Imagine doubling the impact of your social project by developing a digital solution – That’s exactly what some participants in the POSITIVE Impact Challenge managed to do!
Six months after the challenge ended, we spoke to the participating organizations and the results are impressive. Do you still remember #profamilia? They struggled with a flood of requests and had to coordinate everything manually and laboriously. Thanks to the challenge, they were able to develop a new booking tool that runs on their Nextcloud. Schools can now book appointments directly and invoices are created automatically.
“We used to have a flood of requests and had to laboriously coordinate everything manually. Now the appointments are clearly defined and the schools can book themselves. That takes a huge amount of pressure off us,” reports a #profamilia employee.
Or HILVER, the platform for neighbourhood assistance? They had difficulty convincing older people to use their app. As part of the challenge, the students developed a new web version of the app, simplified the onboarding process and even introduced an AI assistant. The result? The number of users has almost doubled!
OnDa, the organization that supports the needs of the deaf, was lacking a digital booking system for sign language interpreters. The challenge enabled the development of an all-in-one app that makes booking appointments much easier. “The challenge has made our project better known. […] The goal is to offer the app throughout Germany.”
The POSITIVE Impact Challenge (PIC) is an inspiring example of how open innovation can advance the social sector. Here are some highlights from the impact interviews that underline the positive and sustainable impact of the PIC:
Digital skills: “The challenge showed us how we can still create innovative digital solutions with limited resources.”
Readiness to digitize: “The app [developed by the solvers] was a significant step that we would not have achieved so quickly without the help of the challenge.”
Networks & partnerships: “It was incredibly cool for us that this cooperation with Offenburg University came about. We got a ready-made software tool that helps us.”
Increased efficiency: “We used to have a flood of inquiries and had to laboriously coordinate everything manually. Now the appointments are clearly defined and the schools can book themselves. That takes a huge amount of pressure off us.”
Sustainable social impact: “The challenge has made our project better known. Through cooperation with the university and support from various initiatives, we have taken important steps towards better digital advice for the deaf. The goal is to offer the app throughout Germany.”
