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Over 5-days a week saved by outsourcing DD processing

Outsourcing time-consuming Direct Debit (DD) processing made life easier and simpler for Age UK through Woods Valldata’s Direct Debit for charities service.

Goal

Age UK were going through a process of streamlining and consolidating services and suppliers.

DD processing was managed in-house, and was a huge administrative burden taking someone nearly full-time to manage all the elements of the process.

They were looking to create efficiencies and saw outsourcing to a trusted partner as the solution. After being awarded the contract through the tender process, Woods Valldata made the first outsourced claim in January 2016.

Success

  • Process over 280,000 DD payments per year
  • Able to flex volume according to campaign programme upgrades and acquisition.

Our Approach

Background

Woods Valldata had worked with Help the Aged and Age Concern before the merger of the two charities when Age UK brought all Direct Debit processing back in-house.

They were in the process of migrating their database to MS Dynamics and were looking to streamline processes at the same time. One objective was to get DDs outsourced before the change-over occurred.

Requirements

Streamline processes to free-up internal resources.

Consolidate DD processing, appeal management, Gift Aid claims and banking and thanking under one supplier partner.

Trusted, compliant, experienced Direct Debit for charities services partner.

Excellent service, advice and support.

Ease of use operationally from Supporter Engagement team.

Implementation

Age UK onboarded with Woods Valldata simply and easily. The onboarding process is clearly laid out with roles, responsibilities and milestone timings using PRINCE2 project management methodology.

Woods Valldata receive new data from Age UK via import, process claims including submissions, AUDDIS, ARRADS and ADDACS via Bacs and manage all supporter admin for ANLs, reject management and other trigger communications. Age UK simply load the exported data back into their database.

Woods Valldata also manage Age UK’s appeal response handling, with associated banking and thanking, as well as submission of all Gift Aid Claims.

With all services under one roof, Woods Valldata are able to fully support Age UK even in times of rapid change.

In March 2020, when the country went into lockdown and the Age UK offices were shut, Woods Valldata was able to continue processing donations, providing digital scans of mail, and delivering thank you letters to all donors during this period.

Continuous Improvement

What our client had to say

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