and turnover while also reducing the risk and potential for major system redesigns and rebuilds in the future.  Having a plan also maximizes system use, helping you get more value from the annual cost for Apricot.

Much of Apricot’s value is derived by how much you invest in it, so invest time and energy in Apricot management on a consistent basis to enhance the long-term sustainability of your Apricot system.


What should be included in a plan?

Without giving too much away or spoiling the important concepts (because you should download the guide here), here are some quick highlights of this guide.

  • Design a database that encourages data entry rather than making data entry burdensome
  • Rigorously manage data quality to improve the accuracy of reporting
  • Develop strategic and intentional reports and dashboard bulletins
  • Support users and administrators so they can thrive in the database
  • Keep your system up-to-date by making moderate upgrades over time

The goal of this guide is to outline the processes and systems your organization will need to maintain and sustain your Apricot database long-term.  Click here to download the guide for free! 

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The Essential Kit to Apricot Best Practices

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  • 1x 60-minute Webinar
  • ( checklist + slides )

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