About Ministry Data Services
Ministry Data Services offers software support, website services, customizations, application training, consulting and administrative support services. Ministry Data Services specializes in support of all Parish Data System and related software products.
Software Technical Support -
Whether you have a procedural 'how to' question regarding your Parish Data System program, or a show-stopping technical issue, we are here to help. We offer an annual phone/fax/email support contract or charge-per-incident support. For more information about the benefits of Annual Support, please click here. If you would like more information about our suipport options, please contact our office.
Website Services -
Ministry Data Services provides website development and deployment services. If your organization has no web presence, or your website needs some updating, or you are looking to interface your existing website to PDS applications, we have the tools to meet your needs! If your organization is new to the internet, Ministry Data Services can establish affordable domain registration and website hosting services for you. We will work closely with our clients to develop a unique and personalized theme for their website. We also offer ongoing contract or pay-as-you-go website maintenance services.
Ministry Data Services is now offering 'Solution Packages'. A Solution Package is a complete process-driven solution which includes a Customized PDS Form (which can be emailed to families), a matching customized Web Form which matches the information on the PDS Form, and automated utilities for processing the data received from the Web Form. For example, a Solution Package may include an email-capable letter to each family which recaps Parish Talent and Ministry involvement and invites the family to respond online. The form letter might include a link to a customized web page, to update the family's involvement records. Once the family updates their involvement record, the data is returned to the Parish, in email form, and updated in PDS using an automated batch process. Solution Packages save time and money and, by removing rekeying of information, improve the quality of the information received.
For more information about Web Services or Solution Packages, please click here.
Custom Reports -
Sometimes, your organization will have a special information need that is not readily available from the pre-defined reports. Over the years, Ministry Data Services has become expert with the Advanced Report Writer and can meet, and often exceeed, any unique reporting need you may have. Ministry Data Services will work with you to understand the information needs, develop your report, and provide installation support. Please contact us for more information about this additional service.
Data Repair and Analysis-
As your organization becomes more experienced with the many features of PDS programs, you may find that you would like to change the way your data is defined or stored to better utilize the program. While PDS includes many processes for making across-the-board changes to your data, you may have a more specific need. Ministry Data Services will develop customized utilities to quickly make global changes or repairs to your database which would otherwise be very time-consuming.
Do you think your data needs a tune-up? Ministry Data Services provides a special service to analyse the data integrity of your Parish Data System® database and offer suggestions for improving database usage and perfomance. Please contact us for more information about our Data Repair and Analysis Services.
Data Imports, Exports, and Conversions -
Ministry Data Services provides development services to create customized utilities to Import data from other sources into PDS, create specifically formatted exports which can be used to send your data to other data companies, and complete data conversion processes. For example, you may keep a spreadsheet of email addresses that you would like to import into PDS, updating your family records with the email addresses on the spreadsheet. We can do that! Or, you may be working with a fund raising company and they need a specifically formatted export of contribution history from your PDS database. We can do that! Or, you may have been using another program for payroll and want to convert your employee data to the PDS Payroll program. We can do that!
Because our custom-written Import/Export/Conversion processses are automated, not data-entry-driven, you will save time and improve data accuracy. Please contact us for more information about these additional services.
Software Training Services -
Ministry Data Services offers Personalized Application Training for all supported PDS Products. Training can be completed either online, at our office, or at a location of your choosing. For more information or to schedule a training session, please click here.
Administrative Support Services -
Ministry Data Services provides services to assist with administrative activities such as bookkeeping, payroll, contribution posting, etc. These services are generally temporary and provided to fill in gaps while new employees are brought up to speed, or when current employees are temporarily unavailable. Please contact our office if you need an extra administrative hand!