Outsource Importing

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Robyn Swiderski
Robyn Swiderski ✭
Tenth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic First Reply
in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT®: General Discussion
Does anyone outsource their importing?  We process a very large number of petitions all year.  We get, on average, 300+ petitions a year with anywhere from 5 names to 1100 names per petition.  It takes about 2 hours from start to finish for ~100 names (this is from data entry thru cleaning the import).


We use ImportOMatic, and I love it, but it's very time-consuming with only 3 part-time staffers to do all the work, plus keep current on entering daily gifts and processing new appeal materials.  We are losing money by not getting these names into RE fast enough to prospect them.


Does anyone have a similar situation?  How did you handle it?  Is there an out-sourcing company that would do the importing for us?

Thanks for any advice!
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Comments

  • Tracy Morgan
    Tracy Morgan ✭
    Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic

    Hi Robyn,

    This is not that complex of a process once one
    overcomes the mapping of your data headers to the RE data
    fields.  I think petitions are pretty simple beasts in that
    you don’t have a lot of career or family info.  It took us a
    while to figure it out but once done very simple.

     

    Please do not spend gobs of money 
    outsourcing and firing your temps – they can still type.  Have
    RE support literally walk you step by step through this.  They
    will do so.  Insist.

    Peace,

    Tracy





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  • Krys Fritz bCREPro bCRP
    Krys Fritz bCREPro bCRP ✭
    Ninth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Name Dropper Photogenic
    We are looking into ImportOMatic and was wondering if you would be willing to have a brief conversation either by phone or email so I could pick your brain about the pros and cons of it?
  • Robyn Swiderski
    Robyn Swiderski ✭
    Tenth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic First Reply
    Hi Krys,


    Sure, I would be willing to chat with you or email!  We really love using IOM, but we have such a small staff that our projects get the best of us sometimes.  I really don't have any issues with the program or process though.  Once it's all set up with the mapping, it really is easy to do.

    Let me know when you are available next week and we can chat, or email anytime!


    Robyn

     
  • Debra Holcomb
    Debra Holcomb ✭
    Tenth Anniversary Facilitator 2 Photogenic
    We don't outsource importing, but we do outsource the data entry and then we use ImportOMatic to bring in the files.  For large projects that take a lot of time, I either 1) put them into queue so they can run late at night or on another machine on demand or 2) Use my second RE account through a virtual server so I can be logged in under two different names at the same time and my desktop doesn't get slowed down by a large import.  
  • Jeffrey Montgomery
    Jeffrey Montgomery ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    Hi Robyn,


    If you want help actually running your imports, an Omatic specialist can do the importing for you remotely as a service if you like (I believe there is a four-hour minimum per engagement IIRC). Try giving your Omatic Rep a call (888-OMATIC-ME), or PM me and I can connect you.


    I'm glad ImportOmatic is treating you well, that made my day to hear!  :)


    Jeff

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