We wanted to modernize our data management and reporting system. We went through several other companies but were pleased with the platform and the features offered by the CARMIS tool. Above all, what pleased us most was that CARMIS was owned and developed by new Canadian entrepreneurs.
On behalf of the Aurora Family Therapy Centre, I am writing this letter to express our strong support for the CARMIS data management tool developed in Manitoba by a local company - NSD Tech. Since engaging with NSD Tech, CARMIS has simplified how we use data to support case management and reporting at our organization.
Aurora Family Therapy Centre is a progressive, non-profit family therapy centre that offers family therapy on a sliding scale and sees clients through services funded by both the federal and provincial governments. Aurora is committed to providing systemic therapy to strengthen family relationships, individuals, and communities. Aurora considers mental health services accessibility to be a global health equity issue. Our work requires a robust data collection and reporting mechanisms to support the tracking of the wellbeing of our clients across different programs and their progress within programs. CARMIS has been able to provide all the processes and solutions requirement to achieve these for our clients and funders.
We had been looking for a data management tool for a while but never got around to deciding on the next steps. We were collecting data through multiple methods and using many rudimentary tools often struggling with the consolidation, analyzing, and uploading of data and spending tons of time entering data and formulating reports.
The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic provided us with the impetus to find a data management tool that met our programming needs. We wanted to build a system that was better than what we had pre-pandemic times. We wanted to modernize our data management and reporting system.
When we were looking for a data management tool, we were looking for answers to the following questions.- Will the data management tool address our data collection, handling, and reporting needs?
- Can it consolidate and connect data across our different programs and process reports to meet multiple funder reporting requirements including bulk uploads of data.
- Is the company accessible? Is it Canadian owned and Canadian based? Will our data stay in Canada.
- Is it compatible with our privacy needs?
It took us almost a year to come to the decision that we work with CARMIS and the NSD folks. We went through several other companies but were pleased with the platform and the features offered by the CARMIS tool. Above all, what pleased us most was that CARMIS was owned and developed by new Canadian entrepreneurs.
One of our key objectives as an organization is to empower highly skilled immigrant entrepreneurs. Of course, Canada attracts the best and the brightest from all over the world but what a better way to provide an opportunity, partner with and use the exceptional skills of immigrants to offer solutions to programming that helps support and integrate new Canadians. We felt that Sumegha, Nitin and their team were the embodiment of the best and brightest that Canada welcomed. With CARMIS, we did not have to change our reporting preferences. The NSD Tech folks worked to innovate, create, and fit the data management tool with our reporting preferences.
In preparing this letter, I asked a few of our key program leaders to provide comments on the use of CARMIS as a data management tool and the support they received from NSD Tech.
“The staff at NSD tech have been extremely professional and have worked closely with us to meet the specific needs that we have in each of our programs. I have really appreciated their quick responses to the questions I have and are able to troubleshoot any issues in a timely manner. Not only has CARMIS been a great database to store client information, but it has proven to be very efficient in submitting uploads into iCARE for IRCC and creating reports for various funders”.
Debbie Froese – Newcomer Community Development Program Coordinator
I have been very impressed with their “after installation service”. Nitin (as the contact person) has been very responsive to any issues that have arisen. He answers emails promptly and tends to the question/issue raised immediately. I have noted that often they have worked over the weekend or on a holiday to fix the issue. This is impressive. I have also been impressed with how he communicates the technical side of the question, with accessible language and direction, all the while with very calm, patient as well as approachable manner. They are also obviously very competent in the work they do as all of the issues that have been raised have been tended to and “repaired” and again in a prompt and efficient manner. With any new installation there will always be “bugs” to work out when a system “goes live”…CARMIS has been very attentive to all those issues. Again, I find this to be of such importance and speaks to the quality of their work and that they stand behind their product. I think this is exceptional in today’s service industry. Without a doubt a 5 Star business. I am glad we chose them.
Elden Siemens – Program Coordinator, Psycho-Social Settlement Needs Assessment (PSSNA)
