ShelterBox Response Team relies on Hedron4

01 January 2011

SouthwestCRM has delivered a web-based system for ShelterBox to help the operations team streamline the time it takes to deploy a response team to a disaster zone.

As an emergency response organisation, ShelterBox needs to have up to date and accurate information about its ShelterBox Response Teams (SRTs) which are situated around the world. SouthwestCRM has delivered them a system that:

Meets their requirements for accurate record keeping whilst ensuring that there is no need to re-enter data between systems, reducing the need for management intervention and saving time.

Gives everyone in the ShelterBox 'community' access to the latest information, online and on demand, removing the scope for version control problems and the need for clerical intervention (and delay) to find and forward vital information and documents.

Provides a website to publish training courses and accept online bookings and payments.

Creates a central online place for all involved to come together to discuss, learn and excel. Knowledge is more powerful when it can be easily shared.

Jessica Stanton, Operations Co-ordinator for ShelterBox, says, “My role requires me to pull together a team of highly trained volunteers to oversee the distribution of our aid as soon as disaster strikes. What Hedron4 will enable me to do is streamline the time it takes to create a team and, equally as important, the right team with the most appropriate skill set for the deployment in question. We are always looking at ways to reduce our response time and are very excited about the roll out of this system. SouthwestCRM has diligently tailor-made this solution to suit our very individual needs. They have taken on this project with enthusiasm, professionalism and have been a real pleasure to work with.”

Simon Leek, Managing Director of SouthwestCRM, says, “Hedron4 is 'cloud-based software technology' that enables the entire response team to go online 24/7 from any Internet-enabled location and work together in real time.”  Simon goes onto say "SouthwestCRM is a small Cornish-based software developer that has adapted three of the World's leading Open Source-based business systems, connected them together in order to deliver Hedron4 to organisations that have a membership base or extended and dispersed workforce.  Hedron4 is ideal for charities, associations, clubs and business networks."

Notes to Editors

ShelterBox International, responds instantly to natural and man-made disasters from its Helston, Cornwall offices by delivering boxes of aid to those who are most in need. Each box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and essential equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. Highly trained ShelterBox Response Teams (SRTs) distribute boxes on the ground, working closely with local organisations, international aid agencies and Rotary clubs worldwide.

SouthwestCRM, specialises in helping businesses to realise the full benefits of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Document Management systems. The company, based in Falmouth and serving an international market, is an authorised partner for SugarCRM^© and KnowledgeTree^©. They develop extensions and integrations between these products and other systems including Joomla!, the world's largest Open Source Content Management System.  These developments have culminated in the production of "Hedron4".

Contacts

ShelterBox – Jessica Stanton, Operations Co-ordinator, 01326 569782

SouthwestCRM – Simon Leek, Managing Director, 0845 686 2468

Hedron4 in more detail

SouthwestCRM developed a product called Hedron4, a membership management software system.  Hedron4 is made up of three core applications: SugarCRM^©, Joomla! ^© and KnowledgeTree^©.  Each product is a leading Open Source-based application that is used and supported globally.  Hedron4 connects these three applications together to create one integrated application that has one look and feel.

By using best of breed software solutions, Hedron4 can adapt to any requirement however complex but at the same time is able to deliver a working system that is intuitive and seamless to use.

Features include:

• Secure web portal with login facility
• Member profiling
• Subscriptions management
• Merchandising and donation handling
• Private messaging
• Event management
• Discussion forums
• Email marketing
• Social media integration
• Communication tracking
• Email integration
• Document management
• Workflow with reminders and alerts