What is a tech stack? The simplest definition is a collection of software used to support an organization. A tech assessment evaluates if your existing tech stack can your organization accomplish your organization’s goals and strategic mission. The right technology helps associations meet both their current and future organizational needs. While technology can be amazing it can also overwhelm. Below are 7 core systems for every association’s tech stack.
Association Management System (AMS): Often referred to as a “the database” internally. It houses the organization’s essential member information. It’s oftentimes the central repository that pushes data out to other systems and receives data from integrated systems.
Community Platform: Online “gathering” place for an association’s membership to interact with one another. Communities can be created around geographies, interest areas, or committees.
Content Management System (CMS): Creates an association’s online presence–their website. It helps associations build, manage, and modify their website content. When used in conjunction with the AMS, content can be presented for all users, all members, or even content for specific member types.
Event Management System: Organizes and centralizes the association’s events (e.g. annual conference). This may include planning, registration, and event organization.
Financial Management System: Manages the associations resources by tracking income, expenses, and assets. It provides finance teams visibility into the organization, helps ensure compliance, and streamlines operations.
Learning Management System (LMS): Used by associations for e-learning internally, externally, or both. It houses resources used as part of the organization’s knowledge management for use by members and other end users. The LMS may house the actual training material and may track “credits” for those who complete classes.
Marketing Automation System: Manages the organization’s marketing campaigns and communications across several channels. When used in conjunction with the AMS, campaigns can be segmented based on member or non-member status, membership type, or even event registration status.
Each system gathers data, which is essential in today’s data-driven world. But to make the most of your investment ensure these systems integrate and share data with each other. It is important to recognize each system’s importance to your association. That said, not all systems are of equal importance. In fact, all these systems may not be in place at all associations, and some may use one system for multiple business functions.
While these are the most common systems in the association space, we know associations can have less than and far more than these core systems in their tech stack. If you have fewer, make sure the systems you have cover these processes. If you have additional systems, make sure they are strategic and contribute to your organization’s mission. At the end of the day, what’s most important is for your tech stack to meet your association’s needs.