Initial results of a new survey into the ICT needs of non-governmental organisations reveal that they have the same needs and implementation patterns as other small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

Research carried out by World Wide Worx for SangoNet shows that only 1% of NGOs don't have any kind of computer, while 33% have more than 10%.
In one respect, NGOs are ahead of their mainstream SME counterparts in that they seem to have adopted mobile computing more vigorously, with 73& making use of laptop computers.
Following this trend, about 30% of NGOs use some form of wireless networking - again, a much higher rate than their SME counterparts.
In addition, more than 80% use a server, indicating an unexpected level of IT sophistication.
As is common with other SMEs, NGOs have discovered the advantages of a broadband connection and 66% of them are connected via ADSL; 16% are still dial-up; and 6% use ISDN.
"The extent to which NGOs have embraced ADSL is very significant," says Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx. "E-mail is very important to them and dial-up costs can come out very high.
"There is a misconception that ADSL is more expensive than dial-up: yes, the upfront costs are more, but there is no incremental cost after that."
In common with commercial organisations, most NGOs make use of market leading software: 95% of them use a version of the Windows operating system; of the 80% of NGOs the use a network operating system, 75% use Windows.
Only 4% use and Open Source network operating system.
"It is very clear that NGOs are mainsteam users of IT," says Goldstuck. "As such, they must be treated as a mainstream and commercially-viable user base."
Mirroring the Windows figures, 94% of NGOs users Microsoft Office as their office application of choice, with just 6% using Open Office and 1% using Star Office. A surprising number - 6% - still use WordPerfect Office, with 1% preferring Lotus Office.
Together with other SMEs, NGO make use of accounting software *86%), with 76% of these using Pastel, 7% are Accpac users and 6% use QuickBooks.
In addition, a surprising 23% of NGOs use more specialised software like CRM; and 40% have some form of customised software installed.
Another aberation in the NGO market is the use of the fax machine, with almost 100% of respondents ranking it together with fixed line telephony and e-mail as an important communications medium.
Other communications media rated as important by NGOs include the emerging technologies of instant messaging and voice over IP.
NGOs are better-than-average technology users, with 65% of them ranking themselve as average or better.