Volunteers of America Chesapeake (VOA), a local affiliate of a nationwide nonprofit, relied on an expensive hosted email system that was difficult to use and limited access. NPower conducted a technology assessment and recommended moving to Microsoft's cloud-based Business Productivity Online Service (BPOS). This provided email, calendars, and collaboration tools to all staff while reducing costs by over $54,000 annually. The CFO of VOA Chesapeake stated the cloud solution offers a more efficient, lower cost, and secure platform.

1. CASE STUDYCASE STUDY
NPower Helps Local Chapter of National Human Services
Nonprofit Move to the Cloud and Reduce Costs
NPower Helps Local Chapter of National Human Services
Nonprofit Move to the Cloud and Reduce Costs
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA – CHESAPEAKEVOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA – CHESAPEAKE
The ChallengeThe ChallengeWHAT CLIENTS
ARE SAYING:
"I was so impressed by
the NPower tech team.
Not only do they really
know their stuff
technically but they
really understand how
limited our resources
are. They are experts in
helping you stretch your
technology dollars. "
Shyam Desigan
Chief Financial Officer
VOA Chesapeake
Volunteers of America (VOA) Chesapeake is the local affiliate of the Volunteers of America, a
nationwide faith based human services nonprofit with annual revenues of more than $1 billion.
Volunteers of America (VOA) Chesapeake is the local affiliate of the Volunteers of America, a
nationwide faith based human services nonprofit with annual revenues of more than $1 billion.
VOA Chesapeake runs programs in several service areas—residential/housing services,
mental health/intellectual disabilities, homeless services and corrections. They operate
26programs in 40 locations ranging from Baltimore, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia. They
serve 8000 individuals annually and have nearly 400 full time and 180 part time employees.
VOA Chesapeake runs programs in several service areas—residential/housing services,
mental health/intellectual disabilities, homeless services and corrections. They operate
26programs in 40 locations ranging from Baltimore, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia. They
serve 8000 individuals annually and have nearly 400 full time and 180 part time employees.
For a number of years, VOA Chesapeake relied on an expensive hosted Microsoft Exchange
system for their email and groupware such as calendaring. Both the set up and the high cost
were problematic. Administrative staff that used Microsoft Outlook for accessing email, shared
calendars, and contacts could not simply open it on their computers. Instead, they had to go
through several steps—connecting and then logging into a remote terminal server before
opening Outlook. To make matters more difficult, the high price meant that access to this
remote server was limited primarily to the headquarters’ office and not all the field locations
As a result, many employees relied on their personal email, presenting a security risk.
For a number of years, VOA Chesapeake relied on an expensive hosted Microsoft Exchange
system for their email and groupware such as calendaring. Both the set up and the high cost
were problematic. Administrative staff that used Microsoft Outlook for accessing email, shared
calendars, and contacts could not simply open it on their computers. Instead, they had to go
through several steps—connecting and then logging into a remote terminal server before
opening Outlook. To make matters more difficult, the high price meant that access to this
remote server was limited primarily to the headquarters’ office and not all the field locations
As a result, many employees relied on their personal email, presenting a security risk.
The SolutionThe Solution
Realizing that they needed to make a change but that they did not have the expertise in
house, VOA Chesapeake engaged NPower to conduct a strategic technology assessment.
NPower took a look not only at email options but at VOA Chesapeake’s entire technology
operation. NPower met with VOA management and staff to determine current state of
technology and tech needs. Various scenarios were presented and the costs to implement
each of these defined with an eye VOA’s tight budget.
Realizing that they needed to make a change but that they did not have the expertise in
house, VOA Chesapeake engaged NPower to conduct a strategic technology assessment.
NPower took a look not only at email options but at VOA Chesapeake’s entire technology
operation. NPower met with VOA management and staff to determine current state of
technology and tech needs. Various scenarios were presented and the costs to implement
each of these defined with an eye VOA’s tight budget.
Ultimately, NPower recommended that VOA implement a new cloud based solution from
Microsoft called Business Productivity Online Service (BPOS.) BPOS is a set of Microsoft
hosted messaging and collaboration solutions including Exchange, SharePoint, Live Meeting
and Office Communications. Each service can be purchased individually or as a combined
offering depending on the organization’s need. It is easy to administer reducing the need for
expensive outside help. Thanks to VOA Chesapeake’s nonprofit status and NPower’s
relationship with Microsoft, VOA Chesapeake was able to take advantage of special pricing
that substantially reduced its costs even while making corporate available to the entire staff.
Ultimately, NPower recommended that VOA implement a new cloud based solution from
Microsoft called Business Productivity Online Service (BPOS.) BPOS is a set of Microsoft
hosted messaging and collaboration solutions including Exchange, SharePoint, Live Meeting
and Office Communications. Each service can be purchased individually or as a combined
offering depending on the organization’s need. It is easy to administer reducing the need for
expensive outside help. Thanks to VOA Chesapeake’s nonprofit status and NPower’s
relationship with Microsoft, VOA Chesapeake was able to take advantage of special pricing
that substantially reduced its costs even while making corporate available to the entire staff.
The ImpactThe Impact
By moving to a cloud based solution, VOA Chesapeake not only got better service but lowered
their costs significantly. The estimated cost savings is more than $4,500 a month or $54,000 a
year which is very meaningful to VOA. According to Shyam Desigan, Chief Financial Officer,
VOA Chesapeake, "the cloud computing solution offers non-profits a more efficient, lower cost
and secure technology platform that will help integrate all business operations over time. We
are glad to partner with NPower to roll out cloud computing solutions such as BPOS to provide
a better and more effective user experience to our people."
By moving to a cloud based solution, VOA Chesapeake not only got better service but lowered
their costs significantly. The estimated cost savings is more than $4,500 a month or $54,000 a
year which is very meaningful to VOA. According to Shyam Desigan, Chief Financial Officer,
VOA Chesapeake, "the cloud computing solution offers non-profits a more efficient, lower cost
and secure technology platform that will help integrate all business operations over time. We
are glad to partner with NPower to roll out cloud computing solutions such as BPOS to provide
a better and more effective user experience to our people."