Hidden Costs of Going Digital: How Your Support Helps Our Service Users
Supporting our service users isn’t just about face-to-face care, it also depends on the tools, systems, and technology working quietly behind the scenes.
Digital transformation is essential for us to deliver high-quality services, but it comes with hidden costs that often go unnoticed. Upgrading systems, strengthening security, and providing staff with reliable devices are all critical investments — and ones that charities often struggle to afford.
Over the past year, as part of SoLO’s digital transformation journey we have:
- Migrated from an on-site server to a secure, cloud-based system, boosting flexibility, reliability, and data security.
- Invested in new data management systems, ensuring high levels of security for the sensitive information we handle.
- Improved collaboration tools, so teams can share updates and work together more efficiently.
On top of this, many of our laptops needed upgrading. With Windows 10 being phased out in October, several of our devices have become redundant, creating an urgent need for replacements.
This is where National Gas Metering’s generosity has made a real difference. Their donation of £1,000 has enabled us to purchase two new laptops for service managers, giving our team the essential tools they need to stay connected, efficient, and secure.
So, what does this mean in practice?
- For staff: Service managers can access critical information securely, reduce time spent troubleshooting, and collaborate more effectively with colleagues.
- For service users: Reliable devices mean our team can plan and deliver support more efficiently and continue providing the high-quality services our community relies on.
- For the charity: Stronger systems and reliable devices reduce risks, improve compliance, and free up resources to be spent directly on supporting our community.
Digital transformation may happen quietly behind the scenes, but it has a direct impact on the work we do every day.
