Hourglass Congregation Meeting and Ministry Software

[Mike047]

As we are definitely leaving our use of NWS/NWP for Hourglass, does anyone know of the upsides/downsides of it?

[DancesWithWife]

1 hour ago, Mike047 said:

we are definitely leaving our use of NWS/NWP for Hourglass, does anyone know of the upsides/downsides of it?

Why are you changing before you know the upsides/downsides of it? Why not do a tryout before totally changing? I know nothing about the Hourglass software. 

[Mike047]

Thanks, Gregg, but I don't think I explained it properly. Just asking if anyone knows much about Hourglass

[campanula]

We use it about 8 months and it works pretty good so far, nothing really suspicious. 

[Qapla]

Our congregation uses NWS/NWP. We have used it for a few years, and it seems to work just fine. I have never seen or used Hourglass.

 

However, I did visit the website to see what it was and have two observations:

1. It seems to have one of the same issues/limitations/downsides as NWS/NWP - it does not seem to have a Windows publisher app
2. I am not a fan of this type of comment in the FAQ

 

While I have no issue with them requesting donations after mentioning it can be used for free - I do not agree with "bashing" other brothers who create software even if those brothers charge for it - after all, I charge for my services when working.

 

[Tami]

Our congregation uses the hourglass app so that's all I know. It provides all the needed information in regards to meetings, field service, when you have a part, when its your groups turn to clean, special event dates and turning in if you was active in the ministry. 

 

[Dages]

We are trying Hourglass... I have to fill a lot of things  

[Mike047]

There is no cost with Hourglass, and it does all of the basic things that are needed. I'm sure that any of the techies that are using it will give us a more comprehensive view of it.

[Dages]

Adding and filling the s-21 of 140 publishers... I'll need 2 days

On the other hand, I filled the attendance and it output the form perfectly for the coming COV. 

Excellent 👍 

[cme]

We use hour glass here in Warwick.  We like it.

[AndyCase]

I appreciate this is an older thread, but we are currently looking at stopping our use of Hourglass due to concerns about GDPR / UK Data Protection.

I have a feeling that as a conggregation we may cease using any software at all - however, if we use anything, i would favour New World Scheduler due to the data being locally stored and not on a server "somewhere" in the cloud so to speak

[carlos]

1 hour ago, AndyCase said:

i would favour New World Scheduler due to the data being locally stored and not on a server "somewhere" in the cloud so to speak

 

Andrew, I don't know anything about Hourglass, but NW Scheduler does keep data on a server somewhere (unless you use it on a single computer and with a single user). There is no way to sync data among different computers without having that info stored somewhere.

 

On the other hand, NW Scheduler claims to be fully GDPR compliant. When someone is approved as an unbaptized publisher, they have to sign a consent to have their personal data collected and stored. GDPR doesn't forbid to store data, it only requires consent to do it. As for security issues, the data is encrypted and obfuscated, so technically not even NW Scheduler developers can access it. In case of need, all the data on the servers and every PC that connects them can be quickly deleted.

[Dages]

Hourglass also has end to end encryption

[abicastillo]

Hi Brothers, 

We have been using Hourglass for a few years now. They have amazing support and continue adding features to improve the app and Admin side. We also love that most CO reports needed for the visit are included.