National Commercial Bank of Jamaica

Client since

2018

Awards given

218

Old system

Disparate manual and digital processes

SmartSimple solution

SmartSimple Cloud for Corporate Social Responsibility

Key pain points

An inefficient paper-based system that slowed down the awarding process.

New system must-haves

A centralized and digitized system to standardize every step in the reporting process and run evaluations with ease.

The National Commercial Bank of Jamaica (NCB) Foundation was managing their grants programs with a disjointed process. Applications were cobbled together with a combination of manual and digital processing methods and there was no effective way of consolidating all of the applications and data they were gathering. An immediate solution was needed in order to simplify the process and centralize all related activities under one system that could manage it all. Within two weeks, SmartSimple delivered a robust grants management system that provided a solution to NCB’s immediate needs all while leaving them with the flexibility to grow and scale their system as their needs became more complex.

About The National Commercial Bank of Jamaica Foundation

The NCB Foundation was formalized in 2003 as the philanthropic arm of the country’s largest home-grown bank. Their primary areas of focus are education, entrepreneurship, youth leadership, and community development. Since the creation of the foundation, they’ve provided opportunities that help future generations who can lead wisely and participate in a meaningful way to Jamaica’s development.

NCB accepted applications through a number of different sources ranging from PDF forms, emails, and survey software. This mixed bag of processes didn’t create a coherent and streamlined workflow. “Consistent details were difficult to obtain,” says Melissa Bradford-Britton, Operations Manager of NCB. They wanted to create a more efficient process that allowed them to spend less administrative time tracking down the correct information from applicants and more time to developing strategies for funding impact, “We wanted to make our process more digital. What we were doing wasn’t working and we wanted something better.”

SmartSimple already had the platform with the solutions we needed, and the fact that it could be delivered in two weeks was ideal.

Melissa Bradford-Britton

Operations Manager of NCB

The search for a better system

After exploring five other software solutions they found SmartSimple Cloud to be the best fit for their needs. “SmartSimple already had the platform with the solutions we needed, and the fact that it could be delivered in two weeks was ideal,” says Bradford-Britton.

Fast delivery with a better solution

From the initial meetings between SmartSimple and NCB to the delivery of a platform catered to their needs, SmartSimple provided a solution in very little time. “In two weeks, we got our system and we were able to consolidate all our data into one place,” says Bradford-Britton. When describing NCB’s experience transitioning to using the new system, Melissa continued by saying “it was great working with the implementation team. When we needed changes, SmartSimple immediately made them and delivered on all the time timelines...Now we have clear cost, proof, and documentation for auditing purposes.”

In two weeks, we got our system and we were able to consolidate all our data into one place,

Melissa Bradford-Britton

Operations Manager of NCB

Everything needed all in one place

Since working with their new system, NCB has saved valuable administration time because of a more efficient process via SmartSimple Cloud, “we are able to ask people to enter their own forms in themselves in the one system where we can capture all the information internally,” says Bradford-Britton. “We’re able to lead everyone to their online portal and capture data more easily.”

No matter how you break it down: 14 days, 336 hours, 20160 minutes, or 2 weeks, NCB found a better solution that drastically improved their CSR operations in very little time with SmartSimple Direct. “We can now assess and approve all applications through one system,” says Bradford-Britton.

SmartSimple Software is a global leader in cloud-based automation software, offering unique process solutions used by over 300 clients in nearly 200 countries. Some of the largest companies in the Fortune 100, as well as global foundations and government agencies, choose SmartSimple Cloud to enrich their impact story and create greater efficiencies in their granting processes.

We’re able to lead everyone to their online portal and capture data more easily

Melissa Bradford-Britton

Operations Manager of NCB