By The Protech Team

So, you’ve selected your new association management software. For many associations, that’s the first domino to drop when building a technology solution to support the member experience. Once your database is sorted, all eyes turn to the next major software project.

Unlike the AMS search, complementary solutions won’t usually necessitate a consultant to guide you in the right direction. But without that guidance, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff to find the best available option?

The first place most people look is online reviews. According to Zendesk, 88 percent of people have been influenced by an online customer service review when making a buying decision. Unfortunately, those reviews can be all surface, and don’t always dig into the nitty gritty of a product.

That’s why it’s beneficial for associations to forge a strong relationship with their AMS software vendor. When synergy exists between a trade or professional organization and its third-party vendor, a few key benefits emerge.

3 Benefits of Strong Relationships with Your AMS Software Vendor

Expert Recommendations

When an association is looking for a complement to their AMS, no one knows how to find fully integrated solutions better than the AMS software vendor itself. When your association’s connection with your AMS partner reaches a certain comfort level, your vendor can serve as a liaison to connect the association with the best tools and resources to enhance the member experience.

But what if you’re not happy with your current AMS vendor? Maybe they burned you with a bad recommendation, or the scope of their AMS solution isn’t all it was cracked up to be — these scenarios don’t build trust in new recommendations. Instead, sites like Association Gurus, ReviewMyCommunity, G2 Crowd and Capterra can help you in your search.

In fact, online reviews are the third most valued source of information when it comes to purchasing decisions, according to research commissioned by digital marketing consultants Convince & Convert. Almost as helpful, according to the study, are expert reviews. So if you have a trustworthy AMS partner who can help, don’t be afraid to ask.

Elevated Product Knowledge

Communication is a two-way street. To better serve your members, your AMS software vendor needs to understand your goals so it can help you achieve them. And the association needs to recognize the full range of the AMS’ functionality to find new ways the system can improve member relations.

For example, if an association integrates an email marketing platform into its association management software, the AMS vendor should be aware of updates and ways to maximize the value of that new platform.

Constant communication between an association and a third-party vendor regarding product and policy changes can lead to better AMS software experiences for staff and members utilizing the solution to perform day-to-day functions.

Superior Support

Once applications and software are integrated with an organization’s AMS, it’s inevitable that its staff will have questions.

Oftentimes, when organizations trust their AMS software partner, they tend to operate with peace of mind knowing they will receive reliable IT support and comprehensive training from the vendor, enabling staff to better serve its member base.

Building a mutually beneficial relationship is important for organizations looking to enhance their AMS and better address the needs of their member base. And if you’re looking to enhance member engagement even further, download Protech’s latest e-book, in which six associations share their secrets to improving the member experience.