Attended by captains of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry and various participants from both the profit and nonprofit sectors, the session provided the participants with the opportunity to look into applications that can help NGOs to deliver services to their constituencies at ease.

Speaking to the topic, Danie Smit, a Senior Researcher at the SAP, indicated that his company conducted a survey to examine the NGO sector, its weaknesses and strengths and the key issues it faces. Smit contends that, “SAP believes in developing easy-to-use solutions for NGOs that can be easily integrated into the old systems”.

When he was questioned on whether NGOs can afford SAP products which are developed by its highly paid staff, Smit argued that , "We are currently investigating different pricing models”.

Microsoft on the other hand emphasized the need for software vendors and organizations to adhere to platform standards when developing solutions. Speaking at the session, Microsoft SA’s Platform Strategy Manager Poulo Ferreira said, “NGOs should have access to solutions that are affordable and more secure”.

Ferreira, who also argued about the importance of having data back-up and secure solutions, says “Such systems should allow users to share files, access emails and equipment without compromising security”.

SANGONeT’s ICT Services Manager Matthew de Gale also shared SANGONeT’s experience of using CIVI-CRM which operates on an open source platform. According to de Gale, “CIVI-CRM allows NGOs to develop a single system which can be segmented into roles and responsibilities”. He further said the system is easy to use and is nonprofit oriented.

“We are more than willing to talk to talk to other NGOs about this system”, asserts de Gale, when asked if the solution can be available to someone who is starting from scratch.

One of the issues that came out of this session was the need for NGOs to have websites that portray what the organizations stand for. In illustrating this fact, Chantelle Schutte, a PhD student at the University of Pretoria used the UNICEF website. “The website has pictures and CV’s of the executive management and also allows one to view it in other languages”, explain Schutte.

Schutte further contends that NGO websites should have interactive elements such as the feedback page and periodical online polls in order to build relationships with the stakeholders. She will also study the websites of this year's 10 top finalists and the winners of of the 2007 NGO Web Awards.

Impact Consulting’s Marketing and Office Manager Janis Kennedy, who favours information management systems for NGOs, says NGOs should integrate systems that are working for them with the new ones.

The session also focused on ways in which NGOs can use technology in order to address challenges such as accountability. The Managing Director of CIWI Klaus Merckens argues that a large percentage of donor funds are managed through softwares that are not suitable. “Proper tools are not designed to manage funds and projects”, he contends.