ServiceNow has today launched a custom-built application that supports Ndlovu Care Group (NCG) in managing its development programs and simplifying its workload. NCG is a non-profit organization based in South Africa dedicated to the welfare of the local population, focusing on health care, youth development, water supplies, infrastructure and research. By using the ServiceNow platform to disburse funds, track where resources go, help traveling doctors know which families to visit and evaluate local social programs, NCG can expand their outreach to help more children and adults.
ServiceNow’s involvement with NCG began with a €20,000 donation to Tjommie, a Dutch fundraising organization that supports NCG. However, the team at ServiceNow quickly realized that they could deliver more impactful and long-term efficiencies for NGC by leveraging their strategic digital know-how. Until ServiceNow’s involvement, NCG had little or no insight into the data, making it difficult to determine where care was most needed. NCG also struggled to find the most efficient way to deploy resources and help as many people as possible.
ServiceNow organized the ‘Tjommie Hackathon’ at the end of 2020 to find a solution to the challenges that Tjommie and NCG had to face. Participating teams were asked to consider how ServiceNow software could optimize Tjommie’s workflows and enable NCG to get South African townships what they need in terms of supplies , nutrition and education. Its results were so successful that it was decided to further develop the application and make it available on ServiceNow’s Now Platform. ServiceNow Elite partner FlyForm plays a key role in application development.
More insight into projects
The ServiceNow solution includes a dashboard where NCG can see the current status of projects. There is also an offline environment where emergency workers can see what needs to be done at all times and where they can update checklists. As soon as a WiFi connection is available, the data is automatically uploaded. With more data now available, it is easier to track, evaluate and manage projects better, make targeted decisions and distribute funds more efficiently and accurately.
“Tjommie gave us the opportunity to be involved in something for the long term, and something that is in line with our core social values: food security, digital literacy, diversity, unity and solidarity,” says Hendrik-Jan de Jong, senior executive architect at Service Now. “Short-term donations can help. But we realized that through Tjommie, we can offer the same workflow solutions as our other customers, improve efficiency within the organization in the long term and the impact will be even greater. In addition, we are proud of the many ServiceNow employees in EMEA who contributed their knowledge and time to the development of the app.”
Cooperation also has long-term benefits. The ServiceNow solution has enabled Tjommie to launch multiple programs that enable students from the involved townships to go beyond basic education and learn new digital skills that position them in path to gainful employment.
“Our relationship with ServiceNow allows us to connect and speak, get more people from the townships involved and influence them positively. It is no longer about charity but intrinsic development,” said Hugo Tempelman, CEO of Ndlovu Care Group. “And considering that 63% of young people leave school unable to work in any job, what this gives is a step up to those stigmatized by poverty. After all, if you are not trained in digital, no you are ready for the future world.”
Beyond the benefits to Tjommie and NCG, the application has great potential to support other non-profit organizations in the future. Several non-profit organizations have already expressed interest and South African ICT company Mediro will provide support for the application locally.