Welcome to Community Hotline
Version 2.0
Contents
- How Community Hotline can Help communities?
- Different Modules.
- How Community Hotline works?
- Different Editions.
- Comparison between Print Media and Digital Media.
- Knock Off: Print Media and Digital Media
- Salient Features
- Common Features
- Comparisons
- Different Editions Rights.
A country with diverse multi-cultural landscape offers the maximum opportunity for development of communities so as to maintain their identities. Community Hotline is a software that has been developed keeping this into account.
In India communities are based on religion, caste and sub castes. Though this eons old practice is despised by modern thinkers, the same has helped to keep tradition alive and kept individuals and families closer to their home and communities.
So far the Indian community scene involved a philanthropic head of the community who finances and manages local community cells that offer members access to the marriage register, events and other community members.
This is basically done by maintaining the details of the family directory with the head of the family and the members who belong to the same family and the community in particular.
This directory is primarily maintained manually and updated one in three years. Many community members refer to this directory to get in touch with other members for various reasons such as finance, marriage, festivals, etc.
However, it is found that many a time the records are not up-to-date and as a result a lot of time is spent in sorting the correct ones.
Community Hotline is developed after many man years of research into the Indian as well as global community scene and offers an easy and cost effective way to computerize the family and match making directory of communities.
It goes one step further in bring together not just individuals within a community but also the various caste and sub-castes. With modern times, inter-caste marriages is quite common and Community Hotline can offer community heads a solution that can offer their community members highly accurate information or prospective grooms or brides within their community and thus help maintain the community's unique identity.
Likewise with increasing competition from multinationals, small businesses are struggling to keep a float. In such circumstances access to information becomes very important.
For example, if a community member is manufacturing electronic devices and wants to offer the products are wholesale prices directly to his community members thus saving cost of marketing and advertising, Community Hotline could be a cost effective medium.
The community member can request a CD containing data of community members from the community centers operating the Community Hotline software and use the data to promote their products within the community.
This is beneficial to both the trader and the user as the user gets products at wholesale prices.
Likewise, Community Hotline can also be used to aid social causes like blood donation drives, helping poor people, educational loans and sponsorship, etc to community members.
Community Hotline can be used by a community for computerizing its manual membership records and then keeps it up-to-date. In addition, the data thus created can be distributed anywhere to anyone for social or financial benefit. For example, blood group information of members can be used for social benefit and business information can be used for commercial benefits. Like offering the community data to other communities or organizations.
This product being highly distributed and networked, it can be used to control various branches of the community and the membership and financial activities of the branches.
The biggest help the software for a community is the elimination of the need to reprint copies of the membership database as the same is available digitally across the community to its members anytime, anywhere.
The software also helps bridge distance and offers the community get go global and thus increases its membership across the world. This can lead to increase in financial performance of the community as it can use the software for social and community awareness.
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Different Modules
Community Hotline has the following modules that the community can use:
Membership Using this module, the community can collect and store personal data of the member such as full name, age, qualification, profession, contact details, caste, sub caste and other personal information. This record creates a unique membership id for the member which acts as a social passport. This information leads to the creation of membership directory.
Matrimonial - Using this module, the community can collect the information relevant to match making such as personal preferences of the bride or groom, their personal matrimonial data such as kuldevi, gotra, etc. This data is used by the system to do auto-match with other members or for searching for matches. This information leads to the creation of the matrimonial directory.
Family This is the family information of the member such as Head of Family, Other family members and their relationship to the main member. Other important information such as family profession or business is also captured. This information leads to the creation of family directory.
CD Viewer This optional software is provided that can be used to search for and output the information available in various directories to a CD format. This is especially useful where there is no internet available and the local community center has to send the data collected at their center to the head office by CD. This software is also useful for those using the desktop edition.
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How Community Hotline works?
Community Hotline is very simple in functioning and deployment but the features are many. This software works as a collection point for information as well as point of dissemination of information. This information is basically Community, Family and Matrimonial. Of course, this can be expanded to also include business information.
A community can shift from using print media to digital media by installing Community Hotline at their Head Office, Local Community Centers and also to individuals. The benefits of Digital Media versus Print Media are already highlighted.
So once a decision is arrived, the community works out the number of Office Admin and Personal Edition version of the Community Hotline Software it has to install as also the Super Admin version.
If the local community centers work independently without a head office controlling them, then the communities need to only purchase the Office Admin version and install the same at the different local community centers. If the community has sufficient individuals who want to digitally communicate with community instead of personal visits to the local community centers, then the Personal edition has to be provided to them.
If the community is very large and thousands or lakhs of memberships which require more administration tasks, then multi-user versions of the software will be required so that in the same office, more than one user can use the software.
Therefore once the number of centers and users who will be using the software is arrived at, the community can purchase the same and install the software at its various centers. If the community wants to centrally manage the entire community data then a web server and database server has to be installed at the head office along with the Super Admin version.
The Office Admin version acts as the point of collection of the following information:
- Membership and Registration.
- Payment / Membership Fees.
- Matrimonial Data
- Family
If the setup involves a web server, then the entire data can be controlled by the Super Admin version and according shared with others. The Super Admin can thus virtually control the entire community data whereas the Office Admin can control on the data at the local community center.
A community can share parts or the entire data with another community also by transferring it from the web server to the desired digital format.
The Super Admin as well as the Office Admin can determine who uses the software and the administrator can configure the users with different roles such as data-entry operator, editor and admin. The administrator can also keep an audit or log of all transaction or usage of the software to prevent any irregularities.
The community can also go for the online version of the software i.e Community Online so that this is made available to members who do not want to install the personal edition or visit community centers and use the web and internet to access information. The Community Online web portal can be customized to include many other features such as events listing, business directory, blood banks, greetings and online shop.
The user or the member can either visit the local community center and request for printed or digital information or install the Personal Edition of the Community Hotline software on their computer and digitally request for the community information such as matrimonial and family data. The user can also access the same data and other features such as events, information (blood banks, business directory) from the online version, Community Online without requiring to install any software and simply using their browser.
Finally, the community can decide to provide the information as a free service or for a fee and the software provides accounting for the same. There is no comparable software available in the world at the moment that offers the features of Community Hotline for the price it is being offered.
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Different Editions
Community Hotline comes in following different editions.
Super Admin : The Super Admin is to be installed at Head office of a community where all community accounting is centrally monitored. This version has the maximum features and is also available in Single or Multi-user version. The Super Admin can control and manage all the community data be it available at local community centers or by individual members. The Super Admin also enables the community to collect information centrally and provide the output in different digital formats to others.
Office Admin : The Office Admin is similar to the Super Admin in operations but the difference is that it has control only over the data collected at the local community center and not that of other branches. The above two editions can be connected to a Central Web Server and the Data Stored Centrally. This depends on how the community wants to store and access the data.
Desktop Edition : The Desktop Edition is not a networked solution. It has all data stored in a local database and the information can be digitally converted into various formats such as CD’s. This edition does not connect to a Web Server or other Online Database. The software has all the operational features of the Community Hotline.
Personal Edition : The Personal Edition is as its name suggest only to be used by individual person or member and only allows upload of their personal information such as matrimonial details, personal details and family details to the Web Server. This software cannot be used on its own and is provided to the member by the Head Office or Branch of a community so that the member can interact with them using the internet and the Web Server. Using the personal edition, the member can search and request for the information of other community members and on being provided by the community they can download it to their local database.
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Comparison between Print Media & Digital Media
| Print Media | Digital Media | |
| Possibilities to Update data any time | No | Yes |
| Possible to distribute same data in different format | Difficult | Yes |
| Possibilities to global approach | Very Difficult | Yes |
| Possibilities to distributed data collection | Difficult | Yes |
| Possibilities to update data by data owner themselves | No | Yes |
| Possibilities to delete data | No | Yes |
| Possibilities to get data static | No | Yes |
| Commercial benefits | One Time | Always |
| Time saving | No | Yes |
| Cost saving | No | Yes |
| Sources of revenues | Few | Many |
| Can be start | After collecting all data | Any Time |
| Availability of information | At home | Any Where |
| Searching the data | Difficult | Very Easy |
| Different level of Admin | No | Yes |
| Return on Investment | No | Yes |
| Multipurpose usage [Social passport, Blood bank] | No | Yes |
| Personal touch | No | Yes |
| Return to donor & Sponsors | No | Yes |
| Generate Social Capital & Touch | No | Yes |
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Knock Off: Print and Digital Media
Ever since the advent of Digital Media, the Print Media has been struggling to keep pace with the advantages the Digital Media has over it.
- Possibilities to Update data any time : For example, once content is printed only a reprint is possible. Whereas, original digital content can be updated over and over again.
- Possible to distribute same data in different Format : Everyone has a different perspective on content and how it is presented. With print media, creating different templates is difficult. But with digital media it is so easy.
- Possible to Global Approach : Print media is mostly local and the content heavily loaded for local consumption, be it newspapers or magazines. But digital media opens the door to the entire world. Digital content is available from anywhere in the world.
- Possibilities of distributed data collection : Print Media requires centralized collection of data so that there is control on quality and quantity. But as the cost of publishing digit is far less, data collection can be distributed and collated digitally at a central location. For example, remote community branches can collect data on members digitally and upload it to a centralized server.
- Possible to update data by data owner themselves : There is also the added advantage that the original content owner can directly update and re-publish the content even after digital media is published. Whereas, printed content though created by the owner, re-publishing it is a challenge.
- Possible to delete data : It is also possible for the owner of the digital media to delete and get statistics on who has viewed the content. The Print media publisher is dependent on expensive analytical tools for this.
- Possibilities to get Data-Static : Digital data can also be statistically analyzed for different parameters but this facility is not available with respect to print media. For example it is easily possible to arrange digital data based on gender, age, location, etc.
- Commercial benefits : Digital media can be re-printed over and over again at little or not cost to the owner and commercially exploited many times over, whereas Print media has a one time commercial benefit on each print.
- Time saving/ Cost saving : There is enormous time saving in all aspects with regard to Digital Media. Be it republishing or updating or distribution. Print Media is cost intensive.
- Source of revenues : Print media has few outlets for generating revenue whereas Digital media can be customized to generated different sources of revenue. For example, digital content can be sold online or by CDs or even licensed out to others.
- Can be start : To go for printing of content using Print media, all necessary data has to be collated and then presented to the publisher with possibility of couple of drafts and a final print but with digital the content developer can start with the data on hand and keep adding to it as it accumulates. For example a company can create a basic website which is digital media and then keep on adding features and content.
- Different level of Admin : Digital Media can be managed by different people at different levels. Parts of the media can be excluded to certain people and parts disclosed to others. Thus there is flexibility on what information and who can view it. This is not possible with print media.
- Multipurpose usage [Social passport, Blood bank] : Digital content can be used in many ways and for different applications. For example an individual's personal information such as date of birth, contact number can be used for different purposes. Example Job search as well as matrimonial search. But this is not possible with Print Media. For example a wedding card can be used only for the purpose of wedding.
- Personal Touch : Digital Media is more personal as the owner of the content has direct access to it and how it should be presented. Once printed, print media is published, the owner cannot personalize is later.
- Availability of information/ Searching the data : Searching for information is very easy with digital media as the entire information is automatically indexed and readily available. Printed information requires manual indexing and searching the same is also very tedious and time consuming.
- Return on Investment / Return to donor & Sponsors : Every media, print or digital is sponsored by individuals or businesses who want to highlight their products or services. Hence their focus is on better return on their investment. With regards to sponsorship in Printed Media, space is a constraint and there can be limited sponsors and also the sponsor advertisements have limitation in size, shape and presence. Therefore the cost of the same is high for the sponsors. However, with digital media, sponsor advertisements can be very flexible. Sponsors can have the option of limited visibility; for example monthly, yearly or lifetime of the content. Also, the digital media can accommodate more ads in different shape and size thus providing good return for the sponsors. The return on investment from Digital Media for a community is very high as compared to Print Media.
- Generate Social Capital & Touch : The social impact of digital media is immense as it brings about one-to-one and one-to-many interaction between one another as well as faster access to information as compared to information available on Print Media. For example, if a community member wants to hold an event, the same can be announced to all relevant members of the community without much effort. Thus digital media encourages more interaction. Also, local community centers who use digital media to collect and disseminate information, have better response and hence more interaction between the community members with the local center.
Salient Features
In addition, your organization benefits from one or all of the following cost saving features.
- Easy Installation.
- CD based Training with low learning curve.
- In-built maintenance features for tracking bugs and errors.
- Dedicated Online and Offline Support.
- Easy to Upgrade to more advanced versions.
- Faster processing (upload and download) reduces your internet bill.
- Auto update
Common Features
The Software also provides the following functional features:
Registration and Operation
- Four Levels of Security: Your Community data is for your eyes only and for those who have been given access such as administrator, editor, user and applicant.
- Single Window: Most of the features of this software are accessible on a single screen. This means the software is easy to operate and does not require special computer skills.
- Registration: Each membership record is uniquely identified and registered. Eliminates duplication of records and profiles.
- Profile Management: Option to enter a short as well as detailed profile of the member and specify his or her preferences. This helps to instantly generate a more accurate match making report for your members based on their preferences.
- Family Directory: Registered members can create their family directory and add, modify and delete details of his family and other family members.
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Matrimonial Directory:
Registered members can create their matrimonial preferences and add, modify and delete details of his record. This data is useful for using the auto-match feature or search for matches between bride and bridegrooms. - Payment & Receipts: After registration of a member, the software displays the form to enter the payment details and instantly prints a receipt for the same
- Power Search: This option enables users to search for member profiles for one or more keywords and using the AND/OR/NOT/+/-/condition. Example “doctor or engineer”, “doctor and mumbai”, “NOT doctor”, “+doctor mumbai”. This search option also allows users to search for an exact phrase. Example “computer engineer”.
- Search Wizard: This tool displays a step-by-step form to select different parameters based on member preferences (as in personal details, qualifications, work experience, etc) and display the matching profiles.
- Auto-Match Search: The Auto-Match feature instantly displays the matching profiles for up to 13 conditions based on a member's preferences.
- Advanced Search: This search helps to find profiles for multiple criteria based on values stored in fields such as age, location, caste, etc and using the AND/OR/NOT conditions.
- Expiry Search: This feature enables you to search Community profiles and list out expired profiles with a single click. The information can be used to contact members for renewing their subscription or for new references.
- User ID Search: This search option provides the facility to instantly retrieve a member profile by entering their User ID.
- Notes and Appointments: This invaluable tool keeps track of interviews, appointments and sessions arranged between members and also note their feedback.
- The community marriage bureau can assign points or grades for a based on their own assessment and the feedback received from their matches. This feature thus enables the marriage bureau to provide additional personalized services to their members in addition to the basic match making services.
- Speed of Data Entry: Community Hotline has features such as auto-complete, address hierarchy (i.e. on select country it displays all its corresponding states, city, area and its pincode, etc.) that reduces or minimizes repetitive data entry. All the options are easily accessible using short-cut keys or single mouse click thus increasing the speed of data entry.
- Data Flow: The forms required for operations such as registration, profile management, notes, etc. have an easy data flow that enables users to create a profile in minutes and without much effort.
- Data Access: All information is stored in an intelligent way so as to enable users to easily search for records or Community information.
- Transfer of Data between multiple branches: The Community data entered by the user is generally stored in the user's computer. However in case of Multi-User operation, the data is stored in the local database server. The Multi-Office version of Community Hotline provides the facility to transfer Community data stored in the user's computer / local database server to a web server and vice-versa.
- Instant Reporting: Dynamic reports can be generated based on simple as well as advanced conditions defined by you. You can also decide which information is to be presented in a report and filter for different category of members.
- Auto Match Report: This report displays the result of matches found for the members using the Auto-match facility.
- Graphic Reporting: This feature is an invaluable tool in instantly projecting as 2 or 3 dimensional graphs, comparison statistics for fields such as age, education, income, gender, country and more…. Example, a graphic pie chart can display the ratio of members who are doctors, engineers and graduates by profession. There are 15 different types of graphic reports available in 11 different styles.
- Activity Log Report: This is a very useful feature not found in other similar software and helps you to keep track of all changes made to your Community database. It can record the date, time and the user who has operated an option and also which member information was changed. An audit log report can be printed by the administrator displaying 19 types of information.
- Member Log: Every member will have their own log which will store; the profiles they have matched and selected and also the list of members who have selected them.
- Export: All reports generated by Community Hotline can be exported to a file in Rich Text Format (.RTF), HTML or Text format.
Comparisons
Community Hotline software versions and editions have certain unique features that differentiate them from one another. The following comparison table outlines the distinct feature s available in Single Office and Multi Office
Comparisons of different versions of Community Hotline Useful for centralized processing of member profiles.
| Features | Single Office | Multi Office |
| Easy to Install and Deploy. | Yes | Yes |
| Can be installed on Single PC or Client-Server Network. | Yes | Yes |
| Community database is stored locally on PC / Server | Yes | Yes |
| Useful for distributed processing of member profiles and centralized access to information. | Yes | |
| Connectivity to Web Server and synchronizing of local database with centralized database on Web Server. | Yes | |
| Head Office supervising the operations of other branches. | Yes | |
| Installed as combination of different editions viz. Super Admin, Office Admin & Personal edition. | Yes | |
| Small organization, dating consultants or communities operating without branch offices or franchises. | Yes | |
| All marriage bureaus, dating consultants, website, organizations & comm- unities offering Community services & having multiple branches or franchise. | Yes | |
| Useful for centralized processing of member profiles. | Yes |
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Different Editions
| Features | Super Admin | Office Admin | Personal |
| Search/Auto-match and view member profiles registered with any branch or franchise. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Add, Update or delete member profiles. | Yes (all Branches) |
Yes (Single Branches) |
Yes (Own Branches) |
| Upload member profile to the web server. | Yes | Yes | Yes (As per package defined by the administrator) |
| Connect to the web server and download complete member profiles. | Yes (all Branches) |
Yes (Single Branches) |
Yes |
| Generate branch-wise earnings & expenditure reports. | Yes (all Branches) |
Yes (Single Branches) |
|
| Keep track of branch level operations. | Yes (all Branches) |
Yes (Single Branches) |
|
| View member and transaction log reports. | Yes | Yes | |
| Lock/ Unlock any Branch Operations. | Yes | ||
| Control approval of membership registration at different branch offices. | Yes | Yes |
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