I’ve posted a new article on my website.
While most of my clients use centralized association management software (AMS) systems, which are designed to manage all of an association’s data, almost every one of my clients also uses some third-party system in addition to the AMS. Examples of third-party systems include broadcast email systems (e.g., MagnetMail, Constant Contact), event registration systems (e.g., Cvent, regonline), abstract management systems (e.g., Oasis, Precis), and online exhibit management tools (e.g., a2z, mapyourshow).
Managing third-party systems and their data in addition to managing your primary AMS requires extra effort, so why use a third-party system at all?
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Wes,
Some very good points. I cannot remember the last time we implemented an AMS without at least 1 third party system (typically the CMS).
I disagree somewhat with the ‘ntegrating third-party systems can be difficult and tedious’. With the advent of solid web services these integrations have become much easier. Solid 3rd party products like Ektron, Umbraco, Cvent, Mailchimp, etc. have build some nice toolsets that have really streamlined the process. In addition, most AMS systems now also have decent API’s / web services.
The devil is, of course, in the details; what data makes it back into the AMS, how and when does that happen, etc? Too often we see this critical piece being an afterthought and it pains to think of the number of non-integrated CMS systems or event registration systems out there. This data is critical for marketing, BI and member engagement scoring.
-Sig
Sig, agreed, the integrations are much easier than they used to be. But I still run into integrations that on the surface seem simple enough, but wind up being difficult and tedious!