Client story
Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation
How SHRF created a grants management platform that simplified their review process with robust data gathering capabilities.


Client since
Type of giving
Old system
SmartSimple product/services
Key pain points
- Non-user friendly system that had limited access to data to track and report on
New system must-haves
- A true, all-in-one solution that has cross-functional data access
- An intuitive reporting module that is accurate
At a glance
SHRF was using Microsoft Access to manage their data, but found it was not particularly user-friendly. Specifically, they found accessing data and reporting a challenge. Their previous system had been limited to data entry for applications and contacts, and they really wanted the ability to save information on their review committee process.
About The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation
The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) is the provincial agency responsible for funding, facilitating and promoting innovative, collaborative health research in Saskatchewan.

SHRF works as a catalyst, driver, and leader to:
- Build and broaden the province’s research capacity
- Expedite the production and sharing of knowledge
- Build and broaden the province’s research capacity
- Increase stakeholder engagement
- Generate new and diverse funding partnerships
- Measure the impact of health research on our Saskatchewan communities

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SmartSimple Cloud provided well integrated, cross-functional data access and an intuitive reporting module that is accurate, and it’s easy to modify the parameters of a report on the fly.
Shaz Azam
Director of Finance, SHRF
Selecting SmartSimple
SHRF were initially attracted to SmartSimple as a Canadian-based service provider that could supply a true all-in-one solution. They discovered the kind of expertise and research industry knowledge SmartSimple had at its finger tips would be invaluable to them.

“SmartSimple provided well integrated, cross-functional data access and an intuitive reporting module that is accurate, and it’s easy to modify the parameters of a report on the fly,” says Shaz Azam, Director of Finance for SHRF.

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We had a great working relationship with SmartSimple from start to finish. This is a testament to the competence, responsiveness and professionalism of the SmartSimple team.
Shaz Azam
Director of Finance, SHRF
Working with SmartSimple
“We had a great working relationship with SmartSimple from start to finish,” continues Shaz. “This is a testament to the competence, responsiveness and professionalism of the SmartSimple team.”

After working with their new system, SHRF employees discovered increased efficiency, eliminating a lot of unnecessary extra work.

Specific features they found particularly helpful were:
- Being able to assign applications to review committee members without having to do a massive mail out
- Applicant assessments submitted through the system meant SHRF no longer had to organize and send to the correct committee members; it was done automatically
- The ability to edit the review forms to keep them anonymous, and upload them to the application to give to the researcher

After implementation, Karen Glazebrook, Director of Funding Programs sent a survey to their 2014-2015 researchers, supervisors and university research facilitators to get their feedback. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Users found the system easy to use, had a great look and feel, and commended SHRF on the new online application process. “Users said the online application section was very clear and had better instructions than just about any other website they’d used. SmartSimple reduced the anxiety around completing their applications correctly,” adds Shaz.

“SmartSimple Cloud is an intuitive system with lots of flexibility. We think other organizations would really benefit from the effectiveness and efficiency. It’s great to know you’re working with a team of professionals that will patiently work with you to make your vision a reality,” concludes Shaz.

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SmartSimple Cloud is an intuitive system with lots of flexibility.
Shaz Azam
Director of Finance, SHRF
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We wanted to be able to manage and dig deeper into the applications that we were receiving.
Pam Gilliland
We wanted to be able to manage and dig deeper into the applications that we were receiving.