IM optimizes aid with smart Microsoft 365 solutions

IM is a non-profit, independent membership organization that fights for a just and compassionate world. They work globally in partnership with local organizations to help people lift themselves out of poverty and exclusion. IM collects survey responses from the organizations and people they serve, and realized that their tools and methods to see the impact and larger patterns in the data that provide learning were not providing enough support.

Cost-effective solution that provides better decision support

During the procurement, Upheads demonstrated how it could work with programs in Microsoft Office that IM was already paying for, which is both cost-effective and flexible.

- "This solution will help us make better decisions on how to spend the money," says Andreas Ulfsax, IM's change manager. "Our partners send us surveys, and my colleagues in India, for example, will be better supported thanks to this new measurement. They can then deliver better projects for a group of women in rural India.

 

Easy to customize with Microsoft software

The solution is built entirely within Microsoft 365 and uses MS Forms for collection, Power Automate and AI Builder for automated processing, translation and uploading to an Azure SQL Database and finally Power BI to visualize and present the collected data

Niclas Dahl, Cloud Advisor Power Platform and Integrations, at Upheads has developed the solution in close collaboration with Andreas.

-"We have also implemented an automatic translation function that makes the forms available in several languages and when the forms are submitted to IM, everything is automatically translated into English," says Niclas.

Andreas appreciates the simplicity of the solution.

- MS Forms and Power BI are so easy to use and customize to what we have and need, and the whole solution makes the use very intuitive.

 

Own decisions on further development

Another big advantage is that IM has a solution that they own at a relatively low cost. Before making a decision, they compared the solution with using other tools and realized that this solution will be cheaper over time. Andreas also highlights that the solution is easy to adapt and develop in the future.

- It is quite cheap to add components because the programs already exist.

Niclas also thinks there is great value in the fact that it is easy to build new reports, scale up, adapt and further develop the solution.

- IM is in the driver's seat as they own the entire solution and all components.

 

Direct contact with the developer solves problems smoothly

To select the solution and supplier, IM carried out an extensive tender process in which many suppliers proposed to build their own systems at quite high costs.

- When we met Niclas and Upheads, we realized there was another solution. We wanted to own the tools ourselves, and Upheads showed us how we could use off the shelf programs that we already had in Microsoft 365. They had made a concept and had a clear idea for our needs. This meant that we got a great contact, says Andreas.

Andreas thinks it is valuable to have direct contact and ongoing dialog with the person developing the solution, compared to having a customer contact who in turn asks the developers.

- We have solved so many problems along the way and I think there is great value in being able to collaborate closely with the developer without intermediaries. We have a chat in Teams where we solve most things on an ongoing basis, and Niclas often asks counter questions directly to clarify what I mean.

 

Transparency can create even greater value

When IM receives measurements, the data does not stay with IM, but IM's funders already have access to the analysis and can follow the data in near real time.

- We want this information to be widely available, and this transparency will create even greater value. For example, our partners in Malawi can see how those in Guatemala have done and improve their work accordingly.

IM is looking at how they could develop the service and make it available to other organizations so that they can also create more impact from the money raised.

- The way we have designed how we measure results and the technical solution could suit other organizations. Going forward, it's interesting to explore how AI can help us improve impact even more, and we're happy to do that through a broader and deeper collaboration with Upheads," concludes Andreas.

 

Summary

Challenge

• Want to help people even more through better decision-making
• Poor monitoring tools and methods
• Wanted to own the system

Solution

• Uphead's concept and expertise in cooperation with IM
• Solution within Microsoft 365: MS Forms, Power Automate, Azure AQL, Power BI
• Scalable and customizable solution that IM owns

Values

• Better impact for the money raised
• User-friendly, intuitive, scalable, customizable
• Cost-effective with Microsoft 365 that IM already had
• Transparency that can help partners and other organizations

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