We did it - we are using Papersave. I really love it. There are so many ways to add a document to a record in Raiser's Edge. Currently, we have two scanners that our record processors use to scan in the daily mail. It's a new process so, of course, there is buy in time, but I have to say that it's working. It's amazing to have that documentation linked to a gift or appeal or constituent record.
I'd like to share a little advice for the install. Make sure you or a consultant is comfortable with your environment - understands where are your databases, has admin rights and knows passwords, including the sa password for your database server. If you decide to integrate with Sharepoint, encourage the process that the Papersave techs set up the site. Sharepoint integration is an option. We were confused about that in our initial contract. Papersave made good on it for us and did our integration and we really appreciate it. We use Sharepoint extensively. The advantage is that the user does not have to use an RE license to view the gifts and the associated documentation. You also have a search function from within RE that allows you to easily find certain gifts and the documentation.
We're really just getting in the swing of things with Papersave. Next week, we plan to train our staff on the search function and to show them how to add documentation using the dropdown in the constituent record. I'm happy to share any other info with anyone interested in using Papersave. Feel free to email me directly - nora@alsphiladelphi.org.
We had a great PBUG meeting earlier this month. We had lengthened our meeting to allow for a presentation from O'Matic Software. Jeff Montgomery and Pam Bruek joined us from Charleston and told us about some really cool tools and plugins that have built for Blackbaud products such as RE and FE. I want import-o-matic now. I had heard about import-o-matic in the past and I thought - oh yeah, it will make importing a little easier. I had no idea how this tool works. You can actually import all kinds of data at the same time from ONE and ONE import process. This means you can create a .csv file with name, address, gift amount, tribute info, event info - all kinds of data and import-o-matic figures out how to get it in the database without having to include all of those id fields in your file. AND you have a wonderful interface that lets you change search criteria, edit records on the fly, update info in either the import file or the record....I can go on and on. That search criteria - it can be multiple types of searches - first and last name (# of characters), address line, email address - all searched at the same time if you so choose.
Next step is to try to get it in the budget. I've kind of had a lot of projects this year so I may have exhausted any available funds. It will make me truly sad to not get this tool soon. I do plan to use it instead of the Sphere plugin. More on that later.
Off to do some work.... good day to all
Nora
