Organisations need secure, well-maintained, well-integrated, user-friendly tools and systems. These help them to work effectively.

Good technology improves performance, efficiency and the internal and external user experience. It generates better reports, gathers  insights about a supporter and delivers personalised communications.

Introducing new systems and technology doesn’t have to mean throwing out everything old and starting afresh.

Technology-driven change should lead to more efficient ways of working. Reducing the time it takes to upload data to a supporter database allows more time to communicate with those supporters. 

Risk management and compliance processes have an effect on the way technology is commissioned and used. These processes are important, but they shouldn’t paralyse organisations so that they can’t use the best tools.

Things to think about

  • Are systems enabling a single supporter view which includes online activity?
  • Could the time needed to implement a project – from idea, creative execution to data flows and reporting – be shorter?
  • If yes, are there technology-related solutions that could help?

Technology: five levels of maturity

1. Primitive

Systems are limited in scope and aren’t integrated. They may be insecure.

2. Outdated

Systems aren’t keeping up with the needs of the organisation.

3. Keeping up

Systems are stable and enable basic operations.

4. Effective

Tools and systems are delivering improvements in effectiveness.

5. Leading edge

Interconnected tools and systems provide a smooth, effective internal and external user experience.

Average score

Overall, for this competency, organisations average out at level 3.

Scores by year

These graphs show the average scores for this competency over the last few years, expressed as a percentage.

  • 2020 62% 62%
  • 2019 60% 60%
  • 2018 58% 58%
  • 2017 60% 60%
  • 2016 58% 58%