Software for modern associations
As the next generation enters the workforce, they are joining associations as members and in leadership positions. To stay relevant, associations are evolving to best serve the newcomers and long-term members alike.
Association technology is improving to serve the needs of associations, in turn improving everything from efficiency and data collection to event management and continuing education quality.
We’ve gathered software strategies for the modern association to consider to improve their management processes:
Use an LMS to facilitate learning opportunities
As an association, one of the most important functions of your organisation is guiding the professional development of your members. This is most often done by providing continuing education (CE) opportunities to members.
As with many other association management processes, this education is often conducted online now. An association learning management system (LMS) is a software solution that facilitates online education.
Whether your members are completing required certifications or even just taking courses for their own interest, a robust LMS can handle it all.
Let’s look at a few of the features an LMS employs to engage learners, and provide you with valuable information through the process.
A modern LMS platform should:
Offer built-in course authoring, so you can easily create courses (and duplicate past successes) to provide content to members.
Adapt as learners progress through the material, increasing in difficulty to match the skill level of the member using it.
Offer gamification elements, engaging learners with healthy competition against their peers.
Suggest new courses and certifications to members to supplement that which they’ve already completed.
Track all continuing education completed, whether done at an event or even through another method outside of your association.
For the modern association, investing in an LMS to facilitate all continuing education opportunities is a worthwhile move for your association’s leadership and members alike.
Utilise event planning software for improved in-person experiences
Just as businesses are adapting to flexible working scenarios, you want to provide a variety of opportunities for your association’s members. This is where events come into play.
However, association event planning is a bit more involved than the average meeting planning. Everything is handled on a larger scale, including the members attending, the education provided, and even the necessity of networking opportunities.
Consider using event management software to aid in your planning. This software comes in a variety of forms, and you’ll want to choose your solution depending on how large, and involved, your event is.
For example, pretty much any association event would benefit from an event management software handling its ticketing and registration processes.
This makes planning easier for your association and provides a more seamless, simple experience for attendees with ready-to-go registration forms on your website.
However, for larger events like conferences, and even trade shows, a more comprehensive solution may be the way to go.
Some event management software solutions include the creation of a dedicated microsite and event app, both of which are valuable tools for managing the member experience at your association’s events.
If you’re looking to invest in comprehensive event management software, browse a few of the top event app providers here.
Integrate your AMS for heightened insights.
Association management software (AMS) manages the administration of your association’s membership programme. It aids with accounting and reporting while housing a plethora of data on your members.
At its core, your AMS serves to house member profiles, handle all revenue accounting, and generate reports on your membership. These features are essential.
However, you can greatly bolster the essential storing and analysis done by your AMS by choosing a platform that’s integration-friendly.
There are a few AMS integrations that will provide particularly helpful for your association’s management processes:
Your LMS. This connection allows the automatic storing of members’ completed courses in your association’s most comprehensive database.
Your event management software. This avoids the hassle of migrating attendance and participation data from your event management tool to your AMS, as well as eases the ticketing process for members logged into their profiles (facilitating member discounts, early registration, etc).
Your marketing automation software. Email marketing depends on maintaining an updated list of member emails. This integration allows for the immediate updating of your marketing software with the newest contact information.
Your social media pages. This integration allows you to embed your association’s networks directly within your AMS and allows members to do the same with their member profiles.