Case Study
Voluntary Action Sheffield
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When VAS appraoched PACE they were using two Access databases
for their contact and training management.
Staff members each had their own version, and although some data was linked, each
user had creaed their own queries and reports.
VAS decided that a better solution would be to create one single, centralised, contacts
and training database which included the most common type of report each user had created.
However, VAS also wanted to retain the ability of allowing their staff to create their
own reports.
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After going out to tender to a number of companies for major
re-development of our organisation wide monitoring, management and mailshot systems,
we chose PACE because they demonstrated a far greater
understanding of our requirements, and were able to offer the best advise and support on how
these could be integrated most effectively into our business throughout the whole project lifecycle.
Two years after successful implementation of our systems we still see PACE
as an integral part of our IT infrastructure, so much so that we have teamed up with
PACE to offer our system for use by other voluntary sector and infrastructure
organisations like VAS (see vcconnect.org.uk). Above all, the team at PACE
have always been extremely approachable, and VAS has always enjoyed a great working relationship with
them.
Annette Crook
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Software
Key components:
- ASP.Net 1.1
- SQL Server 2000/2005
- Access 97
After reviewing the number of expected users of the system, and the type of processes
which were required - such as call escalation, it was decided that the database should
be developed in SQL Server.
However, the database structure was perfectly fine, so instead of generating a new database,
PACE migrated the existing tables into SQL Server. This meant
that the existing database structure could be used 'whilst increasing the performance, stability
and functionality within it. An additional benefit of this was that the users could still
connect to the SQL database through Access and use any reports they had generated in the
old system.
To minimise support costs, it was also decided that the application would be developed
as a web based solution. This apporach meant that the software would run through a browser,
so no installation or configuration was required on the users PCs. For a large organisation
like VAS, this has saved many hours of software configuration and support.
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Support
9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
The following support call levels were used:
- Critical: call must be responded to within four hours, a workaround provided within one day and a permanent fix within two days.
- Non-Critical: call must be responded to within eight hours, a workaround provided within two days and a permanent fix within ten days.
- Non-Urgent: call will be acknowledged within eight hours, a workaround (if required) provided within five days and a permanent fix implemented in the next release of the software.
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