Many human services agencies falsely believe their technology needs are so unique to justify building their own custom solution. In the long run, however, this could be a very costly mistake. A commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product that can be configured to meet your needs and evolve over time can almost always do the job—with a considerably smaller strain on resources and faster time to value.
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Our blog isn’t about us. It’s about you. We discuss business challenges and real issues human service agencies and caseworkers face everyday. You’ll find traditional human services software articles about things like document management for human services and social work technology. But you’ll also find inspirational stories to boost caseworkers’ spirits and tools to help agencies find and gain support for technology in human services.
Build vs. Buy: Why COTS is the Smarter Choice for Human Services
How to Buy Human Services Technology (Even During a Crisis)
Buying technology for human services can be hard, especially for agencies that have never done so before. (Of course, working through this process amid a global pandemic and economic instability adds a new layer of complication!)
Read MoreTechnology Regression Happens. Here’s How to Fix It.
It’s no secret that technology is a huge investment. If you’ve put significant time and resources toward integrating technology throughout your agency’s daily flow of activities, you expect to see ongoing, long-term results long after your initial purchase.
But what happens when you stop seeing those returns? The reality is, even the most successful technology implementations can get off track down the line—especially several years later.
People turn over. Crises interrupt operations. Processes change. Time passes. If the way you use technology doesn’t adapt to the way you work, the efficiencies and time savings you once gained may slowly trickle away.
Read MoreTop 5 Northwoods Blog Posts of 2018
This year's list is full of expert content, inspirational stories to remind you why you do what you do, and other resources to help you utilize social work technology.
Happy reading!
(By the way, want to get more great articles like these written just for human services delivered straight to your inbox next year? Subscribe here.)
Read MoreTop 6 Northwoods Blog Posts of 2016
Readers, rejoice!
It’s that time of year where we recap the can’t-miss blog posts of the last 365 days.
Whether you’re looking for customer success stories, technology adoption tips, or inspiration to keep on file for the days when you need to recharge, this list has got you covered.
So grab your reading glasses, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and catch up on the top 6 Northwoods blog posts of 2016. Happy reading!
Read MoreThe Do’s and Don’ts of Human Services Technology Implementation [Resource Recap]
Over the past few months, we’ve discussed a handful of factors that can make or break your human services technology implementation. Maybe you’ve read and bookmarked every post, or maybe this is your first time even realizing that this blog exists (in that case, hello!).
Either way, we thought it would be helpful to recap all the handy tips and tricks we’ve shared.
Read MoreHow to Assemble a "Justice League" of Tech Teams
Having the right people on a technology implementation team is make or break for project success. Too often in human services, the right people aren’t involved from the beginning and by the time the project hits end users, it’s dead in the water.
In our experience, assembling a clearly defined team is the first step toward increasing user adoption when it comes to technology. While the number of people involved may differ depending on the size of your agency and the scope of the project, the general makeup should be the same.
Read MoreRemoving the Risk Factor from Organizational Process Change
Organizational process change is often the riskiest aspect of implementing new software for human services agencies. Yet in order for agencies to continuously improve, all stakeholders must be willing to embrace these changes – and the risk and fear that accompany them.
5 Proven Ways to Make Technology Adoption Stick in Human Services
Have you ever rolled out a new technology solution, only for no one at your agency to use it? Frustrating? Of course. Fixable? Absolutely.
Technology is improving efficiencies in the workplace like never before. So why is it that so many human services agencies struggle with getting their teams to adopt these new tools? Why do some agencies implement a technology solution, only to watch it fail on the front lines?
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