Questions about Luminate (product usage, pros/cons, etc.)

Miguel Ramirez · June 2018

Hi Everyone,

My organization is currently in the process of migrating to NXT and about to join the Luminate cohort in July. I'm interested in hearing people's experiences using the Luminate product. Is anyone willing to chat with me about their experiences and give advice on how best to manage the learning curve?

Thanks,

Miguel

Lisa Slawinski · June 2018

Miguel Ramirez:

Hi Everyone,

My organization is currently in the process of migrating to NXT and about to join the Luminate cohort in July. I'm interested in hearing people's experiences using the Luminate product. Is anyone willing to chat with me about their experiences and give advice on how best to manage the learning curve?

Thanks,

Miguel

Hi Miguel,

We will be integrating to NXT this summer and have had Luminate Online for almost 2 years. It's a huge software program and we are still learning how to use it as there is SOOOO much to learn. We haven't had the best of times with it as there are parts that are not intuitive. I maintain the records, pull transaction reports, create donation forms and help our Marketing Manager send emails to groups. I'm a true DBA (Database Administrator

Let me know what questions you have as I'm sure the rest of the Community will chime in with their experiences as well.

Lisa

Jason Thomas · June 2018

Miguel Ramirez:

Hi Everyone,

My organization is currently in the process of migrating to NXT and about to join the Luminate cohort in July. I'm interested in hearing people's experiences using the Luminate product. Is anyone willing to chat with me about their experiences and give advice on how best to manage the learning curve?

Thanks,

Miguel

Hi Miguel,

It's the second year for my org as well with Luminate Online (LO). Since the way software is developed these days (think your Apple and Microsoft products) has changed so much since this product was released, it can be a struggle to navigate and make the most of. It's very old.

LO is also module-based, and not every module has gotten "love" over the years. So, clearly some modules are more outdated than others. To really make it your own, you'll need internal development resources or $$ tucked away, to work with either consultants or Blackbaud's team of professionals.

Jason

Ashley Pruett · June 2018

Miguel Ramirez:

Hi Everyone,

My organization is currently in the process of migrating to NXT and about to join the Luminate cohort in July. I'm interested in hearing people's experiences using the Luminate product. Is anyone willing to chat with me about their experiences and give advice on how best to manage the learning curve?

Thanks,

Miguel

Hi Miguel,

I came in to project manage our conversion from Team Approach to RENXT. We already have LO (have had for a number of years). When I got here, I realized the staff hadn't been provided the proper training for LO (we had no subscription for training, and hadn't done much onsite training when we implemented the LO tool), and there were many functions not being used, or being used to the best of their ability. I would highly recommend your team use the Learn More subscription as much as you can and take every LO course you can get your hands on. It is incredibly insightful and the only way to really learn the software. That being said, there are still some really clunky things about LO, but I think it's a good tool for most organizations.

Ashley

Lisa Slawinski · June 2018

Ashley Pruett:

Miguel Ramirez:

Hi Everyone,

My organization is currently in the process of migrating to NXT and about to join the Luminate cohort in July. I'm interested in hearing people's experiences using the Luminate product. Is anyone willing to chat with me about their experiences and give advice on how best to manage the learning curve?

Thanks,

Miguel

Hi Miguel,

I came in to project manage our conversion from Team Approach to RENXT. We already have LO (have had for a number of years). When I got here, I realized the staff hadn't been provided the proper training for LO (we had no subscription for training, and hadn't done much onsite training when we implemented the LO tool), and there were many functions not being used, or being used to the best of their ability. I would highly recommend your team use the Learn More subscription as much as you can and take every LO course you can get your hands on. It is incredibly insightful and the only way to really learn the software. That being said, there are still some really clunky things about LO, but I think it's a good tool for most organizations.

Ashley

While I agree with Ashley, I've been through LO Certification and it is lacking in substance for all areas. It's a nice basic cert, but I'm not really finding other courses that help one learn the lack of intuitiveness of the screens and functionality (especially with query/groups and reports). Since Blackbaud bought LO, users would think the nomenclature would work the same (i.e. queries are generated to then turn into exported reports), but that is not how the thinking goes with LO queries and reports. I still stumble when creating groups and feel like I need my hand held every time I try something.

Lisa

Ashley Pruett · June 2018

I agree with Lisa in many ways. But I do think taking the courses is a great resource. There could be more for sure...she nailed that.

Miguel Ramirez · June 2018

Thank you so much for this information. I will relay these suggestions to my team so that we prepare accordingly.

-Miguel

Questions about Luminate (product usage, pros/cons, etc.)

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