Mobile App Impressions?

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Christopher Snow
Christopher Snow ✭
Ancient Membership Photogenic First Reply
in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT®: General Discussion

 Just looking for some general feedback regarding the Mobile App. Pros and Cons? Thanks!

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  • Melissa Graves 2
    Melissa Graves 2 ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 2
    Chris Snow:

     Just looking for some general feedback regarding the Mobile App. Pros and Cons? Thanks!

    Honestly? I have not implemented it since for us it would simply act as a glorified rolodex - and an incomplete one at that - with security issues.

    A large portion of our major donors give via foundations, donor advised funds, etc. and are soft credited for their giving. Soft credits do not come over to the App last I checked. This means the giving history a prospect manager would have to look at would be wrong. So I would have to tell my users not to look at it or use the giving information in any way.

    So then they can use it for looking up contact information, but if I recall, there are some limitations on what addresses it shows - we would need it to not be so finicky and show all of them - except maybe these we have coded former.

    Then there is the fact that there is no logout button. You need to log on with your RE login and password but if you can't confidently log off and put your phone down, can someone pick it up and go through RE data? They say it will logout if you completely back out but some have had issues with that. They also say that the users should have locks on their phones, which they should, but that is hard to enforce. So there is overall uneasyness with the security of the data.

    Those are my thoughts. I am waiting for more updates to possibly fix some of these issues before introducing it to my team.

  • Michael Sherman
    Michael Sherman ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    Chris Snow:

     Just looking for some general feedback regarding the Mobile App. Pros and Cons? Thanks!

    Unfortunately I can't get REMobile on my phone because my Android version is 4.2.2 and BB is way behind the times and will only support up to 4.1.1.
  • Nicole S
    Nicole S ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 3 Name Dropper Photogenic
    Michael Sherman:
    Unfortunately I can't get REMobile on my phone because my Android version is 4.2.2 and BB is way behind the times and will only support up to 4.1.1.

     We've managed to get the app working, and in theory it is great for looking up phone numbers or gift info on the go.

     Unfortunately, it seems like we can only keep it working for a week or so at a time.  So, in practice, when we need it, we can't get into it. I'm not sure what is happening, but eventually there is some kind of error and we can't log in.  Then it's a rather lengthy process for RE and our IT dept to figure out the problem.  I've kind of given up on it for now.

  • Christopher Snow
    Christopher Snow ✭
    Ancient Membership Photogenic First Reply
    Nicole S.:

     We've managed to get the app working, and in theory it is great for looking up phone numbers or gift info on the go.

     Unfortunately, it seems like we can only keep it working for a week or so at a time.  So, in practice, when we need it, we can't get into it. I'm not sure what is happening, but eventually there is some kind of error and we can't log in.  Then it's a rather lengthy process for RE and our IT dept to figure out the problem.  I've kind of given up on it for now.

    thank you for the feedback everyone!
  • Ethel Bernal
    Ethel Bernal ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    Chris Snow:
    thank you for the feedback everyone!
    I am wondering if users or Blackbaud has any updated thoughts on use of RE Mobile app on employee's personal phones. Our HR person raised the issue that there are liability and labor relations issues related to employees using their personal devices for work. Our organization do not provide cell phones for employees and we use our own devices. I see that Blackbaud recommends that all users log-out of the app and wondered if they have any additional suggestions.
  • Nicole S
    Nicole S ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 3 Name Dropper Photogenic
    Ethel Bernal:
    I am wondering if users or Blackbaud has any updated thoughts on use of RE Mobile app on employee's personal phones. Our HR person raised the issue that there are liability and labor relations issues related to employees using their personal devices for work. Our organization do not provide cell phones for employees and we use our own devices. I see that Blackbaud recommends that all users log-out of the app and wondered if they have any additional suggestions.

     If your HR department is under the impression that it is unusual for people to use the personal phone for business then lucky you.  I find that many companies and especially many nonprofits are not providing even upper level employees with phones.  Many are just getting a reimbursement for costs.  No data on that, just the impression I'm getting from talking to colleagues lately. 

  • Barbara Prine
    Barbara Prine ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    Chris Snow:

     Just looking for some general feedback regarding the Mobile App. Pros and Cons? Thanks!

     We're never been able to get it to work. Have had a case open for weeks.  We receive a Timeout error message - very disappointing for our IA staff who travel.

  • Melissa Lee 3
    Melissa Lee 3 ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    Melissa Graves:

    Honestly? I have not implemented it since for us it would simply act as a glorified rolodex - and an incomplete one at that - with security issues.

    A large portion of our major donors give via foundations, donor advised funds, etc. and are soft credited for their giving. Soft credits do not come over to the App last I checked. This means the giving history a prospect manager would have to look at would be wrong. So I would have to tell my users not to look at it or use the giving information in any way.

    So then they can use it for looking up contact information, but if I recall, there are some limitations on what addresses it shows - we would need it to not be so finicky and show all of them - except maybe these we have coded former.

    Then there is the fact that there is no logout button. You need to log on with your RE login and password but if you can't confidently log off and put your phone down, can someone pick it up and go through RE data? They say it will logout if you completely back out but some have had issues with that. They also say that the users should have locks on their phones, which they should, but that is hard to enforce. So there is overall uneasyness with the security of the data.

    Those are my thoughts. I am waiting for more updates to possibly fix some of these issues before introducing it to my team.

    Hi Melissa, Thanks for your June 2013 posting about RE Mobile. Do you know if there have been any recommendations on the best way to confidently log OUT of RE Mobile app?

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