How Philadelphia Works, Inc. Built a Unified Workforce Development System for Greater Impact
Philadelphia Works, Inc. had a vision to connect more people to workforce training and job opportunities faster and more efficiently while gaining greater clarity about their impact. But they faced a challenge familiar to many workforce development boards and nonprofits: siloed spreadsheets, mismatched data, and processes spread across multiple systems. They needed a modern Salesforce solution for workforce development that could centralize data, streamline reporting, and create better outcomes.
The stakes were high. Philadelphia Works serves as the crucial facilitator between job seekers and training providers, such as community colleges offering career programs, and they are a lifeline for many in Philadelphia’s African-American and Latino communities. Without a local data system, staff had to manually comb through spreadsheets and emails just to match people with programs and ensure trainee data matched with Pennsylvania’s state workforce system of record, CWDS. For example, one staff member’s full-time job was simply reconciling data to ensure the appropriate funding source for invoicing.
Multiple technology projects to fix this had already failed, and this time, they needed a solution that actually works. Through a partnership with Provisio, they now do.
Who They Are and What They Do
As the official Workforce Development Board for the city of Philadelphia, the organization partners with employers and stakeholders to support the workforce and the local economy. That means managing public and private investments in workforce solutions that meet the needs of residents and businesses alike.
The Workforce Development Data Challenges
Before Salesforce, Philadelphia Works needed to:
Improve processes and data management to reduce inefficiencies and errors
Enable cross-program information sharing to create a seamless experience for job seekers, training providers, and staff
Strengthen their ability to deliver better services for everyone in their network
The Provisio Approach
Philadelphia Works and Provisio developed a true partnership to tailor a scalable solution that meets their immediate needs and aligns with their long-term strategic goals. On top of that, Provisio provided comprehensive training and guided user adoption to ensure staff can fully operate their new system, despite having no prior Salesforce experience.
The Salesforce Solution
Provisio’s integrated Salesforce solution for workforce development delivered:
Salesforce Agentforce Nonprofit(formerly Nonprofit Cloud) as the central CRM, serving as the central location for all participant, provider, and outcome data
Salesforce Experience Cloud, enabling a seamless training provider portal where training providers can directly input and manage data, reducing administrative burdens and increasing accuracy.
Customizable processes and terminology, ensuring a smooth transition from legacy systems while respecting Philadelphia Works’ unique workflows.
Automated tracking of program enrollments, outcomes, and credentialing.
Custom reports aligned with state and federal compliance requirements, giving staff the power to report with confidence.
The Results: Better Data, Reporting, and Participant Visibility
The project came in under budget and on time, producing immediate, measurable impact:
Centralized data: A single location for reporting and program oversight.
Training Provider Portal: Enhanced collaboration and transparency, with partners tracking training activities directly.
Full lifecycle visibility: From intake to training to job placement and retention, staff can now follow each participant’s journey.
Accurate, timely workforce reporting: Key metrics and compliance requirements are now automated.
Processes that once consumed days are now streamlined into minutes, allowing Philadelphia Works to focus more on serving people instead of managing spreadsheets.
The Takeaway for Workforce Development Boards & Nonprofits
Philadelphia Works’ journey proves what’s possible when you combine the right technology with a partner who understands your mission.
If your organization is ready to leave behind the limitations of spreadsheets and make a greater impact with a unified Salesforce system for workforce development, Provisio is your guide to get there.
