T E C H S P E C
SAFE AS HOUSES HOW TO CHOOSE A MEMBER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
B Y S I MON C L AY T ON , C H I E F I D E A S O F F I C E R , R E F T E C H
already have, but instead work out what you’d like to achieve in a perfect world and work backwards from that. Security should be your main priority and is the foundation on which all good systems are built. Make sure your provider has security at the heart of everything they do, that they are GDPR aware, ISO 27001 certified and have an exemplary track record. Without a solid, security focused platform you are risking reputational and financial damage. Don’t get suckered in by the whizzy bells and whistles, look at these later and only once you have established that the system offers you the security that your members deserve. Once you have ascertained that the security is good, then consider the features that would really make a difference to member sign ups and retention. Member attraction is key, so make sure the system makes it as easy as possible to join with online registration and payment processing. Cash flow is often an issue, so make sure that the payments made through the system go straight into your bank account and they don’t sit in the provider’s account for a month. This could be an important
t some point in the lifespan of your association, you will
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probably need to invest in a membership management system or to upgrade to one with more functionality. There’s a whole host of member management systems out there, so where do you start? My advice would be to not start from where you are now. This is a common problem when people try to move their IT forwards; they consider what they already have andwork around that. Don’t limit yourself by starting with what you
54 APRIL 2021 AMIMAGAZINE.GLOBAL
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