Launch Of Online Portal!
New Portal Launched!
Hundreds Of Administrative Tasks Cut! Thousands Of Pounds Saved!
Yesterday certainly was “Good Friday” for the Central Bedfordshire Canine Trust, as it saw the launch of the trusts long awaited “Online Services Portal” at www.cbctportal.org giving members greater access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to manage, update, subscribe and enrol onto Central Bedfordshire Canine Trust Services.
The launch of the new portal sees a major milestone in the trusts “Do It Online!” programme first started in 2010. Gary Gregory, Chief Executive of the trust said “Since the commencement of the “Do It Online” programme in 2010 we launched the new website which gave members the facility to enrol and pay for training courses and events online. We have seen a massive uptake in the number of online enrolments for training course, with currently 97% of members accessing trust services and registrations online”
The new portal takes the initial stage of the programme a step further. Previously although enrolments, memberships and registrations were taken online, they were still processed manually at the trusts Head Office and all confirmations were still sent by post.
Gary added: “The new portal is simply joined up thinking, improves our workflow and turnover. We handle thousands of the event, course, dog registration and membership forms each year. Members now enter their details and register online, the portal automatically sends out confirmation emails, and maintains all the records. It then also automatically sends out reminders, renewals and newsletters, all without the intervention of administration staff and volunteers”
The new portal and the policy of the switch over was first approved at the trusts 2011 Annual General Meeting and the portal has been rigorously tested for ease of use, reliability and security. The process of switching on the new portal for all members is being done over the next week, and members will receive an email when their access is ready to be used.
Members will be able to access the portal, to update their details and their dog’s details, and when the time comes for renewals they will be able to "Do It Online!".
As from the 10th April 2012 all paper/posted enrolment, membership and renewals will be withdrawn. Instead members will have to carry out these tasks online although they will NOT HAVE TO PAY ONLINE, as online payment will be optional and the option of cash or cheque payment available. Help in using the portal will be available and for those members who do not have internet access or an email address there will be a special telephone booking service for a short switch over period.
The switch on of the portal will cut the trusts Head Office administrative workload by thousands of tasks each year. There will be not cuts to staff/volunteers, but instead they will be able to concentrate on frontline and core charity activities.
The switch on of the portal is expected to save thousands of pounds on the trusts annual administration budget over the next ten years, when costs such as paper, printing, time, envelopes and of course rising postal charges are all factored in.
Gary concluded: “We will ensure that the transition is effortless, that members get the help they need, and that nobody is disadvantaged or prohibited from accessing our services due to the new portal, this is a positive step in the right direction to ensure the trust is using its resources wisely and remains competitive in the 21st century! “