Welcome to the Excess Capacity Network.

 

"Excess Capacity" is an idea that refers to finding creative ways to utilize your company's excess (or potentially unused or wasted) products, services or personnel resources to benefit charitable organizations or persons in need. 

 

The execution of this idea should not require you to add more time requirements on your staff. This is not about adding something "on top of", its about integrating charitable work "into" what you do as a business. Its about maximizing your time and resources to create the possibility of benefiting charitable organizations or persons in need. Essentially, it about expanding your business plan beyond profitability to include "charitability". 

 

Priority must be given to your paying-in-full clients. So your excess capacity clients may have to wait longer than paying clients, but that's OK. Without your paying-in-full clients there is no business, and there is no excess capacity. So once paying clients are cared for, and excess remains, what do you do with that excess?   

 

1. Are there any regular "staff downtimes or slow times" in your business? For example, if you're a dentist and have noticed that Tuesday mornings from 8-10am tended to be a slow time, imagine being part of a network that could assist you getting linked to a charity of interest, such as the Calgary women's shelter, and making arrangements for one or two clients from the shelter, who otherwise could not afford dental care, to come to your office on Tuesday mornings for discounted dental care. Priority is given to paying clients, so it would be important to confirm the day before that the opening is still available. But what a difference that could make for some in need without medical benefits. The same principle could apply to a barber, chiropractor, massage therapist, media communications and the list goes on.   

 

2. Do you find yourself with "excess or unused resources" at regular intervals (e.g. end of day, end of week, end of month) that would otherwise be discarded or put on the market for discounted prices? For example, if you're a restaurateur and know that your business throws out 10 to 15 percent of your unused food products at the end of the day or week, imagine being part of a network that could assist you with getting linked to a charity of interest such as the Mustard Seed and persons willing to transport the excess food products. The same principle would apply to a trucking company, airline company, clothing stores and the list goes on.   

 

3. Or maybe your company doesn't offer products or services that could benefit a charity or persons in need, but you would consider encouraging your staff to donate 2 or 3 percent of their income, which your company would match, to support a worthy charity such as the United Way or World Vision. Click here (http://aboutcalgary.ab.ca/charity/) to see a listing of some of the charities in Calgary you might consider supporting with your excess capacity.  

A WORKING MODEL

 

This idea is being embodied in a Calgary based internet business, Commerx, that currently assists forty-two difference charities with website operations. Commerx provides internet software and a vast array of internet services to charities at significantly discounted rates - rates which make it possible for charities to utilize services otherwise not affordable. 

 

HOW THEY DO IT

 

Commerx categorizes their work projects into one of three categories. "A projects" are paying-in-full clients. "C projects" are paying-in-full clients being waited on for some decision or feedback to continue with their project. "B projects" are charity clients.

 

These B projects must align with Commerx's stated values and satisfy Commerx's criteria for inclusion (i.e. outstanding reputation, truly benefits community or environment, promotes fitness and health, assists the underprivileged). It is important that your business determines its values and criteria for inclusion to provide direction and clarity in decision making. Commerx also does a "needs assessment" to determine how best to assist the charity and what specific products or services will be used and actually benefit the charity. This is critical to ensure healthy relations with the charity.

 

The Commerx staff meets at the beginning of each week to review the status of all projects and determine what A and B projects will receive attention that week. When "A projects" are completed, or an "A project" changes to "C project" status, the staff are instructed to spend their "downtime" (excess capacity) on designated B projects. "A clients" are always given priority over "B clients" to ensure paying-in-full clients are cared for promptly. This may mean that "B projects" take longer to complete. The success and longevity of this idea rests on ensuring paying clients are well taken care of, and that there is clear and open communication with the charities as to ensure crystal clear and reasonable expectations.

 

It is also important that the charities or persons in need have something invested (i.e. pay something). There a tendency for some charities to request products or services they really don't need when everything is free. Being invested, even a very small percent, helps to minimize this waste of excess capacity. The whole idea is not to waste excess. Having the charity involved in a small way help to ensure appropriate stewardship. 

 

TELLING THE STORY

 

Commerx keeps track of all products, services and personnel resources utilized to assist "B projects" and translates this into an equivalent dollar value. This serves as their excess capacity measurement which is part of their business plan, not an add-on initiative. Commerx posts a list of all forty-two charities and the dollar value of the excess capacity donated. This way the staff and customers are able to see how their company is making a difference. This inspires the staff knowing what they are part of. It also inspires other businesses to consider doing the same.      

 

Telling the story is not a matter of boasting or "letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing". Its about telling a good news story. Its about inspiring one another. It about the business community re-orienting business plans to be part of making a concrete difference in the lives of those in need in our city. Its a story about matching resources and needs and change. Its the gospel in action.