If you’re like other organizations, you’re likely in the market for new technology, maybe even AI or predictive analytics tools. The latest Deloitte research found that most US organizations’ budgets for digital transformation have been on the rise since 2020.
Now more than ever, new membership management software has the potential to deliver efficiencies in cost and innovation to your entire association. But the first step in receiving these organization benefits is to focus on making the right technology investments.
If your organization is beginning to research new association management software (AMS), you’ll need to showcase the value of modern technology to your board. Read our blog for helpful strategies to get your board on board in making the right technology investments to advance your association into the future.
How to highlight the value of your new association management software (AMS) to your board
As you research the best AMS for your association, you’ll want to communicate with your board about how the new technology will bring value to your organization. Consider highlighting the following features and how they can benefit your organization:
1. Lower total cost of ownership
Your board might be concerned about the initial cost of a new AMS. However, you should be more concerned about the cost of inaction, or how much it will cost your association to stay with your current software. If you choose to not adopt new technology, it can lead to great costs for your organization over time. The cost of inaction might mean your organization stays in the status quo and your staff operations remain the same.
But if you choose to invest in modern technology, you’ll avoid these issues: missing out on the newest technology trends, lower quality member experiences, organizational inefficiencies, higher software maintenance costs, increased security risks, and more.
2. Ease of staff adoption
When talking with your board about a new AMS, highlight the new technology’s ease of use. Search for AMS that offers an excellent user experience and technology training for easy staff adoption.
Forbes reports 66% of US employees agree they need new skills to be successful in their jobs. If their employers don’t provide adequate training opportunities, 41% of employees have plans to leave their jobs. Adopting an AMS with a built-in training platform can increase staff adoption and increase employee retention.
3. Automation
Salesforce research found 87% of IT leaders expect to invest more in automation during the next 18 months, reflecting that 58% are not fully satisfied with their organization’s current level of automation. These strong responses from IT leaders indicate the importance of automation both as a technology trend and for your entire organization.
As you research a new AMS and share your findings with your board, you’ll want to emphasize how the software can automate key organizational processes to streamline staff workflow. Look for a modern solution that leverages point-and-click technology and doesn’t require code to create automation. When you select a user-friendly AMS to build automation, you can easily decrease your manual staff workload, ensuring your employees can spend time on value-added tasks. Saving your staff time increases productivity and ensures a return on your technology investment.
4. User-friendly data
When researching new software, be sure to look for an AMS that empowers your organization to be data-driven, making it easy for you to access your information, create queries, pull reports, and build dashboards. Share with your board what’s sure to be one of your AMS’ most valuable features—its user-friendly reports and dashboards.
Ensure the AMS has hundreds of pre-built reports made just for associations and look for modern software that offers routine dashboard updates so your key stakeholders can stay up to date with the latest reports.
5 ways to communicate with your board about purchasing new association management software (AMS)
Now that you know which AMS features you should highlight, here are five strategies to effectively get your board on board with the new technology:
1. Create a mission statement
In your mission statement, share why your organization would like to purchase new technology. Include current pain points for both your staff and members so your board has a clear understanding of the shortcomings of your current technology.
2. Share the value of the new technology
Highlight any new software functionality or features that your staff or key stakeholders will be able to leverage. Showcasing this value will ensure your board knows your future technology ROI.
3. Create a team dynamic
Ask how your board would like to be involved in the research and buying process. Then get your board members plugged into their new roles.
4. Find a cheerleader
Are there any board members passionate about updating your association’s current technology? If so, tap them to move your software initiative forward and get more board members invested.
5. Leave time for feedback
Ensure there is plenty of time for your board to offer feedback and ask questions about the AMS you’re researching.
How to target your AMS technology messaging to gain board approval
To gain board approval for your new AMS, you’ll need to make a strong business case, appealing to your individual board members. By customizing your messaging based on each board member’s priorities, you can clearly communicate the value of the AMS investment and increase the likelihood of approval.
Here’s how to address each of your board members in their individual roles:
1. Executive Perspective
Board members with an executive mindset focus on the big picture and organizational impact. To gain their buy-in, highlight how the AMS investment will benefit the entire organization.
Take care to explain how the technology will empower staff. For example, emphasize process automation that streamlines repetitive tasks, freeing up staff to focus on strategic initiatives. Showcase how user-friendly reports and dashboards enable staff to make more informed decisions, improving overall efficiency.
2. IT Perspective
For IT professionals, reducing risk and ensuring compliance are top priorities. Address their concerns by emphasizing the following:
-
- Data security and compliance: Highlight how the AMS safeguards member information and supports adherence to data privacy regulations.
- Seamless product upgrades: Explain how the AMS offers continuous updates, ensuring the organization always operates with the latest technology without disruptions.
- Transparency: Share features like a “Known Issues List,” which increases visibility into system challenges and their impact on the organization.
3. Financial perspective
Finance professionals are numbers-driven, so your messaging should focus on cost efficiency and revenue generation. Explain how a cloud-based AMS reduces the total cost of ownership with predictable annual fees that include upgrades, eliminating surprise costs for technology updates.
Demonstrate how the AMS can boost revenue by offering the following features:
-
- Personalized e-commerce experiences with flexible payment options, cross-sell opportunities, and special promotions.
- The sale of various products, including continuing education courses, branded merchandise, and event sponsorships.
- Supporting event management with features like waitlists to keep attendance high and maximize revenue.
4. Membership Perspective
Membership professionals prioritize recruitment, engagement, and retention. Showcase how AI tools help predict member behavior, enabling proactive and personalized engagement. Discuss easy-to-use dashboards and reports that help identify trends and inform membership strategies.
Emphasize year-round connectivity through online community platforms, creating a dynamic and engaging membership experience. Highlight the intuitive design of the membership portal, where members can easily register for events and access personalized resources.