Sunday, August 28, 2011

Hurricane Irene: National Donations Management Network Working for Affected Areas

Hurricane Irene continues to make its way up the Eastern coast of the United States. The State Offices of Emergency Services, FEMA and the relief community are standing ready in each State to assess the damage and begin the recovery process. Each State has its own portal on the National Donations Management Network in order to streamline the giving process.

As always, cash donations are the most useful to the relief agencies so they can acquire the precise materials needed.

In addition, to make in-kind donations or to view the specific needs of the relief community in these areas, visit www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Aidmatrix Wins Microsoft's "Most Valuable Partner - 2011 Japan Earthquake & Tsunami" Award

Aidmatrix recently received a praise-filled letter from Microsoft and an award for "Outstanding service and partnership in Microsoft Disaster Response Activities." We were awarded their "Most Valuable Partner - 2011 Japan Earthquake & Tsunami." The award is based on the partnership between Aidmatrix, Microsoft and Avanade on leading edge work with Microsoft Azure. Microsoft Azure is a "cloud" or universal computer infrastructure that will soon allow Aidmatrix products to scale up quickly in times of disaster, instead of paying to have large numbers of servers sitting nearly idle - waiting for the big moment to happen. This helps a disaster response program for Japan have the same quality of experience as the hunger relief systems in the USA.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas Finds Hunger Success With Agency Express 3

Our main interest in getting Agency Express was to give agencies access to real-time inventory availability, and increase our pick/fill rate for better customer service. Prior to Agency Express, our shopping list was updated twice a day so our agencies frequently experienced ordering product that was no longer available.

During our pilot of Agency Express, several benefits were realized for both our Agency Partners and for Three Square. Our agencies are able to access their invoices online, eliminating their waiting time for Agency Relations staff to process it. Agencies are able to see the weight of their orders, and fees associated with their orders as they are adding to their cart, which is very helpful in planning ahead with logistics and budget. Previously, Three Square staff would have to call an agency if their fax was illegible or their requested appointment time was unavailable. Our agencies are enjoying the advantage of locking in their appointment time and knowing that all items on their order will be fulfilled as requested. Three Square staff is able to save time that was dedicated to entering orders, rescheduling appointments and correcting incomplete orders by phone, and reprinting invoices. An unplanned benefit of saving paper from faxes to reprinted invoices, has also eased Three Square’s paper usage helping both the budget and the environment.

Prior to Agency Express, each order was received by fax, e-mail, phone, or filled out in person and entered by Three Square staff in the order in which it was received. With Agency Express, our Agency Partners go online to view available product and add items needed. They then checkout and schedule an available appointment time convenient for them. The orders are monitored by Three Square staff, which is available by phone to answer agency questions.

-Shannon Lamaster, Three Square Food Bank

Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Wyoming Join the National Donations Management Network, powered by the Aidmatrix Network®

50 US States and Territories Now Connected to Enhance Disaster Preparedness

DALLAS, TX - August 10, 2011 - The Aidmatrix Foundation, Inc. today announced its partnerships with the Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and the States of Nebraska and Wyoming for the National Donations Management Network (NDMN), powered by the Aidmatrix Network®. The NDMN is a national disaster relief donations coordination system funded by FEMA, the UPS Foundation, Accenture, and the Aidmatrix Foundation, Inc. to better manage unsolicited donations and volunteers by helping to connect donors to recipients. This web-based tool reduces paperwork for processing donations and allows for more streamlined information sharing for State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), National VOAD, State governments and FEMA.

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