Deloitte for Facebook

• AIMS provided a software solution that managed a high volume, multi lingual and multi currency funding programme
• AIMS solution was launched in 4 weeks from start of contract
• AIMS Software Ltd, with Deloitte, delivered end-to-end grant administration services and support on behalf of Facebook

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Facebook offered USD 100M in cash grants and ad credits to help small businesses globally.  Our demonstrable knowledge and experience in grant management software and services is the reason Facebook approached us originally, to provide a  grant administration service for their Small Business Grants Programme across EMEA region. We chose to partner with Deloitte to provide translation services, automated verification and  AML checks, assessment with local assessors in each country. AIMS Software Ltd, in partnership with Deloitte, used the AIMS grantmaking software platform for all EMEA grant applications, awards, payments, and Ad credit awards. The programme launched live in 4 weeks from start of contract.

The Challenge

The design, development and full management of a grant programme to provide financial grants to small and medium businesses in 18 countries across the EMEA region. The AIMS team, with Deloitte, were responsible for performing all tasks, functions, services and responsibilities necessary to provide the end-to-end delivery of the grant programme. The particular challenges for the delivery of the programme included the large volumes of expected applications, multiple currencies and languages, sprint delivery for rapid deployment on the application process.

The solution

As part of our grant administration service, we provided a dedicated team:

• Web Applications Developer / Programmer x 5
  • Custom web development for eligibility
  • Custom enhancements to the AIMS platform
  • Custom operational reporting and stat reporting
• ICT Project Manager x 2
  • Day to day project management
  • Process design lead
• Business Analyst x 3
  • Advice on form configuration
  • Configuration of the AIMS application
  • Operational use of AIMS for the Grant Program lifecycle
  • Technical Support help desk
• Technical Architect x 1
  • Product Expert
  • Technical design lead
• Database Systems Architect x 1
  • Infrastructure setup and maintenance for high volumes
  • Security and load testing

In the 8 months from contracting in July 2020,  using our proprietary AIMS software with some additional custom web and product development, we jointly delivered end-to-end grant administration services and support on behalf of Facebook:

• 18 distinct countries
• 14 languages / language variants
• 180,000 individual eligibility quizzes started
• 39,000 applications started
• 19,000 applications submitted
• 6,200 cash grants awarded
• 3,000 ad credits awarded