Tech for a good cause

SMS donation drives, telephonic pledges and online campaigns have become commonplace when disaster strikes or when a charitable cause is placed under the spotlight. In particular, SMS donation drives are a preferred utility through which monetary donations can be facilitated.

But behind all good causes and donation drives lie an ocean of technology and companies that actively participate in promoting the causes and enabling donations. One such company is Durban-based Always Active Technologies.

Founded in 2001, Always Active Technologies made its name through providing mobile, geo-location and Wireless Application Service Provider (WASP) services to a number of high- profile businesses in South Africa and abroad, even providing support to Scotland Yard during 2002's Golden Jubilee celebrations. More recently, the company found itself devoting time and team effort towards more community-focused challenges. By looking back at 'older' mobile technologies like USSD and SMS, it realised that the simplicity and ease of use of these technologies could help with solving complex challenges that communities face during times of crisis. And so the mHope division of Always Active Technologies was born.

When speaking to Always Active Technologies' business development manager Alan Haarhoff, it becomes apparent that the company invests its social responsibility efforts in projects that resonate with the team. It's the company's mission to further entrench mobile technologies into communities as an empowering tool for information dissemination. Tied closely to Vodacom, Always Active Technologies has become a reliable provider of solid solutions, especially when the telecommunications giant is facing serious deadlines.

Social responsibility or community-focused projects receive the same level of internal attention at Always Active Technologies. Says Haarhoff: "There is of course a limit to what we can do under the banner of social responsibility but we make our mobile technologies available to all NPOs as packaged solutions and as APIs. We don't treat our mHope projects any differently; they go through the same processes as any other project. In fact, this is done intentionally as we want our staff to experience the 'feel' of these types of projects. With no disrespect to brands, NPOs do have a different vision and the meaning provided by the campaign is different; it's tangible and emotionally empowering."

So far, Always Active Technologies has provided mobile solutions for the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust, the Childline Superhero campaign, Vodacom Red Alert and Vodacom's Change the World Campaign. The company has also provided solutions to Round Table, info4africa and the Activate! Leadership programme. By providing mapping services, geo-location technologies and easily accessible USSD facilities, Always Active Technologies has shown great commitment towards furthering charitable causes and enabling easy access to information for all.

We don't treat our mHope projects any differently; they go through the same processes as any other project.

Alan Haarhoff, Always Active Technologies

But perhaps the largest asset that Always Active Technologies brings to the table of charitable causes is full team commitment. Says Haarhoff: "No project is implemented without proper strategic planning, team input and significant understanding of a client or cause's need. Taking the time to fully understand a need enables us to correctly apportion effort and devise technological solutions that correctly fulfill the objectives of a campaign."

First published in the February 2014 issue of ITWeb Brainstorm magazine.