LAN2LAN today announced that it’s Congrego solution has been awarded the IBM Lotus Award in the Best Community Service category for the annual IBM Lotus Mark of Brilliance Awards. The Surrey–based consultancy and integrator is the only UK reseller to win a Lotus Award this year.

Congrego’s win comes as community and care issues are high on the UK political agenda. The solution has applications ranging from the delivery of essential information and services to communities affected by heavy snowfalls, through to the provision of long–term support for troops returning from front–line duties. The Congrego name is taken from the latin, meaning “to congregate, share, unite and collaborate.”

International recognition

The IBM Lotus Awards recognise exceptional IBM PartnerWorld Business Partners who specialise in Lotus Software solutions and have excelled at providing quality products, innovative solutions and superior services to customers. For the 2010 Lotus Awards, hundreds of applications were received from more than 30 countries around the world.

Multiple applications

Congrego has multiple applications in the community and public service sectors. It provides an immediate single channel for communicating information, advice and support between trauma victims and local authorities, following civil emergencies such as flooding or terrorist incidents. It can also be used to create a mutual support and collaboration network for people with mental or physical disorders, including compulsive diseases.

• Charities and support groups for people with addictions and compulsive diseases, such as eating disorders, can use Congrego to provide 24/7 advice, guidance and mutual support
• Local authorities can rapidly deploy information and communication services during civil emergencies such as flooding, terrorist alerts or major traffic incidents
• Corporate organisations can use Congrego to provide communication and collaboration services, and for business continuity, when operations are disrupted by bad weather or civil incidents
• Healthcare trusts and support groups can use Congrego to provide support, communication and guidance services to sufferers from long–term illnesses
• Schools and colleges can create parent and student information portals for the delivery of essential news – including foul weather updates – provision of homework during closures and other services

Community networking

Congrego uses secure IBM Collaborative software to apply the principles of social networking to these highly specialised community service areas. It can be rolled out rapidly and securely by a local authority or government agency following an incident, providing a lifeline of communication for the communities affected. The Congrego interface is very easy to use, even for people who have limited experience of computers and social networks.

Mutual care and support

For care agencies and support groups, Congrego allows the creation of a confidential portal to a range of support services. People with problems of addiction, or with long–term illnesses, can use a dedicated Congrego website to share experiences and ideas with fellow sufferers, providing a valuable source of support. This sense of community has been shown to be invaluable in helping people achieve the self–empowerment that is crucial for the recovery process.

“We are delighted that Congrego’s innovative use of IBM Lotus technologies has been acknowledged with this Best Community Service award,” says Jasper Warren of LAN2LAN. “We hope the endorsement will help to drive the rapid adoption of this important solution.”

When the worst happens, it tends to bring out the best in people. Countless tales of mutual support are often told when people are thrown together by disaster or shared misfortune. In an age where technology is blamed for cocooning people in their homes, Congrego demonstrates the power of the Internet to bring people together, allowing their humanitarian instincts to flourish.

Date: 15/01/2010