Why reusable solutions multiply the impact of tech for good
At the Scottish Tech Army and the Tech for Good Alliance, we stick to a pretty straightforward principle: if a piece of technology helps one charity, there’s usually a very good chance it can help many more.
This is the entire logic behind reusable solutions. Third-sector organisations are constantly asked to solve the exact same operational headaches in isolation: A referral form gets rebuilt for the hundredth time; yet another volunteer tracker gets created from scratch; or a manual paper process is redesigned from the ground up by a team that barely has the bandwidth to manage their day-to-day work. Most of the time, there’s no visibility into the fact that these problems have been solved by somebody else already.
Starting from zero every single time drains energy and money that charities simply don't have. By building tools designed to be adopted by multiple organisations, we can make volunteer hours go further and get useful, tested software into the hands of third sector organisations far faster.
Tested in the field, ready to share
We aren't just talking about reuse as a nice theory. It’s already happening across our project repository through our work and collaboration with partners in the Tech for Good Alliance. Here are some examples of reusable tech stories from just two of our Alliance members, PwC UK and Lloyds Banking Group:
Callsafe: An automated volunteer check-in tool
Seescape approached the Scottish Tech Army with the need for a simple, reliable way to track the arrival and departure times of field volunteers working in different places at different times. They didn't need a bloated, expensive off-the-shelf software subscription.
Through our Tech for Good Alliance initiative, volunteers from PwC built a streamlined check-in/check-out tool tailored to their exact needs. As well as streamlining check-ins, this tool provides valuable data that the charity can then analyse—number of hours donated, average visit time, etc. Because the core requirement—knowing field teams are safe—is so universal, we’re now preparing to deploy the exact same setup for another charity with a similar operational model.
Digital check-in: A visitor & attendee management tool
Also through our Tech for Good Alliance initiative, PwC prototyped a digital check-in tool for Slade Gardens Adventure Playground in Lambeth. Designed to replace paper sign-in sheets, this tool was later developed into a fully operational tool by a volunteer team at Lloyds Banking Group, who built it specifically with scale in mind.
It has since been adopted by the Nantwich Youth and Community Centre and Dementia Disco, and is being prepared for deployment to a fourth charity, and has proven highly effective for centralising attendance data and freeing up staff time. As Kate Darby , CEO and co-founder of Dementia Disco CIO, put it:
"The impact is going to be huge... this tool will allow local organisers to manage bookings, but I will still be able to see data centrally, meaning a light touch from me on a day-to-day basis."
Outreach data capture: A real-time field reporting tool
Cyrenians’ street outreach team supports people tackling homelessness across Central Scotland. Through the Tech for Good Alliance, PwC volunteers built a mobile app letting staff capture interaction data live in the field, paired with a custom reporting dashboard created by skilled volunteer Daniel Manson. Instead of being locked away, this full data-capture kit is now housed in our repository, ready to be developed further and rolled out for other homelessness charities who share the same need.
Building once, benefiting many
Choosing reuse over bespoke builds isn't about cutting corners or force-fitting a solution that's not a good fit; it’s about respect for time, skills, and funding.
Small teams don't need a lengthy digital discovery phase or a costly, custom software build just to log visitors or ensure field staff are safe. They need practical, reliable tools that work today. When our volunteers build with flexibility in mind, the value of their work doesn't stop when the first project closes. The next charity can adopt the same solution, implement it in their organisation, and launch it in a fraction of the time.
Not every problem requires a brand new answer. Sometimes the most effective thing we can do for the third sector is build something well once, learn from it, and pass it on.
