Software selection

Sayer Vincent has a proven approach to selecting software for charity and not-for-profit organisations. We have specialist systems knowledge and skills, combined with a thorough understanding of how charities work. Our advice is jargon-free and impartial, and we are totally independent of any suppliers or software companies.

We base our approach on the premise that choosing the right software means first understanding the charity's business and the key operational issues. We have real-world experience of dealing with suppliers and developers of software. That means we can cut through the hype to make sure you compare apples with apples - and not with pears! And, when it comes to agreeing contracts with the preferred supplier, we know all the major pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Generally, the right approach for most charities selecting new software is to consider what is already available off the shelf, rather than having software specifically written. You will be able to configure software to meet most of your needs, and if necessary, you can probably customise it further.

How we do the work

Every organisation is different - and so we always begin by agreeing with you the best way we can help, for example:

Setting up the overall process for selection and implementation. That might involve just one or two people from your organisation - or it could mean setting up and briefing a team of key individuals who will be involved throughout the project.
Holding workshops and "one to one" discussions with a representative selection of staff and other stakeholders, to specify your organisation's requirements.
Consolidating notes from interviews and discussions into a written statement of requirements.
Converting your requirements into a formal invitation to tender, and issuing that to a list of potential suppliers. Here, we can draw further on our knowledge and experience to help you identify the right suppliers to approach.
Summarising responses and costings - helping you agree a shortlist of the tenders to investigate in more detail.
Organising supplier demonstrations and workshops - and helping you identify one or more "preferred suppliers" for more detailed discussions.
Helping you with contract negotiations and getting the best prices and contractual terms for your organisation.
Moving on to help set up and manage the installation and implementation.

Benefits of this approach

Using Sayer Vincent to help select your new software means that you and your organisation will: