Online fundraising platforms are preparing for an AI-future with Superspree

Artificial intelligence and digital transformation are dominating business headlines. In this new landscape, it is easy for businesses to feel left behind by the current frenzy of technology adoption and radical innovation. As technology adoption dominates entrepreneurial thinking, creating and maintaining a competitive advantage is vital. For online fundraising platforms, we contend that, in order to generate competitive advantage,  it has never been more important to preserve the human element of fundraising. 

Online fundraising platforms are looking to venture into physical events to maintain and increase their gross processed volume. There are many crowdfunding and fundraising platforms across Europe, which are all looking for a unique characteristic to help them stand out from the crowd and attract fundraisers who are looking for that special something. That is why fundraising platforms are turning to Superspree to bridge the gap between digital and physical fundraising and to take the stress and pain out of adopting a new service strategy. 

Superspree’s contactless fundraising devices, managed fundraising device service, fundraising consultancy and training services are enabling fundraising platforms to operate in both the physical and digital spaces. To understand the logic for diversifying away from the digital space, which has made so many platforms into viable businesses, we need to understand the mindset of the truly innovative business strategist. Why would they choose to jump into physical fundraising for their clients? Is this a bold strategy to create competitive advantage, or an expensive way to abandon a proven strategy?  

At Superspree, we advocate for the former. At our last count, there are 38 large online fundraising platforms, just in Europe and the UK, and while the fundraising market is large, platforms do need to find what sets them apart from others. This is where Superspree comes in. 

Superspree provides contactless donation terminals, similar to a digital donation bucket. Superspree’s “Halo” and “Loop” products allow donors to connect to their favourite causes and donate via their mobile phones. These products form part of Superspree’s “Holistic Fundraising Strategy”, which supports charitable fundraising by creating an all-encompassing fundraising strategy which includes the use of both cash and contactless mobile donations. Superspree wants its clients to have a robust fundraising strategy which can reach and connect with all donor demographics. Most “digital transformation” products, those which use innovative technology to change the way charitable donations are made, advocate for the cashless economy, preferring to shine a spotlight on the scale and capabilities of cashless giving. 

While primarily a digital giving method, Superspree understands its place is within a robust and wide-reaching fundraising strategy. Superspree’s mission is to increase the amount of good that charities and good causes can do by increasing their access to unrestricted funds, and cash certainly has a place in this funding mix.

This should be the view of any online fundraising platform looking to become future-proof, strong knowledge of the online fundraising space can create a strong business with large fundraising potential, which will do a lot of good in the world, but the platform that is truly looking for a way to revolutionise fundraising will do anything it can to reach new markets, including in the physical realm. This does not have to replace the online crowdfunding campaigns that are now commonplace, but physical fundraising event management and consultancy provides online fundraising platforms with an additional revenue stream. The digitally capable fundraising platform that is well-positioned to serve the in-person fundraising market will be a formidable force in terms of generating the funds that will change the world. 

Our research has shown that, in order to differentiate themselves from competitors, some platforms choose to serve niche markets such as funding only artistic products or only sports equipment. While this does differentiate platforms, it also places a cap on the potential fundraising market, both on the number of potential donors and the projects from which they can choose. Adding a physical capability allows focused platforms to remain true to their mission and reason for existing, whilst also increasing their potential to raise funds, which is bound to have a positive impact on the organisations and people they support.

Superspree has unmatched scaling potential for all stakeholders in the modern fundraising ecosystem. Superspree’s products and expertise, which have helped raise over $20 million so far, allow both fundraising platforms and the charities they support to benefit from the unlimited potential of contactless donations.  Superspree’s brand new consultancy offering positions platforms to succeed long after devices have been delivered and fundraising events have concluded. Superspree’s proprietary method, which can predict the success and potential of a donation terminal, puts the platform in a strong position to maximise fundraising potential independently. We understand that for digital native companies, expansion or refocus to physical events can be scary and can force platforms away from their core capabilities, so Superspree has developed crash course training modules which ease the transition and make any digital platform ready to succeed in new physical environments. 

Once a platform is confident in both physical and digital fundraising, it can expect its funding potential to skyrocket, along with new opportunities which were previously reserved for cash-only fundraisers.

Contactless donations and digital fundraising are the future. AI, digital transformation and the cashless economy will change the way that we raise money. However, the companies that will profit most from this change are those that can become ready for it, shape it and lead it, but can also adapt their strategy to still include those donors who are resistant to change. 

Physical fundraising events will always have a place in the way that we give money to good causes, and contactless donations are the way to make the donation experience as smooth as possible. Digital native fundraising platforms are turning to using contactless technologies at physical events to lead the charitable sector into the future. Superspree is facilitating this strategic shift with unparalleled technology and expertise. Fundraising platforms that embrace contactless technology at physical events will soon reap the rewards of bold technology adoption, and these will be the platforms that will most help their clients to do good in the world.

For more information, contact lewis@superspree.com