# Two new services from AppiChar to help charities reduce IT costs

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/09/17/two-new-services-appichar-help-charities-reduce-it-costs/
- Published: 2009-09-17T15:09:49+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

AppiChar, the provider of managed IT services for the not-for-profit sector, has
introduced two new services that are designed to help reduce charities IT costs 
and improve efficiency.

 

The ‘appiCard’ offers fixed rate IT service that will help an organisation control
its yearly IT budget by providing assigned individuals with expert, unlimited IT
support.

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AppiCard users can also sign up for appi2Share, a shared services scheme which enables
not-for-profit organisations of all sizes, who already operate the appiCard scheme,
to lower their costs further. AppiChar say that “the more not-for-profit organisations
that join together and join the appi2Share scheme, the more cost effective the IT
service is for everyone”.

 

Ian Ryder, founder of appiChar, said: “As budgets are getting tighter many organisations
are looking for fixed cost solutions to enable them to budget more efficiently. 
AppiCard ensures that an organisation’s IT systems are functioning well, while their
costs are fixed for the year”.

 

www.appichar.co.uk

 

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## Comments

### By: peterdcox

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/09/17/two-new-services-appichar-help-charities-reduce-it-costs/#comment-3763
- Published: 2009-09-18T07:57:49+01:00

Whilst I have no problem with commercial operations making money out of work in 
the charity sector (I do, after all) there’s a good argument that the sector could
support one or more not-for-profits in this area (CIC is a perfectly suitable method).

Secondly, I am always hesitant of services that promote as partners generic software
providers such as Microsoft when many/most/all charities could meet their IT needs
with open source software for free. Trustees especially should be mindful of best
value here.

Peter D Cox
 Cardiff, Wales

### By: ianryder

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/09/17/two-new-services-appichar-help-charities-reduce-it-costs/#comment-3764
- Published: 2009-09-21T02:08:21+01:00

Thanks for your comments Peter.

There are indeed a full range of different service providers working in the not-
for-profit sector – charities, social enterprises, commercial and so on. The great
thing about that is that each supplier, whether commercial or otherwise ultimately
gets judged on the quality and affordability of its services in relation to the 
competition. Each customer of ours has a responsibility to spend its money as wisely
as it possibly can so the more competition out there the better.

Clearly for any organisation working in this sector ethics also need to be taken
into consideration. I can only talk of our situation and we are a commercial organisation
but we have an extremely ethical approach to every aspect of our business – I firmly
believe we would not be able to survive and prosper working in this sector any other
way.

With regards to the debate about open source versus Microsoft, as a company we are
not stuck in either camp – this is a debate that has gone on for a long time and
there really is no right or wrong, each situation should be taken on its own merits.
The reality for us as a supplier to the sector is that most organisations still 
feel more comfortable with Microsoft-based solutions. We are always looking at open
source alternatives and if we feel they offer a better option then it makes commercial
sense for us to provide them – our business is based on helping organisations run
their IT rather than supplying a particular type of solution.

We hope that the two new services we are offering – appiCard and appi2Share – will
play a big part in making IT in the sector even more competitive. From my position
and as someone who cares about the sector it seems the most practical way to help
ensure as much money as possible goes to the causes our customers support rather
than on unnecessary IT spending.

Kind regards,
 Ian Ryder Managing Director, appiChar Ltd