Announce a due date to the group of users that are responsible for the task or item. Set start and end dates on the bulletin so the announcement is visible at the right time. Enter a message or set of instructions to remind users of the task deliverables.

Notify users when administrators will make updates to the database structure. You may ask users not to enter data in certain places while forms are reorganized or modified. These types of notifications are primarily used for internal database updates, not Social Solutions system updates. You can also notify users when Social Solutions is making updates to the database if updates are relevant to your users.

Your organization may have special instructions for making referrals to community partners, links to specific online resources, or other technology portals for data entry. Place those links in an Apricot bulletin so users have direct access from Apricot software.

Announcement bulletins can also be used for fun messages, morale boosters, or even company-wide updates. Add a bulletin if it is someone’s birthday, there is a team meeting coming up, or link to a feedback survey when you need staff input. You can also add announcement bulletins to remind users to be safe walking on icy walkways during the winter or when input is needed from the internal workplace safety committee, among other human resource related topics.

A create new Tier 1 shortcut is a must-have navigation element in Apricot. All data entry in Apricot begins with a Tier 1 record. Reduce the number of clicks to create a new Tier 1 record with a button in a bulletin.

In addition to a create new Tier 1 shortcut, add a second button to a bulletin for the Tier 1 search. A Tier 1 search might be for a list of clients, volunteers, donors, or referral partners. This button doesn’t reduce the number of clicks in Apricot, but it is a perfect pair for a Tier 1 Create Button in a bulletin.

A link to a specific Tier 1 folder removes multiple clicks in navigation and lets users jump around the database. Create links to view specific Tier 1 folders with custom expressions in reports (so this bulletin type is technically a dashboard report). This navigation shortcut is only feasible for small batches of Tier 1 records. For example, you might generate these shortcut links for all active clients by case manager (a caseload), that way a case manager can quickly access information about that client without searching for the client in the Tier 1 search.

A link to create Tier 2 records is similar to a link to view a Tier 1 folder. Tier 2 records cannot be created without an associated Tier 1 record in Apricot software. As a result, users must navigate to a Tier 1 document folder to create new Tier 2 records. A link to create a Tier 2 record is created with custom expressions in reports (so this bulletin type is also technically a dashboard report). This navigation shortcut is also only feasible for small batches of Tier 1 records and only for Tier 2 records that are created frequently. For example, you might generate these shortcut links for all active clients by case manager (caseload) for a specific type of record, like a case note. That way a case manager can quickly create a case note in one click rather than the normal three clicks using standard Apricot navigation.

Apricot dashboard reports display actionable information. Actionable information helps your organization manage operational workflows. An operational stats dashboard might display total active cases or clients or a queued report showing the next follow-up date for a case or client. Operational dashboards display the data you need to “operate” and “manage” your programs or services. These dashboards are often day-to-day reports used to make real-time decisions about program or service workflow.

Use Apricot dashboard bulletins in a management capacity as well. Build dashboards that display quarterly or annual metrics. Measure aggregate performance to determine if your organization is on track to achieve its goals. These dashboards may track client demographics (who you serve), total services provided by month (how you serve), or the outcomes of a group of clients (the impact of your services).